The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-04-13
whittier Bounde
CHAPTER /.


The Dreadnought steamboat was on
her way from the city of Bristol to the
town of Wexford, in Ireland.
OF the rather considerable number
Of passengers who, oil this occasion,
were on board the vessel, we shall
have to do but with very few-With
those only, in fact, who are destined
10 figure :; ,meWhat prominently i'll our
story
Now, as we go on board, the Dread
,u0ught is skirting the coast of Ireland,
and is making her way rapidly toward
Wexford. the port. as we have just
said, to which she was bound.
There was fair, light wind and a
very slightly ruf1led ocean.
Impatiently treading the after deck
was q gentleman decidedly young, and
whose almost perfectly-regUlar feat
UweS would have entitled him to be
called at least good-looking, but they
were disfigIIred always by an evil eX-
preston which was too natural to his
countenance to be concealed or dis
xuiSed from those who were ObServant,
and had skill to read ''the human face
divine"
AS this gentleman paced rapidly to
and fro his lips were Quivering with
Sl1iN IAIo " -
would now and again fash look of
terrible hatred toward an elderly,
white haired man. who was standing
about midship, conyersing lightly and
BIeaSantly with q few of the more
AumbIe passengers on board the yes
&eI.
The Old man. who was well and
pIainly dressed and who might, per-
shapS, been mistaken for q fortunate,
or retired tradeSman was, i'll fact and
tad been for many years, the pro-
foundly-trusted and highly-eSteemed
EeFVant-We had almost written friend
of Sir Loghlen O'Meara, an Irish bar
.anet
james Frampton had been sent by
his master to England on 4 very i'm
Fortant mission, and his return toward
l2reiand had been FASTENED by news
forwarded to him that the bar0net lad
been seized with an alarming illness.
And with James FramptCn, now, on
board the vessel, was the niece of Sir
G4oehfpn O'NIeara.
She had been for some time staying
In London, at her uncle's mansion
there; and she, too, urged by the deep
-eud grateful affection she felt for him,
was hurrying, fast as steam could pear
i her. back to the baronet; and great
was her anxiety to be once more by
his side.
Frances O'Meara, the baronets
niece. was an orphan. Her fathef nau
been Sir Loghlens brother; her mother
an Englishwoman, and long the reign
ing belle of her day.
And fair and lovely as had been her
smother. so was the daughter now.
Frances O'Meara, and the gentleman
whom we have just described as 50
eretfully pacing the deck, were cous-
gns. ea,
From different branch OF the ram
ny sprang Stanley Claremont' VINO was
entirely of English origin.
We too. was Fastening toward the
baronet, his uncle; but II was love "
bis own interest only which was urg
ing him to that from WHICH nc u"i ="
not seek to escape.
IN the same GRAND in London nad
STANLEY Claremont and the baronets
faithful servant been lately employed.
with this difference. that James
g1ranpton had been accredited py MS
ma ster. and Stanley Claremont hau
heen his employer. and had acted Sc
.ratIv and with solely a view 10 us
own interest. 10
Stanley had been unsuccessful III illo
-,v,,.S,,it. had lanes FramptOn encoun-
"A ered better fortune.
vThat was the question when was
now torturing Sir LOghlen'S nepneW
and causing him to stride back"aIus
and forwards on the deck.
And he could obtain no information
from James Frampton, who was
CLOSE and discreet man.
Am If was impossible to Judge ov
ry,{s manner: the old mans race "heh
s1o chose. could be as eXpreSSlollless az
a blank sheet of paper.
On the morrow Frampton Would oe
.again beside the baronet. VINO Woulu
,9y7cn nerhaps. be told all that OF when
e was so greatly his nephew interest,"
fFat he should remain forever lsnola w
stanley did not believe that ms uli-
.rIe was about to die; nor Woulu lne
haronets death. as matters ~ piTs
ent stood. be of any service - n,'
nephew-indeed the very reverse pei
shaps. 4ho+ no had al
avs been Stunned by his uncles ola
,-S-or+. saw himself reduced TO nohor
dn,,aStic with his hatred-to CONFESS
o himself that he was poWeriesS
svoinst his declared enemy.
Is tho old man had failed in his at.
.s,ranted discovery, all would be well
xT;th the Baronets nephew; but, alas,
/. SNn,,nath the stolidity of Frampton's
-eesc go. that smooth, impenetra-
az, ~ mask his features wore-Stanley
S believed that he could al,
Glr,a = secret joy. and the ruin of all
his own most precious hopes;
Il Sl n had little idea that while
aostinr his malignant looks towards
che old servant. 4 pair OF keen eyes