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


"YOu will soon know what l mean,''
Mrs. Willoughby grapdly said.
And then, drawing her grandSOnS
closer to her side, continued, but you
mustn't mind me, boys; for when any
body is so happy as / am at this pre-
sent moment, it is apt to turn ones
head q little, especially such a poor,
craZed, old he; d as mine. In my pre-
sent condition, nothing seems improb-
able; indeed, it appears to me just
now that the most glowing fairy tale
may have been nothing more than a
mere dry matter OF. fact"
Tony was staring harder than ever.
Something wonderful, has happen
ed, or is going to happen, that's GER
tain, rsLdnother, or you wouldn't
be going on so. | never knew you to
break out in this sort Of way before y
''Ah, my dear boy!' cried Mrs. Will
oughby.
Eyes, GRANDMOTHER, said Tony.
mot you'll mean Sydney resumed
Mrs. Willoughby. And fondly patting
that young gentleman's cheeks, ''All
your troubles and sorrows are at an
end; only wait bit-not many min
uteS now"-and she glanced towards
the clOck-"and then you will have
something to say, l fancy"
Tony was puzzling his brain to no
purpose, and was saying to himself
that he could not arrive at the slight
est notion as to what his grandmother
was going on about.
And seeing her youngest grandson
looking gloomy, as she believed, Mrs.
WilloUghby laughed and said, Per
hapS you have some thought of being
jealous, Master Tony?"
What a likely ideav Tony said,
with great heartiness. Haven't you
as much right to be fond of Sydney
as / have?"
After q pause, and with very
solemn look, Tony whispered to his
grandmother, Gran ma, l am very
uneasy"
Mrs. Willoughby looked greatly an
xiouS.
''PoOr, dear boyv' she cried; what,
then. is the matter with your
And Tony, laughing, said that he
starved to death.
haif-smiling, told him that she expect
ed visitors, so he would have to wait
o bit.
Company coming to dinner?" asked
Tony.
Mrs. Willoughby replied with a dig
nified nod.
Anybody know, grandma %
This time a shake of the head from
the old lady
''SOme one of great impOrtance%
Mrs. WillOughby nodded again.
Don't be SO mysterious, grandmoth-
err shouted Tony. IF it's the en-
peror of China that's coming. say sor'
''WhO knows but you have guessed
it, laughed Mrs. Willoughby.
And presently a carriage was heard
to stop before their door.
Now" said the old lady trium-
phantly, your curiosity, Tony, is about
to be satisfied as to the persons whom
l have been expecting"
Mind your manners, Sydney" Tony
cried to his brother. "Grandma's Wis
itors are not common people who ar
rive in tuppeny 'bus-certainly not;
they hire cab all to themselves
Sydney, busily employed with his
own unhappy thoughts, had scarcely
even heard word of all that Mrs
Willoughby had been saying respect
ing the visitors whom she expected,
but was aroused to terrible conscious
ness as he beheld Sir Loghlen O'Meara
enter the room, leading Frances by the
hand.
Sydney Shrank away, asking himself
what it all could mean. What had
brought there Sir Loghlen and the lady
whom he had believed that he should
never more behold?
Mrs. Wflloughby, although in some
agitation, as will readily be believed,
yet behaved with apparent calmness /;
and with all the dignity of good old
fashioned ceremony, curtSeying pro-
foundry to the baronet and Frances,
and saying, "Sir Loghlen O'Meara,
these are my grandsons, who thank
you for the honor which, by your pres
ent visit, you have conferred upon
themr'
''Sydney's lady love and her uncle."
thought Tony; and he, too, was struck
with wonder and amazement concern
Ing what could have brought them
there.
Sir Loghlen's eye had fallen only en-
Tony, and then he looked doubtingly
and inquiringly toward Mrs. Willough-
by. who understood, and replied by a
smile and significant shake of the
head.
All0W me, Sir LOSnleu, hist 10 pre-
sent to you the eldest of my grand
sons: he of whom we have been speak
ing Mrs. Willoughby said very point
edly to the baronet and believing that
Sydney was at her elbow, but. on
turning around, she saw him out.
Tony had observed his brother hurry
towards the recess of a window, where
now. behind one of its heavy curtains.
he was hidden from al in the room;
but Tony said not a word.
Nor was there any occasion that he
.ho..Id. for. Mrs AVIllnuohhX either.