The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-07-17
CHAPTER XIV.
the Peddler Turn. Up Again.

Sfssgirsf h .SAA0 Ee00Aer TURNS Up Again.
Three days after the events describ-
70 our last chapter, Mrs. Willough-
SSg9 resolved to make her way to Sir
SA.0ghlen O'Mara's London mansion,
4 ith no wish again to meet the baro-
net put with, on the contrary, a de-
Examination to avoid any further en-
scennter with him.
u was to Frances O'Meara that the
door Old lady had resolved to appeal,
M 70 prove by relation of her I'M
Justly accused grandson's many vir-
tuee, how impossible 1t was that he
I'e0uld have descended to the crime, be-
meath the odium of which he was now
- cruelty made to suffer.
M Sydney loved Frances O'Meara, and
that young lady had returned the pas
sAl0n she had inspired-had returned
s4t: but did she still love Sydney, or had
- belief in his guilt caused her to drive
4r0m her heart a passion whose avow-
~ would make her sink with shame.
All this was what Mrs. Willoughby
most anxiously desired to know; and
8al her worst fears were realized, It
would be her effort to convince Fran
sces of her lovers innocence and so
pour balm into the young girls own
neart and carry some consolation to
Sydney.
And Mrs. Willoughby was received
by Frances with every mark of re-
spect and compassion; and when the
poor woman of venerable and noble
aspect extended her supplicating
hands, imploring that Frances would
not believe in the guilt of him who
q idolized her, she read in the look that
was fixed upon her face that she had
no further cause to plead, that the
young lady's conviction of Sydney's in
nocence was equal to her own.
And these two women, the one so
near the grave, the other having
scarcely crossed the threshold of life.
mingled together their tears, in sof-
row for one dear to them both, and in
pity for sufferings which both knew
and felt had not been merited.
And Mrs. Willoughby was authorized
fby Frances to say to Sydney that she
had never doubted his innocence; had
always, and still believed him utterly
incapable Of even the smallest dere-
LECTION from duty; so how could she Tor
/. q moment think 1t possible that he had
been guilty of the disgraceful charge
with which he now was stigmatized.
Perhaps Frances, against the proofs
\ which seemed to condemn him.. had
not been SO generous in her thoughts
toward Sdyney, but for the love sne
felt for him; but blindly generous she
I most certainly was, for she discredited
all the evidence that bore SO heavily
i against Sydney, well satisfied by his
4 mere look that he was unjustly ac-
j cused, and angry that his word alone
had not power to sweep into nothing
! ness the combination of unhappy cir
N cumstances which, in the eyes Of his
i Judges, branded him as guilty.
But when Mrs. Willoughby had ac-
4 counted for her grandson's possession
..0f the money with which he had paid
his losses at the gaming table, not only
was Frances, in her love, contented to
'sbelie7e that Sydney was not guilty, but
hef reason was also most fully salts.
1 lied Of his innocence.
8s a robbery had been committed. that
was clear; but who-since Sydney was
10 entirely innocent-whO was the
Y criminal, and where the hope to trace
Z him ont?
a thought as torturing perhaps Ia
!. Frances as to Sydney himself, since
hts happiness was her happiness
condemnation and despair, her shame
7. and agony.
And Mrs. willoughby quilted Fran.
/. ces at last to carry. as she hoped, In
repeating the. words that had been
q spoken BY the woman he loved, q con.
4 SOling balm to her poor grandson's
n now utterly desolate soul.
Sir Loghlen was somewhat angry
/. with his niece that she had granted
s4Ant Interview to Mrs. Willoughby. and
demanded to know how It was that
s Frances was now interested In a fam.
nv Ut which three months before She
Trad known nothing whatever.
And Frances answered somewhat
SccnfusefIly that It was impossible that
s:azy one possessing heart could be 9th.
.erWtae than interested In the afflictiou
which. III her old age, had overtakeu
Mr.. Willoughby.
'sWithout doubt that woman is to be
pitieds = rid Sir Loghlen; '.but the
blame fe6tG mot with her, nor with us
that the fAult which we all deplore ha,
been commit Z
Z, The true anthor Of that crime ha,
Z yet to be known and heaven, sooner
4 or later, will surely reveal him to US.
There u no need to search further
han t y unhappy man si already con