Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-08-06
4lG Evil Genius.
A DOMESTIC STORY.
CHATTER XLyU.

the captain had been guilty of weakness
which would have taken his Oldest friends
BY surprise if they had seen him at the mo
ment lie hestated.
a man who has commanded ships and has
risked his life in the regions of the frozen
deep is a man formed by nature and taught
by habit to meet emergency face to face, to
see his course straight before him. and to
take it, lead him where it may. But nature
and habit formidable forces as they are, find
their master when they encounter the pas
sion of love.
At once perplexed and distressed by that
startling change in Catherine which he had
observed when her child approached her,
Bennydeck's customary hrmness failed him,
when the course of conduct toward his be-
trothed wife which it might be most becOm-
ing to follow presented Itself to him as
problem to be solved. When Kitty asked
him to accompany her nursemad and her
self on their return to the hotel he had re-
fused because he felt reluctant to intrude
himself on GATHERINGS notice until she was
ready to admit him 10 her confidence or her
own free will Left alone he began to doubt
whether deicacy did really require him TO
make the sacrifice which he had cOntem-
ulated not five minutes since. 1t was surely
possible that Catherine might be waiting TO
see him, and might then offer the explana-
ton which would prove to be equally a re-
lief on both sides. lie was on his way to the
hotel when he met with Sydney Westertield.
To see a woman in the sOrest need of all
that kindness and consideration could offer,
and 10 leave heT as helpless as he had found
her would have been an act of brutal indif-
ference" revolving to any man possessed of
even ordinary sensibility. The captain had
only followed his natural impulses and had
oay said and done what, in nearly similar
cases he had said and done on other occl-
sinns
Left by himself he advanced r few steps
mechanically, on the way by which Sydney
had escaped him-and then stopped. Was
there any sufficient reason for his following
her aud intruding himself on her notice?
She had recovered, she was In possession of
his address SHE had been referred to per
son who could answer for his good intcn-
tons; all that it was his duty to do had been
done already. He turned back again, in the
direction Of the hotel.
IIcsilating once more hc paused half way
along the corridor which led to GATHERINGS
sltting-room Voices reached him from per
sons who had entered the house by the front
door He recognized Mrs. Prcsty's loud,
friends, and was standing with her back to-
vari him. BcunylccIl waited unObscryrd
until lac saw her enter the sitting room. No
such explanation as hC was in search of could
possibly take place IN the presence Of Cath.
crimes mother lie returned To the garden.
Mrs. PTcsty was in high spirits. She had
enjoyed the festival; she had taken the lead
among the friends who accompanied her to
the pt.acc; she had ordered everything and
had paid To- nothing, at that worst of all bad
ppD.Jr dinners in England, the dinner which
prrt"uds Ia be French. In a buoyant frame
OF mind, ready for more enjoyment If she
could only ind it, what did she see on open
Ing the sitting door To use the CX-
pr11siye language of the stage, G Uterine
was discovered alOne'-wth her elbows on
the table, and her face hidden in her hands
the picture of despair.
Mrs. Presty surveyed the spectacle before
her with righteous Indignation visible in
every line OF her face The arrangement
which bound her daughter to give Benny
deck his FINAL reply ON that day had been
well known 10 her when She left the hotel in
the morning. The conclusion at which she
arrived. on returning at night, was expressed
with Roman hreyity and Roman cioquence
in four words:
ON the poor captain
Catherine suddenly looked mp.
~ know it," Mrs. prcsty continued, with
her stcrncst emphasis; IL soc what you have
done In your face You have refused Benny
deck"
"God forgive me, | have been wicked
enough to accept him."
llcaIing this, some mothers might have
made Apologies. aud other mothCrs might
have asked what that penitcntial reply could
possibly mean Mrs rrcsty was no matron
OF the ordinary type. She welcomed the
good news without taking the smallest notice
OF tho expression of scIfrcproaCh which had
accompanied it.
My dear child, accept the congratulations
of your fond old mother. | have never been
one OF the kissing sort q mean, of course,
where women are concerned but this il an
occasion which juStiticS something quite out
Of the common way. Como and kiss me-"
Catherine took no notice OF that outburst
OF maternal love
81 have forgotten everything that | ought
IN have remembered" shn said. "In my
vanity, in my weakness, in my selfish enjoy
mcnt Of the passing moment. have been too
suprcmeIy happy even To think ut the trials
ri my past lille, and OF the false position in
which they have placed mo toward the man
whom | ought Ia be ashamed la deceive.
have only been recalled to sense OF duty,
might almost say to sense OF dccenCy, by
my poor little child. II Kitty had not re-
minded me of her father
Mrs Prcsty dropped into chair; she was
really frightened. Her fat checks trembled
like Jelly ON a dish that Is suddenly moved.
HAS that man been here? she asked.
what man.
"Ihc man who may break of your mar.
rage II h" meets with The captain. Has
heiu'I' iti'eN l"um '''''
''ilalhN h"'' ho one P'IS"H aSNociateu
WIN my unuhi'S whom nave st'h to-oay
10 NSlneS W eS'erheIa.
MINlitSty bounced out OF her ehalr. i gu
nave see seer, "eSt'rheta' she re-
P1"t'"' WIN ''',Pua''t PauS'S when s express
.yrs. / have s,r,, nor =
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