Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-11
TlG Evil Genius.
A DOMESTIC STORY.
BY WILKIE COLLINS
V II.

-
the guests were in the house; and Mr. and
Mrs. Linley were occupied in making their
arrangements for 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 nyi-
tatiOn. "Our table will be full at dinner"
she said to her husband; Miss Westerfield
had better join US in the evening with Kitty"
4 suppose sc" Linley answered with some
hesitation.
You seem to doubt it, Herbert. Why?"
Il was only wondering"
Wondering about What?"
HAS Miss Westerfeld got a gown, Cath
crime, that will do for party"
IinIey's wife looked at him as if she doubt
ed the evidence of her own senses. Fancy
man thinking of thatr' she exclaimed.
Herbert, you astonish me-"
He laughed uneasily. II don't know how
came to think of it-unless it is that she
wears the same dress every day. Very neat;
but (perhaps I'm wrong a little shabby,
too"
Upon my word, you pay Miss WeSterfeld
compliment which you have never paid to
me! Wear what 1 may, you never seem to
know how I am dressed"
II beg your pardon. Catherine, know
that you are always dressed WELL"
That little tribute restored him to his place
in his wife's estimation. II 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 Westerheld The new dress must
be your gift"
Are you joking?"
II am in earnest Tomorrow is Sydney's
Birthday; and here is my present" She
opened a jewelers. case and took out plain
gold bracelet. Suggested by Kitty" she
added pointing to an inIaid miniature pOr-
trait of the child. Herbert read the inscrip-
ton; TO Sydney WeStcTJtcld, auth Catherine
LjnLeYS LOUe. He gave the bracelet back to
his wife in silence; his manner was more Sc
TiouS 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 the glass and see herself pretti-
ly dressed, with a gold bracelet on her arm
If we consider how men lin one Way) and
milliners Gin anOther) profit by it, vanity is
surely to be reckOned, not among the vices,
but among the virtues OF the sex. VIII any
woman who speaks the truth hesitate to &C
knowledge that her first sensation of graft
fed vanity rank among the most exquisite and
most enduring pleasures that she has ever
felt? Sydney locked her door and exhibited
herself to herself-in the front view, the side
view, and the back view lover the shOuldeT)
with eyes that Sparkled and cheeks that
gIoWed in a delicious confusion of pride and
establishment. She practiced bowling to
strangers in her new dress; she practced
shaking hands gracefully with her bracelet
well in view. Suddenly she stood still be-
fore the glass and became serious and thought
ful. 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 finery. as vain and as
happy as her gOverneSS-drummedW with both
fists outside the door and announced at the
top of her voice that it was time to go down
stairs. Sydney's agitation at the prospect of
meeting the ladies in the drawng-rOOm add
ed a charm of its own to the flush that her
exercises before the glass had left on her
face. Shyly following instead Of leading
her little companion into the room, she pre-
sented such a charming appearance of youth
and beauty that the ladies stopped in their
talk to look at her Some few admired
Kitty's goVerness with generous interest; the
greater number doubted Mrs. Linley's pru-
dence in engaging a girl so very pretty and
SO very young. Little by little Sydney'S
manner-simple, modest, shrinking from OBJ
SeryatiOn-pleaded in her favor even with
the ladies who had been prejudiced against
her at the outset When Mrs. Linley pre-
sented her to her guests the most beautiful
woman among them (AIrS. MacEdwin) made
room for her on the sofa, and with perfect
tact and kindness set the stranger at her ease,
When the gentlemen came in from the din
ner table Sydney was composed enough to
admire the brilliant scene and to wonder
again, as she had wondered already. what
Mr.. LinIey would say to her new dress.
Mr.. Linley certainly did notice her-at a
distance.
He looked at her with mOmentary feryOr
of Interest and admiration, which made Syd-
ney $50 gratefully and SO guiltlessly attached
to hlm) tremble with pleasure; he even STEP
ped forward as il to approach her, checked
himself ana went back again among his
guests. Now in one part Of the room, and
now in another, she saw him speaking to
them. The one neglected person whom he
never even looked at again was the poor girl
to whom his approval was the breath of her
life. Had she ever felt as unhappy as she
felt now? No, not even ather aunt's school
Friendly Mrs MacEdwin 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's kindness. Her commonplace excuse
was true eXcuse--she had headache, and
she asked leave to retire to her room.
Approaching the door, she found herself
face to face with Mr.. Linley. He had just
been giving directions to one of the servants,
and was re-entering the drawing-room. She
stopped, trembling and cold; but, in the very
intensity of her wretchedness, she found
courage enough to speak to him.
1ouseem to avoid me- Mr.. Linley," she
began, speaking with an air of formal re-
spect and keeping her eyes on the ground.
L nope she hesitated and desperately
looked at hlm-'1 hope haven't done any
thing to offend you?"
In her knowledge of him up to that misera-
bic evening he constantly spoke to her with a
smile. She had never yet seen him so serious
and SO lnattentive as he was now. His ewes.
wandering round the room. rested on Mrs.
Linley.brilliant and beautiful, and laugh
ing gayIy. Why was he looking at his wife
with plain signs of embarrassment in his
face? Sydney piteously persisted III repeat
iDor bari o,,o pt