The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-07-07
CHAPTER XIV.
The Peddler Turns Up Again.

Three days after the events describ-
cd III ollr last chapter, Mrs. Willough-
by resolved to make her way to Sir
Ioghlen O'Mara's London mansion,
with no wish again to meet the baro-
net, but with, on the contrary, a de-
termination to avoid any further en-
counter with him.
1t was to Frances O'Meara that the
poor old lady had resolved to appeal
and to prove by a relation of her I'M
justly accused grandSon'S many viI-
tues, how impossible it was that he
could have descended to the crime, be-
meath the odium of which he was now
so cruelty made to suffer
Sydney loved Frances O'Meara, and
that young lady had returned the pas
sion she had inspired-had returned
it; but did she still love Sydney, or had
a belief in his guilt caused her to drive
from her heart passion whose avow-
al would make her sink with shame
All this was what Mrs. Willoughby
most anXiously desired to know; and
il her worst fears were realized, it
would be her effort to convince Fran
ceS of her lovers innocence and so
pour balm into the young girls own
heart and carry some consolation TO
that Of the now utterly despairing
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
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 sor-
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
by 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
a moment think it possible that he had
been guilty of the disgraceful charge
with which he now was stigmatiZed.
l.
which seemed to condemn him, had
not been SO generous in her thoughts
toward Sdyney, but for the love she
felt for him; but blindly generous she
most certainly was, for she discredited
all the evidence that bore so heavily
against Sydney, well satisfied by his
mere look that he was unjustly ac-
cused, and angry that his word alone
had not power to sweep into nothing
ness the combination of unhappy cir
curnstances which, in the eyes of his
Judges, branded him as guilty.
But when Mrs. Willoughby had ac-
counted for her grandson's possession
of the money with which he had paid
his losses at the gaming table, not only
was Frances, in her love, contented to
believe that Sydney was not guilty, out
her reason was also most fully salts
fed of his innocence.
A robbery had been committed, that
was clear; but who-since Sydney was
So entirely innocent-who was the
criminal, and where the hope to trace
him out?
A thought as torturing perhaps to
Frances as to Sydney himself, since
his happiness was her happiness-his
condemnation and despair, her shame
and agony.
And Mrs. Willoughby quilted Fran
COS nj last to carry, as she hoped, In
repeating the words that had been
snoken by the woman he loved, con-
soling balm to her poor grandson's
now utterly desolate SOUL
Sir Loghlen was somewhat angry
with his niece that she had granted
an Interview to Mrs. WilloughDy, ana
demanded to know how 1t was lhat
Frances was now interested IN ram
,ilv of which three months Derore shs
had known nothing whatever.