Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-01-23
The Evil Genius.
porsI:sEaC sT0Iss.
lsI-FOISI: THE STORY.
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CHATTER NNNNI.


dcluson successfully under the earb Of truth.
Day after day the false conviction grew on
Svdnry'S Niud ;..tt Herbert Linley was con-
! 3l.n- The life he led now with the happier
life which he remembered at Mount Moryen.
Day after day her unrcaSonlng fear contem-
plated the time when Herbert Linlcy would
leave her fricndlr>> in world that had 10
place in il for women Ike herself. DeluSiOn
fatal deluSion-tlIat looked like truth!
Morally weak as he might be, the man whom
she feared to trust had not yet entirely lost
the sense which birth and breeding had finn
ly fastened in hm-thc sense of honor. Act
ing under that influence, he was tif the cx-
preston may be pcrmittcd) consistent even
in Inconsistency. With equal sincerity OF
feeling he reproached himself for his niideli-
ty toward the woman whom he had deserted
and devoted himself to his duty toward the
woman whom he had misled. In Sydney's
presence-suffer as he might under the strug-
gle when he was alOne-he found a reSolu-
ton which sustained him. 1t kept his inter-
course with her studollS gentle in manner
and considerable in language, and it offered
to her a future which she could only see
through the classifying medium of her own
dlstrust.
Inthe delusion that now possessed her she
read, over and over again, the letter which
Capt. Bennydeck had addressed to her faith
er; she saw. r!":.. and more clearly, the cir
cH';. iances which associated her situation
with the situation of the poor girl who had
closed her wasted life among the nuns in the
French convent
Two results followed on this state of
things.
Wnen Herbert asked 10 what part OF En-
CLAN" t''y should go, on leaving London,
Size mentioned Sandyseal as place that she
had heard of and felt some curiosity to see.
The same day-bent on pleasing her; care
less where he lived now, at home or abroad
lie wrote to engage rooms at the hotel.
time followed, during which they were
obliged to wait until rooms were free. In
this interval, br0Oding over the melancholy
absence Of friend or relative in whom she
could confde, her morbid dread of the future
decided her on completing her parallel be-
tween herself and that other lost creature of
whom she had rehd. Sydney opened COM
municatiOn anonymously with the Benedic-
tine community at Sandyseal.
She addressed the mother superior, telling
the truth about herself, with but one con-
cealment, the concealment of names. She
revealed her Isolated position among her fell
lOw-creatures; she declared her fervent de-
sire to repent of her wickedness and to lead
religious life; she acknowledged her mis-
fortune in having been brought up by per-
sons careless Of religion, and she confessed
to having attended a protestant place of wor-
ship as mere matter of form connected
with the duties of a teacher at school. 1.-THE
religion of any Christian woman who will
help me to be more like herself" she wrote,
''is the religion to which 1 am willing and
eager to belong. If come to you in my dis
tress will you receive me?" To that simple
appeal she added request that an answer
might be addressed to rs. w., postoffice,
Sandyseal"
When Capt Bennydeck and Sydney West
ertield passed each other as strangers in the
hall Of the hotel that letter had been posted
In London week since.
The servant showed Mr.. and Mrs. Her
bert" into their Stting-rOom and begged that
they would be so good as to wait few min
utes while the other rooms were being pre-
pared for them.
Sydney seated herself in silence. She was
thinking OF her letter and wondering wheth-
er reply was waiting for her at tho post
office.
Moving toward the window to look at the
view, Herbert paused TO examine some prints
hanging on the walls which were superior
as works OF art to the customary decorations
of room at hotel. If he had gone straight
to the window he might have seen his di-
yorced wife. bis child. and his wife's mother
kcttfng into the carriage which took them to
the railway station.
Come. Sydney" he said, land look at the
sea-"
She Joined Al1 T. S..s Tint smile
kes<ds calm, sunny dau. Bathing-machines
were on the beach, children were playing
here and there. and white sails of pleasure
boats were visible In the ofiing. The dull
ness of Sandysel wore quiet, homely as
pect which was pleasant to the eyes of
strangers. Sydney said, absently: II think
shall Ike the place" And Herbert added:
LET us nope that the air will make you
stronger" He meant it, and said it kindly
but, instead of looking at her while he
spoke, lie continued to look at the view. A
woman sure of her position would not have
allowed this trifiing circumstance, even II
she had observed II, to disturb her. Sydney
thought of the day in London when he had
persisted in looking out at the street, and re-
turned in silence to her chair.
Had he been so unfortunate as to offend
her? And in what way? AS that doubt oc-
CURED to Herbert his mind turned to Cath
crime. She never took offense at trifes; q
word of kindness from him, no matter how
unimportant 1t might be, always claimed at
fectiOnate acknowledgment in the days when
he was living with his wife. In another mo
ment he had dismissed that remembrance
and could trust himself to return to Sydney.
IF you find that Sandyseal confirms your
first iupnroccou ~ bo sold lof Hp,oy n in
time, SO that / may make arrangements for
. longer stay. have only taken the rooms
here for fortnight"
"Thank you, Herbert; think fortnight
will be long enough"
Long enough for your he asked.
Her morbid Sensitiveness mistOOk him
again; she fancied there was an undernote
Of irony in his tone.
Long enough for both Of u.s." she replied.
He drew chair to her side. "Do you take
It for granted" lie said, smiling, that shall
get tired of the place first?'
She shrank, poor creature, even from his
smile. There was, she thought, something
cOntemptuOus In the goOd-humor of II.
I'VE have been to many places" she re-
minded him, land we have got tired of them
together"
rs that my fault?"
~ didn't say it was"
He got up and approached the bell. II
think the journey has a little overtired y0u,"
he resumed. "WOuld you like to 20 to your
rOOm%'
II will 60 to my room If you wish it"
He waited little and answered her as
quietly as ever. "What / really WISH" he
said, lis that we had consulted q doctor while
we were in London. You seem to be very
easily initiated Of late. l observe change
In you which 1 willingly attributed to the
state of your health
She interrupted him. "What change do
you meanT'
Its quite possible l may be mistaken,
Sydney. But have more than once, as
think, seen something In your manner which
suggested that you distrust me-"
II distrust the evil life we are leading"
she burst out land see the end of 1t COM
ing! Oh. l don't blame you. You are Kind
and considerate, you do your best to hide it,
but you have lived long enough with me to
regret the woman whom you have lost You
begin to feel the sacrifice you have made,
and no wonder Say the word, Herbert and
IreIease YOU"
Il will never say the wordv'
She hestated-frst inclined, then afraid,
to believe him. II have grace enough left
In me-" she went on, ITO feel the bitterest
repentance for the wrong that have done
Mrs. Linley. When it ends, as it must end,
in our parting, will you ask your wife"
Even his patience began to fail him; he re-
fused-frmly, not angrily-to hear more.
''She is no longer my wife," he said.
Sydney's bitterness and Sydney's penItence
were mingled, as opposite emotions only can