The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-06-30

| And both Sir Loghlen and his niece,
so Unexpectedly again beholding the
disgraced bankers clerk, fairly reele0,
| SO overp0wering was the astonishment
| of both, so sharp and bitter the dis
appointment to one of them.
| While Sy dney stood trembling and
confused; his eyes fixed keenly on
Frances O'Meara's dropping face, as
| though endeavoring to read it in her
| thoughts lie was indeed the thief that
ali had made him to appear.
Tony, observing every moment. was
wondering what could have brought
| the Baronet and his niece to Mrs. Will
oughby'S house.
HE! Yes, it is really her' almost
| groaned forth the baronet.
| And Frances, utterin2 not word,
| sought to draw her uncle away
'"rhat young man is really your
| grandson-your eldest grandson?' the
baronet falteringly demanded OF Mrs.
| Willoughby; who, of course, answered
in the affirmative, and, at the same
| time, requesting to be informed OF the
cause of that strange surprise which
| Sir Loghlen had evinced and of that
| expression of pain which even then
was on his features.
L
| grief, the baronet, addressing the
| greatly wondering Mrs. Willoughby,
| said, '''Forset all that | have said to
| yOu-my hopes. the intentions which
| L had expressed to you, cal never be
realized. Oh, never, neyerv'
"What mean your words! - anxious
| ly demanded Mrs. Willoughby.
"Ah! you know not, them" began
| the haronet; when Tony, darling to-
ards him, exclaimed sharply and
somewhat threateningly, "She knows
rotlling. and l would advise you not
| to tell her anything"
And Sir Loghlen and his niece, about
| to quit the room, Mrs. Willougllby,
for a moment staying the baronet,
said to him, But if you leave me, sir,
from whom then shall l learn this
n ystery?"
Pressing Mrs. Willoughby's hand,
the baronet responded, '"The grief that
I experience, you alone can compre-
herd. Those hopes which l had re-
ves led to you-the projects which
had submitted to you, since | rcnoInce
them, must it not be that there exists
an insurmountable obstacle to their
fulhllmentY'
"It is that which | would know,
SIR cried Mrs. Willoughby. 1T is
| the explanation of all this which l
dems ndr'
'.You must receive it from others, "
exclaimed the oaronet. Il dare not
| give it you; when you shall know all.
you will better comprehend how great
my present agony"
And then, with his niece, Sir Loghl-
| en- hurried from the house; and the
next moment those on whom the bar
onet's presence had fallen like a
crushing calamity, heard his carriage
as it was driven rapidly away.
"What was the purpose which had
brought the baronet to his grand
mothers house?" Tony was asking
| himself
| W lille Sydney's mental exclamation,
which brought with it fearful tor
ture. was, Before her-always before
| her"
And. at the same moment, Frances
seated in the carriage, her head avert
| cd from her uncle, to conceal from
| him Eer tears, was thinking painfully
''And he uttered rot a word-not q
| ord
| And the barOnet, too, was suffering
deeply, and repenting bitterly.
| It was, he told himself, incredible
| fatality-great had been his crime,
and heavily had heaven dealt to him
its punishment.