Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-11-28

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motherinlaw lost the chance of seeing him
whisper 10 SIDNEY. Meet me in the shrub
berry in half an hour" he said She stepped
hack from him Startled by the proposal.
When Mrs. Presty was in the middle of the
room again Liniey and the governcss were
no longer near each other.
Having by this time recovered herself,
Kitty got on her LEGS. Now" the sIoilt
child declared, addressing the company pres
cnt. I'm goimc l. play
The doll wa, PIT into the lvramhulator
and was wheeled about the room. Wide Mrs
Linley moved the chairs out of the way and
Randall attended with the open paraSol-un-
der orders to pretend that The sun was shin
iny" Once more tlle si*naIIny -, ture-book
WAS neglected. Mr.. Prc,;y picked it up
from the floor. determined by this time TO
hold it in reserve until h.r wn-ritc.ul grand
child reached year, OF discretion. She put
it in the bookcase between Byrun's Don
juan" and Buffers Lives OF the :3aints."
In the position which ;!e now occupied,
L:niey WIS visible ~ lEo&clliny Sydney
again. Your Own in:,rc is are seriously
concerned he whispered, iii something
that have TO tel YOU"
Incapable of hearing what passed between
them, Mrs. Presty could see that a secret I'M
derstandiny united her son-iIl-law and the
governess. She looked round cautiously at
Mrs. Linley.
klttys humor had changed: she was now
eager to see the dolls splendid clothes taken
of and put on again. Come and look at
it, she said to Sydney; Il want you to en-
JOY my birthday as much as do" Left by
himself Randall got rid Of he parasol by
putting it on a table near the door. Mrs.
Presty beckoned to him to join her at the
farther end of the room.
II want you TO 90 me favor" she began.
CHANGING at Linley before she proceeded,
Mrs. Presty took up newspaper and affect
Ell to be consulting Randal's opinion on a
passage which had attracted her attention.
Your brother is looking our way" she whis-
percd; ''he mustn't suspect that there is a Sc
cret between u.s.
False pretenses of any kind invariably irri-
tated Randall. What do you want me to
dO?" he asked sharply.
The reply only increased his perplexity.
observe Miss Westerfeld and your BROTH
or. Look at them now"
Randall Obeyed. What is there to look
at?' he inquired.
Cant you see?'
II see they are talking to each other"
"They are talking cOntidentially; talking
so that Mrs. Linley can't hear them. Look
again."
Randall fixed his eyes on Mrs. Presty with
an expression which showed his dislike of
that lady little too plainly. Before he
could answer what she had just said to him
his lively little niece hit on a new idea. The
sun was shining, the flowers were in their
brightest bcauty-and the doll had not yet
been taken into the garden! Kitty at once
led the way out; so completely preOccupied
IN steering the perambu!ator In a straight
course that she forgot her uncle and the para
sol. Only waiting to remind her husband
ana Sydney that they were wasting the beau
| tiful morning indoors, Mrs. Liniey followed
her daughter-and innocently placed fatal
obstacle in Mrs. Presty's way by leaving the
room. Having consulted each other by a
look, Liniey and the g0vcrness went out next
Left alone with Randall. Mrs. PreSty's anger,
under the complete overthrow of her care
| fully laid scheme, set restraint at defiance.
MY daughters married life is wreck"
she burst out, pointing Electrically to the
door by which Linley and Sydney Wester-
fled had retired. And Catherine has the
vie creature whom your brother picked up
I'm London to thank for it! Now do you un-
derstand me?'
LESS than ever" Randall answered-"un-
less you have taken leave of your senses"
Mrs. Presty recovered the command of her
temper.
On that fine morning her daughter might
remain in the garden until the luncheon bell
rang. Linley had only to say that lie wish
ed to speak with his wife, and the private in
terview, which he had SO rildely insisted osl
as his sole privilege, would assuredly take
place. The one chance left of still defeating
him on his own ground was to force Randall
to interfere by convincing him of his broth
er's guilt Moderation of language and COM
p0sure of manner offered the only hopeful
prospect of reaching this end. Mrs. Presty
assumed the disguise of patient submission
and used the irresistible influence of good
humor and good sense.
Il don't complain, Gear Randall, OF what
you have said of me-" she replied. 'My in
discretion has deserved it. l ought to have
produced my proofs, and have left it to you
to draw the conclusion. Sit down, if you
please. Iwon't detain you for more than a
few minutes"
Randall had not anticipated such modera-
ton Is this; he took the chair that was near
est to Mrs. Presty. They were both now sit
ting with their backs turned to the entrance
from the library to the drawing-rOom.
II won't trouble you with my own impress
sions," Mrs. Presty went on, Il will be care
full only to mention what I have seen and
heard. II you refuse to believe me refer
you to the guilty persons themselves"
She had just got to the end of those intro
ductory words when Mrs. Linley returned, by
way OF the library, to fetch the forgotten
parasOl.
Randall insisted on making Mrs. Presty ex-
press herself plainly. You speak of guilty
persons" lie said. Gam l to understand
that one of those guilty persons is my BROTH
er?'
Mrs. Linley advanced step and took the
parasol from the table. Hearing what Ran
dal said, she paused, wondering at the
strange allusiOn to her husband. In the
meanwhile Mrs. Presty answered the ques-
ton that had been addressed to her.
Eyes," she said to Randall; II mean your
brother and your brothers mistrcss-Sydncy
Westeriield."
Mrs. Linley laid the paras0l back on the
tables and approached them.
| She never once looked at her mother; her
face, white and rigid, was turned toward
Randall. To him, and to him only, she spoke.
"What does my mothers horrible language
mean?" she asked
| Mrs Presty triumphed inwardly; chance
had decided in her favor after all. Don't
you see," she said to her daughter, that
am here to answer for mysell?'
Mrs. Linley still looked at Randall, and
still spoke to him. ut is impossible for me
to insist on an explanation from my mother"
she proceeded. mo matter what may feel
/ must remember that she T. my mother. l
ask you again-you who have been listening
to her-what does she meanT'
| Mrs. Presty'S sense of her own importance
refused to submit to being passed over IN this
way.
| However .insolently you may behave,
Catherine, you will not succeed In provoking
me. Your mother Is bound to open your
| eyes to the truth. You have rival in your
| husbands affections, and that rival Is your
! g0verness. Take your own course now; /
have no more to say.", With her head high
in the air-lOoking the picture Of conscious
| virtue-the old lady walked out.
| At the same moment Randall seized his
first opportunity OF speaking.
He addressed himself gently and respect
fully to his sister-in-law. She refused to
hear him. The Indignation which Mrs.
Presty had reused in her made no allow
ances, and was blind to all sense of right
Don't trouble yourself to account for your
silence" she said most unjustly. You were
listening to my mother without word of re-
monstrance when came into the room.
You are concerned In this vile SANDER, too"
Randall considerably refrained from pro-
| H0king her by affamnfinD to defend himself