The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-04-28

t MlsT conveyance to his own firm in
Ao eft IS my fatev' he muttered to him,
Golf when fairly on his way again 70,
wards the lovely FIances. go, poor
moth and hover around the flame
which speedily will consume thy
heartr
p,t If indeed, he could have known
oil that fate had prepared for him al
Sir Loghlen's mansion, in spite Of his
GREAT love for Frances he had never
crossed it's threshold.
Rut moor human creatures are made
70 struggle blindly forward to theH
destiny.
Sir Loghlen's house, it is necessary
that we should say few words con
corning the Baronet ana his family.
Left a widower when Verglng on
iftv Years of age, Sir Loghlen had
never entertained a thought OF con-
+ractine p. second marriage alliance
left with an only child, son, the
Raronet's every hope and joy then
oentared 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 playmatesr
who. by their youth, were htted for,
and nv their birth were worthy of,
the honor designed them-for such
reasons it was, we say, that Frances
O'Meara and Stanley Claremont, both
of them at the time little more than
children. had been admitted by the
Baronet as additions to his family.
The parents of both these cousins
had readily consented as matter OF
course. that their children should re-
side for some few years with their
wealthy relative.
Frances O'Meara soon became, I'M
happily, an orphan; her father ana
mother both had died.
For Stanley Claremont's parents,
thew were we'll satisfied at having sue
ceeded in placing their unworthy son
with his rich uncle, and ceased then to
trounle 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
wear or two, become as fond as though,
instead of being his neice, whom mere
ly for convenience sake he had adj
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, nor had Frances ever
entertained the slightest partiality for
her cousin; FOR the young lady, even
when a child had possessed great per-
ceptive powers, and very early came
Al, IL JO,, nd 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 age of twenty, Edward
O'Meara who was of fiery tempera-
happily provoked a man older than
himself and more experienced in such
matters, to engage with him a duel.
The result was fatal to young Edward
O'Meara; 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 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 soon learn, Frances. to un-
derstand the human heart; for believe
ing you to be rich heiress, aspirants
for your hand will spring up in crowds
around you"
And then, affectonately drawing her
to him, he told her that it might he
lndeed he hoped, that no great portion
OF his wealth would fall to his neice's
share