The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1896-04-24
CHAPTER 1


her way from the city of Bristol To tn
town of Wexford, in Ireland.
OF the rather considerable nunhe
of passengers who, on this occasion
were on board the vessel, we shal
have to do but with very few-witl
those only, in fact. who are destined
TO figure :, mewnat prominently i'll oul
story.
Now, as we go on board, the Dread
nought is Skirting the coast of Ireland
and is making her way rapidly toward
wexford, the port. as we have Just
said, to which she was bound.
There was fair, light wind and a
very slightly rutiled ocean
impatiently treading the after deck
was gentleman decidedly young. and
whose almost perfectly-regrlar feat
ures would have entitled him to be
called at least good looking, but they
were distigured always by an evil ex-
preston which was too ma tural to his
cnuntenance to be concealed or dis
EuiSed from those who were obseryant,
and had skill to read 'the human face
divine"
AS this gentleman paced rapidly to
and fro his lips were quivering with
aSitated mutteringS, and his eyes
would now and again flash look of
terrible hatred toward an elderly,
white-haired man. who was standing
about midship. conversing lightly and
pleasantly with few Of the more
humble passengers ON board the yes
sci.
The Old man, who was well and
plainly dressed. and who might. per-
maps, been mistaken for fortunate,
or retired tradesman, was, in fact, and
had been for many years, the pro-
foundly-trusted and highly
servant-we had almost written friend
of Sir Loghlen O'Meara, an Irish bar
onet.
James Tfampton had been sent by
his master to England on 4 very i'm
porfant mission. ard his return toward
Ireland had been fastened by news
forwarded to him that the baronet lad
been seized with an alarming illness.
And With james FramptCn, now on
board the vessel was the niece of Sit
Lochlen OMeara
She had been for some time STAYING
In London, at her uncle's mansion
there: and she. too, urged by the deep
and grateful affection she felt for him.
was hurrying, fast as steam could bear
her. back to the baronet: and great
was her anxiety to be once more by
his side.
Frances O'Meara, the baronet's
niece. was an orphan Her father had
been SIR Loghlens $ brother; her mother
an EnglishWoman, and long the reign
ing belle of her day.
And fair and lovely as had been her
mother, so was the daughter now.
Frances O'Meara. and the gentleman
whom we have just described as so
fretfully pacing the deck, were cous-
inS.
From a different branch Of the fam
ily sprang Stanley Claremont, who was
entirely Of English origin.
He. too. was Fastening toward the
ba ronet, his uncle; but it was a love OF
his own interest only which was urg-
ing him to that from which he dared
not seek to escape.
ON the same errand in London had
Stanley Claremont and the baronets
faithful servant been lately employed
With this difference, that James
rrampton had been accredited BY MS
ma ster. and Stanley Claremont had
reen his employer. and had acted Sc
cretly and with solely a view to his
own interest.
Stanley had been unsuccessful IN MS
n,,rsuit: had James Frampton encoun-
tered better fortune!
That was the question which was
now torturing Sir Loghlen's nephew
and causing him to stride DackWafus
and forwards on the deck.
And he could obtain no information
from James Frampton, VINO was
CLOSE and discreet man.
And it was impossible to judge Dy
his. manner: the old mans face, When
hc chose. could be as expresslonless as
a blank sheet of paper.
On the morrow Frampton would pc
arain beside the baronet, who Wou,u
then. perhaps, be told all that or Whlcn
IT was SO greatly his nephews interest,"
that he should remain forever ignorant.
Stanley did not believe that his un-
..,e was about to die: nor would the
haronet's death. as matters at pres
ont stood. be of any service to ms
nnnhew-indeed the very reverse, per-
haps. :,
u,avs been Stunned by his uncle's Old
servant: saw himself reduced to honor
a domestic with his hatred-to confess
n himself that he was poWerless
against his declared enemy.
If the old man had failed In his at
tempted discovery, all would be well
with the Baronets nephew; but, alas,
heneath the stolidity of Frampton's
faee-behind that smooth, impenetra-
hle mask his features WOre-Stanley
Claremont believed that he could di-
vine a secret Joy, and the ruin Of all
his own most precious hopes.
Claremont had little idea that while
casting his malignant looks towards
the old servant. a pair of keen eyes
were fixed curfously and searchmgly
upon himself.