Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-10-24
@lG Evil Genius.
tTCUi,STIC STORY.
BY NILkIE COLLINS.
BEFORE THE STORY.

BY NILkIE COLLINS.


edged birthday to another, Sydney Wester>
field had attained the sixth year of her mar
tyriom at school. In that long interval no
news of her mother her brother, or her step
father had reached England: she had re-
ceived no letter. she had not even heard a re-
port. Without friends and without pros
poets, Roderick Westerleld's daughter was,
In the saddest sense of the word, alone in the
word.
The hands of the ugly Old clock in the school,
room were approaching the time when the
studies of the morning would come to an end.
YEARLY waiting for their release, the schol-
ars saw an event happen which was novel
~ in their domestic experience. The maid
of.all-work audaciously put her head in at
the door and interrupted Miss Wigger con-
Quoting the education OF the first class.
IF you please. miss, i..ere's gentleman
Having uttered these ! troductOry words,
abe was reduced to slen'c by the tremendous
voice of her mistress
Haven't forbidden YOU to come here in
school hours? Go away 'iirectly.'
Hardened by a life Of 'irudgery. under con-
dtions Of perpetual ,colding. the servant
stood her ground. and recovered the use OF
her tongue.
There's q gentleman In the drawing.
room," she persisted. Miss Wigger tried to
interrupt her again. And here's his card!'
she shouted, in a voice that was the loudeSt
OF the two.
Being mortal creature. the scllooI-mis-
tT.,s Was accessible to the prOmptings OF
curiosity. She snatched the card out Of the
girls hand.
Mr. Herbert Linicv, Mount MorUen.
Perthshire. II don't know this person."
Miss Wigger declared. You wretch, have
you let thief into the hOuse?"
"A gentleman, II ever see one yet" the
servant asserted.
Hold your tongue! Did he ask for me'
Do you hear?"
you told me to hold my tongue. No; he
didn't ask for YOU"
"rhcn who did he want to see?"
Its on his card"
Miss Wigger referred to the card again,
and discovered (faintly traced I'm penciD
these words: ITO see Miss 5. W."
The schOOl-lnistress instantly looked at
Miss Westertield. Miss Westeriield rose
from her place at the head of her class.
The pupils. astOnished at this daring act,
all looked ut the teacher-thcir natural enc
my,appOnted to supply them with undesired
information derived from hated books. They
saw one of Mother Natures favOrite daugh-
tiers, designed to be the darling Of her family,
and the cOnquerOr of hearts among men OF
all tastes and ages But Sydney Wester-
field had lived for six weary years in the
place of earthly torment kept by Miss Wig
ger under the name Of school. Every bud
ding beauty, except the unassailable beauty
of her eyes and her hair, had been nipped
under the frosty superintendent of her ma
ternal aunt Her cheeks were hollow, her
delicate lips were pale, her shabby dress lay
fiat over her bosom. Observant people, meet
ing her when she was out walking with the
girls, were struck by her darkly gentle eyes.
and by the patient sadness Of her expression.
"What a pityv they said to each other.
"She would be pretty girl If she didn't look
30 wretched and so thin"
At loss to understand the audacity Of her
teacher in rising before the class was dis
missed, Miss Wigger began by asserting her
authority. She did in two words-"Sit
DOWN.
~ wish to explain, ma'amr'
''Sit down."
II beg, Miss Wiggcr. that you will allow
me to explain"
Sydney Westerfeld, you are setting the
worst possible example to your class. shall
see this man myself. Wul you sit DOWN.
Pale already, Sydney turned paler still.
She obeyed the word of cOmmand-to the
high delight of the girls of her class. 1t was
then within ten minutes of the half hour aft
er twelve-whcn the pupils were dismissed
to the playground while the cloth was laid
for dinner. What use would the teacher
make of that half-llOur Of freedom?
In the meanwhile Miss Wigger had enter
ed her drawing-rOOui. With the slightest
possible inclination of her head she eyed the
stranger through l.cr green spectacles. Even
under that disadvantage his appearance
spoke for itself. The servants estimate Of
him was beyond dispute. Mr.. Herbert Lin
ley's good breeding was even capable Of sup
pressing all outward expression Of the dis
may that he felt on finding himself face to
face with the formidable person who had re-
celved him.
what Is your business, II you please?'
Miss Wigger began.
Men, animals, and buildings wear out with
years, and submit to their hard lot Time
only meets with fat contradiction, when he
ventures to tell woman that she Is growing
old. Herbert Linley had rashly anticipated
that the young lady," whom It was the OBJ
ject Of his visit to see, would prove to be
young In the literal sense of the word. When
he and Miss Wigger stood face to face, II the
door had been set open for him he would
have left the house with the greatest pleas
ure.
II have taken the liberty OF calling" he
said, ''in answer to IN advertisement May
! ask"-he paused and took newspaper
from the pocket Of his Overc0at-'if have
the honor Of speaking to the lady who L
mentioned hereT'
lie opened the newspaper and pointed Ia
the advertisement
Miss Wiggers eyes rested-not on the pas
sage indicated. but ON the visitors glove. II
fitted him to such perfection that It suggested
the enviable position In life which has gloves
made to order. lie politely pointed again
Still inaccessible to the newspaper, Mis-:
Wigger turned her spectacles next to the
front window Of the room, and discovered a
handsome carriage waiting at the door
Money evidently in the pockets OF thost
beautiful trousers, worthy of the gloves ,
As patiently IS ever, Linley pointed for the
third time, and drew Miss Wiggers atten
ton in the right direction at last She reat
the advertisement
"A young lady wishes to be employed IL
the education of little girl. Possessing bu
few accomplishments, and having been only
ajunior teacher at school, she offers he
services on trial, leaving IL to her employee
to pay whatever salary she may be consider
ed to deserve, IL she obtains permanent en-
gagement Apply, by letter, to S. W., Il
Delta Gardens, N. Z"
Most impertinentv' said Miss Wigger.
Mr.. Linley looked astonished.
Il say, most imrertincntr' Miss Wigge
repeated
Mr.. Linley attempted to pacify this terri