Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-07-30
CHAPTER XIV.


lieved as he and Kitty left the garden to-
gcther.
CHAPTER XIV.
She tried to think of Bennvdeck
Her eyes followed him as long as he was
IN sight, but her thoughts wandered. To
look at him now was to look at the little
companion walking by his side. Still, the
child reminded her OF the living father; still,
the child innocentiy tortured her with the
consciousness of deceit. The falthless man
from whom the law had released her possess
ed himself Of her thoughts, in spite OF the
law. He and he only, was the visionary
companion Of her solitude when she was left
by herself.
Did he remind her OF the sin that lie had
committed? or the insult that he had in
hlcted ON the woman whom he had vowed 10
love and cherish? No! he recalled to her the
years of love that she had passed by his side;
he upbraided her with the happiness which
she had owed TO him in the prime and glory
of her life. Woman! set that against the
wrong which have done to you. You have
the right 10 condemn me and society has the
right to condemn mc-bu: | am your child's
father still. Forget me II you can!
All thought will bear the test of solitude,
excepting only the thought that finds its orr
gin in hopeless self-reproach. The soft myS-
terry of twilight, the solemn silence of the
slowly coming night. dauiIted Catherine in
that lonely place She rose to return to light
and human beings. As She set her face to-
ward the house discovery confronted her
She was not alone.
A woman was standing on the path, APP
parently looking at her.
In the dim light and ut the distance be-
tween them recognition Of the woman was
impossible. She neither moved nor spoke.
Strained 10 their utmost point OF tension,
GATHERINGS nerves quivcrcd ut the sight OF
that shadOwy, solitary figure. She dropped
back on the seat. In tones that trcmblcd she
said: who are you" What do you want?'
The voice that answered was, like her own
voice faint with fear II said: Il want a
word with You"
Moving slowly forward stopping NOV
ing onward again -hcstating again-thc wo-
man at last approached There was light
enough left To reveal her face, now that she
was nsar 1t was the face OF Sydney West
eriield.
The survival OF childhood, in the mature
human being, betEys itself most readily in
the sex that bears children. The chances
and changes Of life show the chId's mobility
ar emotion constantly asSoclatng itself with
the passions of the woman. At tie moment
of recognition the troubled mind OF Catherine
was instantly steadied, under the iniuenC
OF that cOaTScst sense which levels with
the anlmalS-thc sense of anger.
81 am amazed at your autlacity,' she said.
There was no rescntmcnt-thcrc was only
.rt,I,,,,tg,.t,,,, IA, g..
Twice have approached the house in
which you are living, and twice my courage
has failed me | have gone away again.
have walked, don't know where, | don't
know how far. Shame aud fear seemed to
hc inscnsibic 10 fatigue. This is my third
attempt. / was Il little nearer to you |
think You would sec what trc effort has cost
me. have not much to say May | ask
you to hear me?'
You have taken me 10y surprise, Miss
Westcriicld. You have no right to do that;
refuse Ia hear YOU
Try, madam, Ia bear in mind that no UNI
happy creature, in my place would expose
herself Ia your anger and contempt without
Il serious reason. viii You think again.
Nor
Sydney turned to go away and suddenly
stopped.
Another person was advancing from the
hotel; an interruption, "A trivial domestic in
terruption, presented itself The nursemad
had missed the child, and had come into the
garden To see ii she was with her mother
Where is Miss Kitty maam?' the girl
asked
Her mistress told her what had happened,
and sent her To the palace To relieve Capt.
Bcunydcck of the charge that he had under
taken. Susan listened looking ut Sydney
and recognizing the familiar face. As the
girl moved away, Sydney spoke to her.
~ hope little Kitty Is we'll and happy
The mother doesn't live who could have
resisted the tone IN which that question was
put The broken heart, the love for the child
that still lived in it, spoke In accents that
even touched the servant. She came back;
remembering the happy days when the gov
erncss had won thcs hearts ut Mount Nor
ven and, for the moment at least rcm>mbcr.
ing nothing else.
Quite we'll and happy, miss, thank You"
Susan said
As she hurried away on her GRAND she
saw her mistress heckon to Sydney to return
and place a chair for her The nurSemaid
was not near enough 10 hear what followed.
Miss Ncstcrtcld, | regret what | said to
you just now; ask You to pardon me"
,,s.i
u" ''"I' N"t"N '"'''''"'o P"'"'v" " ''e
c'at' am tea"N F" ne" YOU sue re-
SuUied eu' nave s"'"''"'"i 10 ASK hrsI.
Does "hal YOU WISH |" SAY To me relate only
I" soa'Se,''
II ,','''N 20 "''o''''' l"'>"" ~ "ei' ~ u
NY n..,..,... ..,..,..,
~ ~ '',' ~, " "''i'"
~ ~ ,.,'',''''v Wv "'',, !" i',N'I"
-, - ''''' ''''' nav "'' wv
~ '''' "'.V' P''N'", S"' S"'' h'"ns
MI, ii''"c.' l4lh''N
SNah'S interrupts" hrr IN words Whct
S''c "'S Vu'H''N "'P''lh''H 10 near.
S.''' "'N'' sue MI l''Io't' h'n''S
Hsall.
'itaS ne utNrrtHu yen.
No II is who have lett hm."
Your
The emphasis hil" on that one word forced
Sydney To jtSN'u herself inr tAe inst time.
III had not left HIM Of my own free
will, >he said, what else w1ull excuse me
for veoia'Hg To c"nle hrre"'
GATHERINGS S''u~,' at justice tc,t the force
81 that reply. Al the same time, her sense
oi INJURY SIT it, own construction on sgd
hcN'S motive. Has hi' cruelty driven YOU
away nom hlu" Size asked.