Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-10-31
The Evil Genius.
no. &c STORY.
BY NII.kIE COLLINS.
EE.OHE THE STORY.

fH'S - t.r forenoon OF the next DAY. MIS-
l.niey. runnn; out 70 the head of the stairs
10 meet her husband. saw him approaching
her without a trIvc,ius companion. Where
Is the Covcg-le>>? she ashed-when the first
salutes allowed her an opportunity OF speak
Ing.
''On her Way to bed. poor soul, under the
care of the housekeeper." Linley answered
Anything infections, my dear Hcr5eri:'
Mrs. Prcsty inquired, appearing at the break
iastroom door.
Linley addressed his reply II his wife.
Nothing more serious, Catherine, than
want of strength. She was in such a state
of fatigue after our long night journey that
had 10 lit her ont of the clrriage.'
MIS-. Prcsty .istened with an appearance
OF the deepest interest. Quite a novelty in
the way OF 4 Coverncss,' she said. May
ask what her name is"'
Sydney Wcst;'riield.
Mrs. Presty looked at her daughter and
smiled satiricaly.
Mrs. Linley remonstr ted.
surely" she said :" gu don't object to the
young lady's name?'
Il have no opinion tn offer, Catherine.
don't believe in the nai.ie."
''Oh, mamm' do y,a suspect that it's an
assumed n..... -
My dear, haven't doubt that it is. May
I ask another question: the old lady cOntin-
ued turning to Linlty. What references
did Miss Westeriield give you?"
NO references at all"
Mrs Presty rose with the alacrity Of
young woman and hurried to the door. "Fol-
low ny CO IA. &c, she said to her daughter,
o.. ...r way out Lock up your jewel-box."
Linley drew deep breath of relief when
he was left alone with his wife. "What
makes yorr mother so particularly disagree
able this morning?' he inquired
She doesn't approve, dear, of my leaving
It to you to choose goyerncss for Kitty"
"Where is Kitty?".
'Out on,her pony for ride over the hills.
Why did you send a telegram, Herbert, to
prepare me for the governess? Did you real
ly think might be jealous of Miss Wester-
tield?'
Lin'ey burst out laughing. mo such idea
entered my head,' he answered. ut isn't
In you. my dear, to be jealous"
Mrs. Linley was not quite satisfied with
this view Of her character. Her husbands
well-intended compliment reminded her that
there are occasions when any woman may be
jealous, no matter how generous and how
gentle she may be. I'VE won't go quite so
She stopped unwilling to dwell too long on
a delicate subject He loosely finished the
sentence for her. because we don't know
what may happen in the future?" he suggest.
ed; making another mistake by making q
joke.
Mrs. Linlcy returned to the subject of the
governess.
Il don't at all say what my mother says"
she resumed, but was it not just little in
discreet to engage Miss Westertield without
any references"
UNLESS l am utterly mistaken" LRley re.
piled, ''you would have been quite as indis-
Greet In my place. Ii you had seen the hor-
rible woman who Prosecuted and inSuited
her"
His wife interrupted him. "H0w did all
this Happen, Herbert? Who first introduced
you to Miss WesterIield?'
Liniey mentioned the advertisement, and
described his interview with the school-mis-
tress. Having, next acknowledged that he
had received asvist from Miss Westerfield
i, herself, be- repeated all that she had been
able to tdlI HIN of lier fathers wasted life
and melancholy end. Really interested by
this time, Mrs Linley was eager for more
information. Her husband hesitatod. II
would rather you heard tho rest of it from
Miss West,rfield," he said, ''in my absence" "
why IN your absencey'
because she can speak to you more free
ly when am not present Hear her tell her
own story, and then let me know whether
you think have made mistake. l submit
to your decision beforehand. whichever way
1t may incline"
Mrs. LinIey rewarded him with kiss II
married stranger had seen them at that
moment he would have been reminded of
forgotten days-:he days OF his honeymoon.
And now" Linley resumed. suppose we
talk little about ourselves. haven't seen
my brother yet Where is Randal?'
Staying at the farm to look after your in.
terests. We expect him to come back to-
day. All. Herbert, what do we not all owe
to that dear, good brother Of yours? There
Is really no end to his kindness. The last Of
our poor highland families, who have emf
grated to America, have had their expenses
privately paid by Randall. The wife has
written to me, and has let out the secret.
There Is an American newspaper among the
letters that arc waiting your brother return,
sent to him Is little mark OF attention by
these good. grateful people" Having allud-
ed to the neighbors who had left Scotland,
Mrs. Linley was reminded of other neigh.
bors who had remained. She was still relat-
ing events Of local interest when the clock
interrupted her by striking the hour of the
nursery dinner. What had become of Kittyf
Mrs. Linley rose, and rang the bell to make
inquiries
On the point of answering. the servant
looked round at the open door behind him.
i. He drew aside and revealed Kitty in the cor.
ridor, hand in hand with Sydney Westerfield
who timidly hesitatcd at entering the room.
"Here she Is, mamma" cried the child. II
think she Is afraid Of you; help me to pull
her in." ~ zr =
Mrs. Linley advanced to receive the new
member of her household, with the irresisti-
bic grace and Kindness which charmed every
stranger who approached her. 'Oh, it's all
right" said Kitty. ~Syd Hikes me, and
like Sgd. What do you think? She lived in
London with cruel woman who never gave
her enough 10 eat Sec what good girl
AM! I'm, beginning 10 fed her already. /"
Kitty pulled box OF sveetmeats out Of her
pocket and handed It to the governess with
atap ON the lid, suggestive of an old gentle
mai offering pinch of snuff to friend
My dear child, You mustn't speak to Miss
Westerfield in that wayi Pray excuse her."
said Mrs. Linley, turning to Sydney with Z
smile; u am afraid she has been disturbing
you in your ROOM 90
Sydney's silent answer touched the moth
ers heart; she kissed her little friend. II
hope You will let her call me Sgd" she said
gently; lit reslinds me Of happier time. "
Her voice faltered; she could say no more.
, Kitty explained, with the air of a grown per
son encouraging child. II know all about
1t mamma. She means the time when her
papa was alive. She lost her papa when she
was little girl like me. l didn't disturb
her. only said My names Kitty; may /
get upon the bed? And she was quite will.
ing, and we talked And Ihelped her dress. !"
Mrs. Linley led Sydney to the sofa and stop
ped the flow of her daughters narrative.
The look, the voice. the manner of the gov
erness had already made their simple appeal
to her generous nature. When her. husband
took Kitty's hand to lead her with him out
of the room, she whispered as he passed :
"You have done quite right; l haven't a
doubt of II nowv'
III.
The two ladies were alone.
Widely as the lot In life of one differed
from the lot in life Of the other, they pre-
scented contrast In personal appearance
which was more remarkable still In the
prime Of life, tall and fair-the beauty of her
delicate complexion and her brilliant blue
eyes, rivaled by the charm Of figure which
had arrived at its mature perfection Of de.
- velopment-Mrs. Linley sat side by side
with Tran little dark-eyed creature, thin
I and pale, whose wasted face bors. patieu,
witness to'the three crlelest privations undel
winch youth can suffer-want of fresh air
want OF nourishment and want Of kindness