Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-07-16

at Bucks hotel is described as widow. The
bare doubt that my divorced wife might be
the woman was bad enough-but what l
wanted 10 find out was how she had passed
off her false pretense on our child. That was
what maddened me! No more of it now.
Have you seen Catherine lately?'
Not lately"
81 suppose she is as handsome as ever.
When will you ask her to let me see Kitty
Leave that to me-" was the one reply
which Randall could venture to make at that
moment.
The serious embarrasSments that surround
ed him were thickening fast His naturally
frank nature urged him TO undeceive Her
bert II he followed his inclinatiOns, in the
near neighbOrhOod of the hotel, who could
say what disasters might lot ensue in his
brothers present frame of mind? IL he made
the disclosure on their return to the house lie
would be only running the same risk of
consequences after an interval Of delay, and,
If he remained silent, the march Of events
might at any moment lead to the discovery
OF what he had concealed. Add to this that
his confidence in Catherine had been rudely
shaken. Having allowed herself to be en-
trapped into the deception proposed by her
mother and having thus far pPrSevered in
that deception, were the chances in favor OF
her revealing her true pOsiton-espec il
she was disposed to encourage Bennydeck's
suit? K ndal's loyalty to Catherine heSitated
to decide that serious question against the
woman he had known, trusted, and admired
for 50 many years. In any event, her second
marriage would lead 10 one disastrous result
Ii would sooner or later come to Herbert 5
ears In the meantime, after what Mrs.
Prcsty had confessed, the cruel falsehOOd
which had checked poor Kitty's natural III
qu,ries raised an insuperabie obstacle to a
meeting between father and child.
If Randall shrdnk from the prospect which
thus presented itself 10 him, in his relations
with his brother and if his thoughts reverted
| to Sydney WestprIield. other reasons for APP
| prehen~un found their way into his mind.
! He had promis ri to do his best toward per-
| suading Catherine to grant Sydney an inter
view. 70 perform that promise appeared to
! be now simply imp0 bic. Under the exas
! perating influence disappointment TO
| which he was not p pared, it was hard t
| BAY whatact of inIprudence Sydney nigh
| not commit. Even the chance of successful
! ly cOnlding her TO Bennydcck'S protection
| had lost something of its fair promise sine,
! Randals visit TO Sydcnham. That the cap
tain would welcome bis friends daughter a
| atlcctionately as if She had been his owl
! child was not to be doubted for moment
| But that she would receive the same unre
hitting attention while he was cOurtin!
! Catherine which would have been offered t
her under other circumstances was not 10 b.
hoped BE the results. however. what they
| might Randall could see but one plain courS
! before him now He decided on hastenin:
| Sydney'S introduction TO BeHnydeck and OF
writing at once to prepare the captain TO
that event.
Even this apparently simple groceedin:
required examination in its different bear
ings before he could begin his letter.
Would he be justified III abiding to Benny
decks supposed relations with Catherine
Considerations of delicacy seemed t. forbiC
taking this liberty, even with an intimate
friend. 1t was for the captain to confirm
what Mrs. PrcSty had said of him, if Ia
thought ii desirable to touch on the subjec
in his reply. Besides, looking to Catherine
interests and not forgetting how she hat
suffcrcd-bad Randall any right to regar,
with other than friendly feelings a seconC
marriage which united her to man moral,
and intellectually the superior of her frs
husband? What happier future could avail
her specially if she justified RIndaHs pas
experience of all that was candid and truth
full in her CharaCter-than to become hi
friends wife?
Written under the modifying influence %
these conclusions his letter contained tin
few words that follow:
Il have news for YOU which am sure yol
will be glad To hear. Your old friends daugh
ter has abandoned her sinful way of life, ant
lii
of her repentance. Without entering int
particulars which may be mCrcifuliy dismiss
ed from notice. let me only assure YOU that
answer for Sydney Wcstcrlcld rs beins
worthy of the iatherly interest which You
feel in her Shall say that she may cXpec
an early visit from YOU when | see her to
morrow? | don't doubt that | am free al
ready Ia do this, but 1t will encourage the
poor girl if | can speak with your authority.
lie added Sydncy's address in postscript
and dispatched his letter that evening.
On the afternoon of the next day two let
tcrS were delivered to Randall, bearing tn,
Sydenham poStmark.
The first which he happened to take NJ
was addressed to him in Mrs. Presty's hand
writing. His opinion of this correspondent
vas expressed in prompt action-he threw
the letter, unopened, into the waStc-papp
basket.
The next letter was from BCmnydCCk, writ
ten in the kindcSt terms. but containing II,
alluSion to any contemplated change in hi
life He would not be able (hc wrotc) t.
leave Sydcuham for day or two. No eX
PLANTATION of the cause of this delay followed
But 1t might, perhaps, be cXcusahIc to mfe
that the marriage had not yet been decided
ON, and that tine captains proposals wer,
still waiting for GATHERINGS reply.
Randall put the letter in his pocket ant
went at once TO Sydncy's lodgings.