Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-08
T'lG Evil Genius.
a. DOMESTIC STORY.

UiASuGeSL D6duby -cIu Il6 QOU mad not yet
been taken into the garden! Kitty at once
led the way out; SO completely preoccupied
in steering the perambulator in a straight
course that she forgot her uncle and the para
sol. Only waiting to remind her husband
and Sydney that they were wasting the beau
tiful morning indoors Mrs Lnley followed
her daughter-and innocently placed fatal
obstacle in Mrs. Presty'S way by leaving the
room. Having consulted each other by
look, Linley and the governess went out next
Left alone with Randall, Mrs. Presty's anger,
under the complete overthrow of her care
fully laid scheme, set restraint at defiance.
My daughters married life is wreck"
she burst out, pointing Electrically to the
door by which Linley and Sydney WeSter-
field had retired. ''And Catherine has the
vile creature whom your brother picked up
in London to thank for it! Now do you I'M
derStand me?'
LESS than ever" Randall ansWered-"un-
less you have taken leave of your senses"
Mrs. Presty recovered the command of her
temper.
On that fine morning her daughter might
remain in the garden until the luncheon bell
rang. Linley had only to say that he wish
ed to speak with his wife, and the private in
terview, which he had so rudely insisted on
as his sole privilege, would assuredly take
place. The one chance left Of still defeating
him on his own ground was to force Randall
to interfere by convincing him of his broth
er's guilt. Moderation of language and COM
poSure Of manner offered the only hopeful
prospect of reaching this end. Mrs. Presty
assumed the disguise Of patient submission,
and used the irresistible influence Of good
humOr and good sense.
.GT
you have said of me-" she replied. My in
discretion has deserved it. Iought to have
produced my proofs, and have left it to you
to draw the conclusion. Sit down, if you
please. won't detain you for more than
few minutes"
Randall had not anticipated such modera-
ton as this; he took the chair that was near
est to Mrs. Presty. They were both now sit
ting with their backs turned to the entrance
from the library to the draWing-room.
IT won't trouble you with my own impress
sions," Mrs. Presty went on, Il will be care
ful only to mention what have seen and
heard. If you refuse to believe me I refer
you to the guilty persons themselves"
She had just got to the end of those intro
ductory words when Mrs. LinIey returned, by
way Of the library, to fetch the forgotten
parasol.
Randall insisted on making Mrs. Presty ex-
press herself plainly. ''YOu speak Of guilty
persons" he said. ''Am [ to understand
that one of those guilty persons is my broth
er?'
Mrs. Linley advanced step and took the
parasol from the table. Hearing what Ran
dial said, she paused, wondering at the
strange allusion to her husband. In the
meanwhile Mrs. Presty answered the ques-
ton that had been addressed to her.
Yes she said to Randall; II mean your
brother and your brothers MISUNDERSTANDING
Westerfeld."
Mrs. Linley laid the parasol back on the
tables and approached them.
She never once looked at her mother: her
face, white and rigid, was turned toward
Randall. To him, and to him only, she spoke.
''What does my mothers horrible language
mean?" she asked.
Mrs. Presty triumphed inwardly; chance
had decided in her favor after all. Don't
you see," she said to her daughter, that
am here to answer for myself?''
Mrs. Linley still looked at Randall, and
still spoke to him. lit is impossible for me
to insist on an explanation from my mother
she proceeded. mo matter what may feel
ask you again-you who have been listening
to her-what does she mean?'
Mrs. PreSty'S sense of her own Importance
refused to submit to being passed over in this
way.
However insolently you may behave,
Catherine, you will not succeed in provoking
me. Your mother is bound to open your
eyes to the truth. You have rival in your
husbands affections and that rival is your
g0YerneSS. Take your own course now;
have no more to say" With her head high
in the air-looking the picture of conscious
virtue-the old lady walked out.
At the same moment Randall seized his
first opportunity of speaking.
He addressed himself gently and respect
fully to his sister-in-law. She refused to
hear him. The indignation which Mrs.
PreSty had reused in her made no allow
anceS and was blind to all sense of right
Don't trouble yourself to account for your
silence" she said most unjustly. You were
listening to my mother without word of re-
monStrance when l came into the room.
You are concerned in this vile SANDER, too"
Randall considerably refrained from pro-
yoklng her by attempting to defend himself,
while she was incapable of understanding
him. you will be sorry when you find that
Jo1 1A't Y SStlIA.
and left her.
She dropped into chair. If there was
any one distinct thought in her at that mo.
ment it was the thought of her husband. She
was eager to see him; she longed to say to
him: My love, l don't believe word of
itp' He was not in the garden when she re.
turned for the parasol, and Sydney was not
in the garden. Wondering what had become
of her father and her governess Kitty had
asked the nursemaid to look for them. What
had happened since? Where had they been
found? After some hesitation Mrs. Linley
sent for the nurSemaid. She felt the strong
est reluctance, when the girl appeared, to APP
proach the very inquiries which she was in
: terested in making.
"Have you found Mr. LinIey?' she said
with an effort
Eyes, ma'am.''
'tWhere did you find him?"
''Ir the shrubbery."
did your master say anything?"
II slipped away, ma'am, before he saw
me-"
'Why?"
Miss Westerfield was in the shrubbery