Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-04-02
I'lG Evil Genius.
ADOMESTIC STORY.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.
VII.

In the autumn holiday time friends in the
south, who happened to be visiting Scotland,
were invited to stop at Mount Morven on
their way to the highlands, and were accus-
toned to meet the neighbors of the Linleys
at dinner on their arrival. The time for this
yearly festival had now come round again;
the guests were in the house; and Mr. and
Mrs Linley were occupied in making their
arrangements Tor the dinner party. With
her unfailing consideration for every one
about her, Mrs. Linley did not forget Sydney
while she was sending out her cards of inyi-
tation. sour table viii be full at dinner"
she said TO her husband; Miss Westerfield
had better join US in the evening with Kitty"
Il suppose 81" Linley answered with some
hesitation.
'You seem to doubt it, Herbert. Why?"
81 was only wondering"
"Wondering about WHAT"
HAS Miss Westeriield got a gown, Cath
crime, that will do for party?"
Linley's wife looked at him as if she doubt
ed the evidence Of her own senses. Fancy
man thinking of thatP' she exclaimed.
Herbert you astonish me-"
lie laughed uneasily. II don't know how
/ came to think Of it-unlcss it is that she
wears the same dress every day. Very neat;
but (perhaps Pm wrong little shabby,
too"
Upon my word, you pay Miss Westerfeld
compliment which you have never paid TO
me! Wear what may, you never seem to
know how am dressed"
II beg your pardon, Catherine, l know
that you are always dressed we'll"
That little tribute restored him TO his place
IN his wife's estimation. 81 may tell you
now," she resumed, with her gentle smile,
that you only remind me Of what had
thought OF already My milliner is at work
for Miss Wcsteriicld. The new dress must
b. your gift"
Are you jOking?'
~ am In earnest. Tomorrow is Sydney's
Birthday; and here is mig present" She
opened jewelers. case and took out plain
gold bracelet Suggested by Kitty" she
added, pointing TO an inlaid miniature por
trait of the child. Herbert read the inscrip-
ton; To Sydney WcStcTdCld, t0iHt Catherine
I&nLCvs toUe He gave the bracelet back to
his wife In silence; his manner was more Sc
rious than usual-he kissed her hand.
The day OF the dinner party marked an
epoch In Sydney's life.
For the first time in all her experience she
could look in tho glass and see herself prctti-
~ dressed, with gold bracelet on her arm.
II we consider how men lin one way and
millIners 0n anOtheD profit by 1t, vanity is
surely to be reckOned, not among the vices,
but among tho virtues of the sex. VIII any
woman who speaks the truth hesitate to ac-
knowledge that her first sensation of graft
fled vanity rank among the most exquisite and
most enduring pleasures that she has ever
feltp Sydney locked her door and exhibited
herself to hcrself-in tho front view, the side
view, and the back view lover the shOulder
with eyes that sparklcd and checks that
glOwed In a delicious confusion Of pride and
establishment. She practiced bowling TO
strangers In her new dress; she practiccd
shaking hands gracefully with her bracelet
well in view. Suddenly she stood still be-
fore the glass and became serious and thought
full Kind and dear Mr.. Linley was in her
mind now. While she was asking herself
anxiously what he would think of her. Kitty
arranged In her new iinery, as vain and as
happy as her gOycrncss- drummcd with both
fists outside the door and announced at the
top OF her voice that 1t was time TO 20 down
stairs. Sydneys agitation at the prospect of
meeting the ladies in the drawingrOOm add
cd charm of its own to the flush that her
exercises before tho glass had left on her
face. ShYly following instead OF leading
her little companion into the room, she pre-
scented such charming appearance Of youth
and beauty that the ladies stopped in their
talk TO look at her. Some few admired
kitty's goyernCSs with generous interest; the
greater number doubted Mrs LinIcy's pru-
dence in engaging girl SO very pretty and
so very young, Little by little Sydncy's
manncr-smplc, modest, shrinking from OBJ
scrvation-plcadcd in her favor even with
tho ladies who had been prcjudiccd against
her at tho outset. When Mrs. Linley pre-
scented her TO her guests the most beautiful
woman among them (NfrS. Mac EDWIN made
room for her on the sofa, and with perfect
tact and kindness set the stranger at her ease.
When the gentlemen Camo in from the din
ncr table Sydney was composed enough to
admire tho brilliant scene and to wonder
again, as she had wondered already, what
Mr.. Linlcy would say to her new dress.
Mr.. Linlcy certainly did notice hor-at a
distance.
lilo looked Mt her with momentary fcrvor
OF lntefeStnnd admiration, which made sgd
roy $50 gratefully and SO EuiItlcSsIy attached
10 him) trcmbo with pleasure; he even step
ptu forward rs If 10 approach her, checked
himself, and went hack again among his
guests. Now in ono part of the rOom and
now in another she saw him speaking to
them Tho one neglected person whom he
never even looked Mt again was the poor girl
To whom his approval was the breath of her
life. Had she ever felt rs unhappy as she
felt nowP No, not even at her aunts SCHOOL,
Friendly Mrs. MacEdwn touched her arm.
My dear, you are losing your pretty color.
Are you overcome by the heat? Shall take
you into the next room"'
Sydney expressed her sincere sense of the
lady kindness Her commonplace excuse
was n true cXCusC-Shc had a headache and
she asked leave 10 retire to her room.
Approaching the door, she found herself
face TO face with Mr.. Linlcy. lie had just
been giving directions to one OF the servants,
md was ro-cntering the drawmgroom. She
stopped, trembling and cold; but, IN the very
intensity of her wretChCdness she found
courage enough to speak to him.
You seem to avoid me, Mr.. I4inley," she
began, speaking with an air of formal re-
spcct and keeping her eyes on the ground
II hoppe she hesltated and desperately
looked at him-'I hope | haven't done any
thing to offend you?'
In her knowledge of him up 10 that miSera-
BILE evening he constantly spoke to her with a
smile, She had never yet seen him SO serious
and so tnattentivo as no was now. Ills eyes,
wandering round tho room, rested on Mrs
Linlcy-brillant and beautiful, and laugh
ing gayly Why was he looking at his wife
with plain signs of embarrassment i'm his
NHNN' tNhNNa tlAtVNNtN i'tlNiStNu III repeat
Ing her innocent question: al hope haven't
done anything to offend you?"
lie seemed TO be still reluctant to notice
heron the one occasion Of all others when
she was looking her bcst But he answered
at last
My dear child, II is impossible that YOU
should offend me; You have misunderstood
and mistaken me Don't suppose-pray
don't suppose that am changed or can ever
be changed toward you" He emphasized
the kind intention which those words reveal
cd by giving her his hand
But the next moment he drew back. There
was no Disgusting it, he drew back rs IL he
wished 10 get away from her. She noticed
that his lips were firmly closed and his eye
brows knitted in frown; he looked like
man who was forcing himself to submit to
some hard necessity that he hated or feared.
Sydney left tho room in despair.
He had denied in the plainest and kindest
terms that he was changed toward her. Was
that not enoughP TWAS nothing like enough.
The facts were there to speak for themselves;
he was an altered man; anxiety, sorrow, re-
morse-one or the other seemed to have got
possession OF him. Judging by Mrs. LInley's
gayety Of manner, his wife could not posi-
bly, have been taken into his condolences