The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-05-14
CHAPTER v.
Past. Present and Future.

Greatly afflicted was the barOnet by
the loss of his old and faithful servant,
and greatly shocked by the manner of
his death.
And with James FramptOn had per-
haps forever disappeared all chance
of knowing that which the baronet
had for years been very eager to dis
cover.
Sir Loghlen. convaleScent when his
nephew and niece returned to him,
from a rather serious illness. was near
to suffering Il relapse when the fatal
tidings concerning his old servant We're
brought to him.
But he bore M bravely. The crush
Ing calamity of his sons death had
somewhat steeled his heart Ia after
atfiiction: for. after that one terrible
blow. all others could but fall with
comparative lightness.
1t was on the third day after the re-
turn OF Frances and Stanley to their
uncle's residence. some few miles from
Wexford. that Frances. looking from
one of its windows. uttered SO loud an
exclamation that Sir I.Oghlen, seated
by the fire in deep thought, was start
led by her cry frCm out the rcverie
into which he had fallen.
NIlilt StdiltN '.tINlltui bDtllllNt
from the chair in which he had been
sitting opposite the harOnpt and hur.
ried to the window frGm which Fran
ces was still gazing, her face and neck
covered deep with bushes. and n joy
full expression increasing the brilliancy
of her always more than sufficiently
iustrouS eyes.
One glance toward Frances. and her
nnilSin had hnpn ptnnn rod fpT. Thor
which he beheld on looking from the
window.
He saw sydney Drummond seated
OF ii car which was jogging up the
avenue toward the house, and with
difficulty Suppressed the eXecration
which had risen to his lips.
1T is the gentleman Of whom | have
already spoken to you. uncle" said
Frances hurriedly. and with much con
fusion of amer.
Il am glad of it. darling" was the
barOnet's response.
Frances, in Il great iutter. yet be-
lieving that she was acting calmly and
with becoming dignity, rang the bell
and instructed the servant who an
swered ii that the gentleman who had
just arrived was To be received with
every respect and conducted immedi-
utely to her uncle'S presence.
And presently Sydney DrummOnd
entered the room, carrying in his hand
by the strap which was around ii the
small well secured box. which we
have already mentioned as containing
certain important documents and Il
rather large sun of money.
Coldly and h%aughtily bowed the bar
onet's nephew as sydney entered the
room: while Frances, her eyes cast
down as if she were particularly ex-
aiming the carpet. timidly extended
her hand to her agreeable companion
Of the DreadnOught.
II have ventprpd hithar to-to-to-"
stammeIed sydney, and could proceed
no further.
And Frances. glad so to relieve the
young mans embarrassment, and per-
lapS discovering thar she was not her
self at ease. led Sydney toward her
uncle. who had already risen To re-
ccivc him.
Sir LoghleI, while his niece was 90
Ing through the form of Introduction.
started slightly, and, drawing back Il
step, fixed his eyes steadily for a mo-
mcnt or two on Sydney's face. his wi
cOuntcnanoe at the time wearing a
very puzzled expression
While Stanley ClaremOnt, on his
part. was keenly and darkly watching
the baronCt.
At length. as If recalled to that which
was required of him, Sir Loghlen hast
lily recovered the step which just be-
fore he had receded. and grasping sgd
ney'S hand, welcomed him warmly.
and earnestly thanked him for the at
fnntfnnS yNhiah ~. IAnpJ t1A 1tn,p,
boat, he had bestowed on Frances.
Sydney bowed and muttered some al
most inarticulate words: and felt how
little he merited the b~aronet's graft
tude. since all his attentions to Fran
ces had arised from most selfish and
Interested motives.
On learning that the bankers clerk