The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-05-07

with which he had been entrusted for
their conveyance to his w hrm III
London.
1T is my fate,' he muttered to him
self, when fairly Oh his way again To-
wards the lovely ~llances. Go, poor
moth, and hover around the flame
which speedily will consume thy
heart,"
But if, indeed. he could have known
all that fate had prepared for him at
Sir Loghlen's mansion. in spite of his
great love for Frances he had never
crossed it's threshold. (
But poor human creatures are MADE
to struggle bliudly forward to their
destiny.
While Sydney is on his way towards
Sir Loghlen's house, it is necessary
that we should say a few words con
corning the Baronct and his family.
Left a widower when verging on
fifty years Of q Sir Loghlen had
never entertained a thought Of con-
tracing Il second marriage alliance.
Left with an only child, IL son, the
Baronet's every hope and joy then
centered in the little heir to his con-
siderable fortune.
For young Edwards sake it was
In order that the lad might be pro-
yided with companions and playmates,
who, by their youth, were htted for,
and by their birth were worthy OF,
the homer designed them-for such
reasons 1t was, we say. that rance
O'Meara and Stanley Claremont, both
OF them at the time little more II
children, had been admitted by the
Baronet as additions to his family.
The parents Of both these cousins
had readily consented. as a matter of
course, that their children should re-
side for some few years with their
wealthy relative.
Frances O'Meara soon became, IN
happily, an orphan; her father and
mother both had died.
For Stanley C~laremont's parents,
they were we'll satisfied at having sue
ceeded In placing their unworthy son
with his rich uncle, and ceased then to
trouble themselves concerning the
young gentleman; convinced, no doubt,
that he would know how TO avail him
self to the utmost of the advantages
which were to be derived from his
position he had then acquired.
The three cousins grew up together,
and of Frances Sir Loghlen had, in a
year or two, become as fond as though,
instead of being his neice, whom mere
ly for convenience sake he had ad-
mitted into his house, she had been
his own most precious daughter. who
had never, from the moment of her
birth, been once beyond his sight.
The Baronet had never greatly cared
for his nephew, o had Frances ever
entertained the slightest Partially for
hnr ,n,vin. Pow fhn unltnU lnIr nynn
when a child, had possessed great per-
ceptive powers, and very early came
to thoroughly understand the true dis
position of Stanley Claremont.
Processing. now, ardent love for his
beautiful cousin Frances. she had been
to him, before the death of Sir Logh-
lens son, an object of most palpable
Indifference, if not of utter dislike.
And the pretended change in his
feelings Frances could very easily, to
herself, account for. SO long as the
Baronet's son had been living his
uncle's wealth had awakened no am
bilious thought in Stanley Claremont's
mind; Frances O'Meara was for him a
little. insignificant girl, whom he
would permit quietly to dwell in the
neighborhoOd of an immense fortune
in which it seemed Impossible she
could ever share.
But, at the z Of twenty, Edward
O'Meara, who was of fiery tempera-
ment and quick to take offence, I'M
happily provoked a nan older than
himself and more experienced in such
matters, to engage with him a duel.
The result was fatal to young Edward
O'NIeara; and when the young man
had been thus suddenly snatched from
his fathers tenderness, Frances
O'Meara's Importance was. in Stan
ley's eyes, increased to an almost I'M
limited extent.
Frances had become a very wealthy
heiress: and a very natural calculation
showed to Stanley. in a marriage with
his charming cousin, the union of the
two branches of the family, and of
the two halves Of that inheritance.
which the death Of young Edward
O'Meara had left to be divided be-
tween them.
And to a mercenary calculation had
Frances rightly attributed her cousins
very sudden affection for herself; and
soon had she reason to believe that
Stanley, with all his skill and daring,
would utterly fail at any time to
reach the golden end at which he
aimed.
When time had softened the great
grief he had endured at his sons
death, the Baronet one day called his
niece to his presence, and said to her,
you will Dol learn, Frances, to I'M
derstand the human heart; for believe
ing you to be a rich heiress, aspirants
for your hand will spring up in crowds
around you"
And then, a~ffectionately drawing her
to him, he told her that it might be,
indeed he hoped, that no great portion