Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-17
The Evil Genius.
A DOMESTIC STORY.

Mrs. R0m6ey took more compassionate
view Of the disclosure. Perhaps the poor
lady is to be pitied, " she gently suggested.
Lady Myrie looked at her friend i'll aston
iShment MY dear you must have forgot
ten what the judge said about her. Surely
you read the report of the case in the news
papers?"
No: heard of the trial, and that's all
What did the Judge say"'
"Say?" Lady Myrie repeated. What die
he not say! His lordShip declared that he
had great mind not to grant the divorce a
all. He spoke of this dreadful woman who
has deceived us in the seyereSt terms; he
said she had behaved in a most improper
manner. She had encouraged the abOmin
able governeSs, and, if her husband had yield
ed to temptation, it was her fault. And more
besides that | don't remember"
Nj. Romsey's wife appealed to him in de
Spair. What am to dO?" she asked, help
lesSIy.
do nothing" was the wise reply. ''Didnt
you say she was going away Tomorrow"
''Thats the worst Of it.'' Mrs. ROnirey de.
cIared. Her little girl Kitty gives a fare
well dinner tomorrow to our children, and
I've promised to take them to say g0Od-by'
Lady Myrie pronounced sentence without
hesitation ''Of course your girls mustn't
go D4ughters Think of their reputation
when they grow up.'
Are YOU in the same scrape with ny
wife" Mr.. ROmsey asked.
Lady A-rre corrected his language. u
have been deceived in the same way" she
said. Though my children are boys (which
perhaps makes a difference feel it my
duty as a mother not to let them get into bad
company. l do nothing myself in an under
hand way. No excuses! / shall send a note
and tel Mrs. Ormond why she doesn't see
my boys Tomorrow"
"Surely that's little hard on her?7 said
merciful Mrs BOmsey.
Mr. Romsey agreed with his wife, on
grounds Of exDediency. Never make a
row if You can help it, was the peaccabIe
principle to which this gentleman commit
ted himself "Send word that the children
have caught colds, and. get over it in that
way"
Mrs. ROmsey looked gratefully at her adj
mirable husband. ''JuSt the thingr' she
said, with an air of relief
Lady Myrie'S contempt expressed itself
with the stricteSt adherence to the laws of
courtesy. She rose, smiled, and said Good
night"
Almost at the moment innocent little Kitty
aStOnished her mother and her grandmother
by appearing before them in her nightgown
after she had been put to bed nearly two
hours since.
what will this child do nextD' Mrs.
PreSty exclaimed.
Kitty told the truth. Il can't go to sleep,
grandma"
why not, my darling?7 her mother asked.
Pm so excited, mamma"
about what Kitty?'
About my dinner party tomorrow. Oh -
said the child, claSping her hands earnestly
as she thought Of her playfellOWs, Il do so
hope it will go off weIl!'
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Belonging to the elder generation which
has lived to see the age of hurry and has no
sympathy with it, Mrs. Presty entered the
Sitting-rOom at the hotel two hours before
the time that had been fixed for leaving
SandySeal with her mind at ease on the sub
JGct Of her luggage. MY boxes are locked,
strapped, and labeled; l hate being hurried.
What's that your reading?" she asked dis
covering book on her daughters lap and a
hast action on her daughters part which
looked like trying to hide ii.
Mrs. Ormond made the most common and,
where the object is to battle curiosity, the
most useless Of preyaricating replies. When
her mother asked her what she was reading
she answered Nothing"
''Nothing!" Mrs PreSty repeated with an
ironicaI assumption of interest. ''The book
of all others, Catherine, that | most want to
see" She snatched up the book, opened it
at the first page, and discovered an inscrip-
ton in faded ink which reused her indigna-
ton: ''To dear Catherine, from Herbert, on
the anniversary of our marriage" What
unintended mOclIeTy in those words, read by
the later light Of the divorce! ''WeIl, this is
mean" said Mrs. Presty. Keeping that
wretch's present after the public exposure
which he has forced on you. Oh, Cath
eriner'
Catherine was not quite 50 patient with
her mother as usual. Keeping my best re-
membrance Of the happy time of my Iife,'
she answered.
misplaced SENTIMENT Mrs. Presty de-
clared. But [ must make allowances for
you; your mind is giving way, my DEAR un-
der the influence Of this miserable place."
Catherine asserted her own opinion against
her mothers opinion for the second time. i
have recovered my health at SandySeaI," she
said. I like the place, and / am SOrry tC
leave it.
Give me the shop windows, the streets
the life. the racket, and the smoke of Lon
don," cried Mrs. PreSty. THANK heaven.
these rooms are let over our heads, and out
we must 20, whether we like it or not"
This expression of gratitude was followed
by Il knock at the door, and by voice out
side asking leave to come in, which was, be-
You'd all doubt, the voice of Randall LinIey
With GATHERINGS book still in her posses
sion Mrs Presty opened the table-dTawPr
threw it in, and closed the drawer with {;
bang. Discovering the two ladies, Randa
stopped in the doorway and stared at then
i'll astonlshment
Didn't you expect to see us?' Mrs. Presty
inquired.
Il heard you were here from our FRIEND
Sarrazm," Randall said; ''but l expected t.
see Capt. Bennydeck. Have l mistaken the
number? Surely these are his rooms?"
Catherine attempted to explain. They
luerc Capt. Bennydeck's rooms, . she began
but he was so kind, although we are perfec
strangers to him
Mrs. Prtsty interpOsed. My dear Cath
crime, you have not had my advantages; YOU
have not been taught to make a complicated