Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-24

ADOMESTIC STORY.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.


strange gent!cman's name. The captain
heard her. My name is Bennydeck," he
said; will you come to me?'
Kitty had heard the name mentioned in
connection with a yacht Like all children,
she knew friend the moment she looked at
him. 'I'ye seen your pretty boat, sir" she
sail, crossing the room to Capt. Bennydeck.
SIS it very nice when yOu 90 saiing"'
If you were not going back to London,
my dear l should ask your mamma to let me
take you sailing with me- Perhaps we shall
have another opportunity"
The captains answer delighted Kitty.
''Oh, yes, tomorrow OF next dayr' she sug-
gested. ''DO you know where to find me in
London? Mamma, where do | live, when |
am in LOndon?" Before her mother could
answer, she hit on new idea Don't tell
me; I'll find it myself. It's on grandmam-
mas boxes, and they're in the passage"
Capt. Bennydecl's eyes followed her, as
she left the room, with an expression Of in
terest which more than confirmed the favor
able impression that he had already pro-
duced on Catherine. She was on the point
of asking if he was married and had children
OF his own whea Kitty came back, and de-
clared the right address to be Bucks hotel,
Sydenham. Mamma puts things down for
fear OffOrgetting Them" she added. "Will
you put down Buck?"
The captain picked up his pocket-bOOk
and appealed pleasantly to Mrs Ormond.
May | follow your eXample?' he asked.
Catherine not only humOred the little Joke.
but, gratefully remembering his kindness,
said: Don't forget when you are in Lon
don that kitty'S invitation is my invitation,
too" At the same moment DunCtual Mrs.
Presty looked at her watch and reminded
her daughter that railways were not in the
habit OF allowing passengers to keep them
waiting. Catherine rose and gave her hand
TO the captain at parting. Kitty improved
on her mothers form Of farewell; she gave
him kiss and whispered little reminder
of her own: There's a river in London
don't forget your boat"
Capt. BennydeCk opened the door for them
and stood by it, secretly wishing that he
could accompany Mrs. OrmOnd and Kitty to
London.
Mrs. PreSty made no attempt to remind
him that she was still in the room. Where
her family interests were concerned the old
lady was capable Con very slight encourage
meED Of looking a long way into the future.
She was looking into the future now. The
be desired; he was evidently in easy pecun-
iary circumstances; he admired Catherine
and GATHERINGS child. If he only proved
to be single man., Mrs Presty'S prophetic
soul, without waiting an instant to reflect
perceived a dazzling future. Capt Benny
deck approached to take leave. "N0t just
yet, pleaded the most agreeable of women !;
''my luggage was ready two hours ago. Sit
min Nny
to like my little granddaughter"
IF had such child as that" the captain
answered, Il believe l should be the hap
piest man living"
"Ah, my dear sir, all isn't gold that gilt
tiers, y Mrs. PreSty remarked. THAT prOyerb
must have been originally intended to apply
to children. May presume to make you the
subject of guess? | fancy you are not a
married man."
The captain looked little surprised. you
are quite right" he said; Il have never been
married"
At later period Mrs. PreSty owned that
she felt an inclination to reward him for con-
Tossing himself to be bachelor by kiss.
He instantly checked that impulse by put
ting a question. Had you any particular
reason" he asked, ''fOr guessing that / was
a single man"
Mrs. Presty mOdeStly acknowledged that
she had only her own experience to help her.
You wouldn't be quite so fond Of other peO-
pies children" she said, eff you were mar
ried man. All, your time will come yeti
mean your wife will come"
He answered this sadly. MY time has
gone by. | have never had the opportunities
that have been granted to some favored
men," He thought of the favored man who
had married Mrs OrmOnd. Was her huS-
band worthy of his happiness? us Mr. Or
mOnd with you at this place?' the captain
asked.
Serious issues depended on the manner in
which this question was answered. For one
moment, and for one mOmenG only, Mrs.
Presty hesitated. Then Gin her daughters
interests, of course) she put Catherine in the
position of a widow, in the least blamable
of all possible ways, by honestly owning the
truth.
There is no Mr. Ormond," she said.
'Your daughter is widowv' cried the
captain, perfectly unable to control his de-
light at that discovery.
What else should she be?" Mrs. Presty
replied, facetiously.
What else, indeed! If mo Mr. Ormond"
meant Gas 1t must mean) that Mr.. Ormond
was dead, and it the beautiful mother Of
Kitty was an honest woman, what else could
she be but widow? Capt. Bennydeck felt
a little ashamed Of his own impetuosity. Be
fore he had made up his mind what to say
next the uniucky waiter doomed to be a
cause of disturbance on that day. appeared
again.
Il beg your pardon, ma'am,' he said; the
lady and gentleman who have taken these
rooms have just arrived"
Mrs. PreSty got up in hurry and cordially
shook hands with the captain. Looking
round she took up the railway guide and her
knitting left on the table. Was there any
thing else left about? There was nothing to
be seen. Mrs. PreSty crossed the passage to
her daughters bedroom to hurry the pack
ing Capt. Bennydeck went downstairs On
his way back to the yacht
In the hall of the hotel he passed the lady
and gentleman, and, of course, noticed the
lady. She was little and dark and would
have been pretty if she had not looked i'll
and out of spirits. What would he have said.
what would he have done, if he had known
that those two strangers Were Randall Lin
ley's brother and Roderiek Westerfeld's
daughter?
CHAPTER XNNVI.
The SteaIthv influence of distruSt fastens