Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-12-19
XIII.


Cumberland lakes two ladies were seated at
the breakfast table. The window of the
room opened on garden which extended to
the waters edge, and on a bOathOuse and
wooden pier beyond. On the pier little
girl was fishing, under the care Of a maid.
After prevalence of rainy weather the sun
was warm this morning for the time of year,
and the broad sheet of water alternately
darkened and frightened as the moving
masses of cloud now gathered and now part
ed over the blue beauty of the sky.
The ladies had finished their breakfast
The elder Of the two-that is to say Mrs.
Presty-toOk up her knitting and eyed her
silent daughter with an expression of impa-
tient surprise.
Another bad night Catherine"'
The personal attractions that distinguished
Mrs. Linley were not derived from the short
lived beauty which depends on youth and
health. Pale as she was, her face preserved
its fine outline; her features had not lost their
grace and symmetry of form. Presenting
the appearance of a woman who had suffer-
ed acutely, she would have been more than
ever Gin the eyes of some mem woman to
be admired and loved.
II seldom sleep well now," she answered,
patiently.
"You don't give yourself chance" Mrs.
Presty demonstrated. ''Here's q fine morn
ing-cOme out for sail on the lake. To
morrow there's concert in the tOwn-let's
take tickets. There's want of what call
elastic power in your mind, Catherine-the
very quality for which your father was 50 re-
markable; the very quality which Mr.. Presty
used to say made him envy MIR. Ormond.
Look at your dress! Where's the common
sense, at your age, of wearing nothing but
black? NObOdy's dead who belongs to us,
and yet you do your best to look as il you
were in mourning"
81 have no heart mamma, to wear colors.n
Mrs. Presty considered this reply to be I'M
worthy of notice. She went on with her
knitting, and only laid it down when the
servant brought in the letters which had ar
rived by the mornings post They were but
two in number, and both were for Mrs. Lin
ley. In the absence of any correspondence
of her own, Mrs. PreSty took possession of
her daughters letters.
''One addressed in the lawyers handwrit-
Ing" she announced; land one from Randall
Which shall open for you first%'
'kandal's letter, if you please"
Mrs. Presty handed it across the table.
ANY news is relief from the dullness of
this place." she said. IF there are no secrets.
Catherine, read it out"
There were no secrets on the first page.
Randall announced his arrival in London,
from the continent, and his intention of stay
ing there for while. He had met with
friend formerly an officer holding high rank
in the navy whom he was glad to see again
"a rich man, who used his wealth admirably
In the interests of the poor and helpless fel-
low-creatures. A 'hOme," established on q
new plan, was just now engaging all his at
tention; he was devoting himself SO unremit-
tingly to the founding of this institution that
his doctor predicted injury to his health at
no distant date. If 1t was possible to per
suade him to take a holiday Randall might
return to the continent rs the travelling com.
panion of his friend.
''rhis must be the man whom he first met
at the club" Mrs. Presty remarked. "Well,
Catherine. suppose there is some more OF
it What's the matter? Bad news?"
Something that wish Randall had not
written. Read it yourself-and don't talk Of
1t afterward."
Mrs. Presty read:
Il know nothing whatever Of my unf0rtu-
nate brother. If you think this a tOo-indul-
gent way of abiding to man who has so
shamefully wrOnged you, let my conviction
that he is already beginning to suffer the
penalty of his crime plead my excuse. Her
berts nature Is, in some respects, better
known to me than it is to you. am per
suaded that your hold on his respect and his
devotion is shaken-not lost He has been
misled by one of those passing fancies, dis
astrouS and even criminal in their results, to
which men are liable when they are led by
no better influence than the influence Of their
senses. 1t is not, and never will be, in the
nature of women to understand this. i fear
] may offend you in what am now writing,
but must speak what believe to be the
truth at any sacrifice. Bitter repentance-if
he is not already feeling it's in store fox
Herbert when he finds himself tied to per-
son who cannot bear comparison with you.
say this, plying the poor girl most sincerely,
when think of her youth and her wretched
past life. How it will end cannot presume
to say. can only acknowledge that do
not look to the future with the absolute de-
spair which you naturally felt when last
saw YOU"
Mrs. Presty laid the letter down, privately
resolving to write to Randall and tell him to
keep his convictions for the future to himself.
A glance at her daughters face warned her,
If she said anything, to choose new sub
ject
The second letter still remained unnoticed.
''Shall we see what the lawyer says?' she
suggested-and opened the envelope. The
lawyer had nothing to say. He simply in
closed letter received at his Office.
Mrs. Presty had long passed the age al
which emotion expresses itself outwardly
by a change of color. She turned pale, never
theless, when she looked at the second letter.
The address was in Herbert Linley's hand.
writing.
XIV.
When she was not eating her meals OF
asleep in her bed absolute silence on Mrs.