The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-12-26
The Evil Genius.
"A STORY.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.
DEEoEsE THE STORY.

BY WILKIE COLLINS.
DEEONE THE STORY.
In the meanwhile Miss Wigger had enter
ed her d~rawing-room. With the slightest
possible inclination of her head she eyed the
stranger through her green SpectacIes. Even
under that disadvantage his appearance
SPOKE Tor Itself. The servants estimate OF
him was beyond dispute, Mr.. Herbert Lin
iey's good breeding was even capable OF sup
pressing all outward expression of the dis
may that he felt on iinding himself face TO
face with the formidable person who had re-
celved him.
What is your business, if you p%lease?'
Miss Wigger began.
Men. animals, and buildings wear out with
years, and submit to their hard lot. Time
only meets with fiat contradiction, when he
ventures to tell a woman that she is growing
old. Herbert l.inlcy had rushly anticipated
that the young lady," whom it was the OBJ
ject of his visit to see, would prove to b.
young in the literal sense of the word. When
he and Miss Wiggcr stood face to face, il the
door had been set open for him he would
have lett the house with the great t pleas
ure.
~ have taken the liberty of calling,'' he
said, I'm answer to All advertisement. May
i ask"-he paused and took a newspaper
from the pocket of his overcoat-.''if l have
the honor of speaking to the lady who is
mentioned lere?''
lie opened the newspaper aud pointed to
the advertisement.
Miss Wigger's eyes rested-not on the pas
sage indicated, but on the VISITORS glove. 1t
| irtn1 him tn SI,nI t,,rFnnfi,t, fbnt IL u,,t,Hracioj
the envia,le position in life which has gloves
made to order. He politely pointe. again.
Still inaccessible to the newspaper, Miss
Wlgger turned her Spectacles next to The
front window of the room, and discovered a
handsome carriage waiting at tito door.
(Aloney evidently in the pockets of those
beautiful trousers, worthy Of the glovcsD
As patiently as ever, Linlcy pointed for the
third time, and drew Miss Wigger's atten-
ton in the right direction at last. She read
the advertisement.
"a young lady wishes to be employed in
the education OF q little girl. Possessing but
few accomplishments, and having been only
a Junior teacher at q school, she offers her
services on trial, leaving it to her employer
to pay whatever salary she may be consider
ed to deserve, If she obtains a permanent Ell
gagement. Apply. by letter, to S. w, IA,
Delta Gardens, N. E."
Most impertinent!" said Miss Wigger.
Mr.. Linley looked astonished.
81 say, most impertinent!'' Miss Wigger
repeated.
Mr.. Liniey attempted to pacify this terri
bic woman. ITS very stupid OF me-" he
said; 81 am afraid / don't quite understand
YOU"
zone of My teachers has issued an adver-
tiscmcnt. and llrs referred to My address,
without first consulting Me. Have j made
myself understood, STRIP She looked at the
carriage again, when she called him sir"
Not even Linley's capacity for selt-re-
straint could lepress the expression of relief,
visible in his frightening face, when he dis,
covered that the lady of the advertisement
and the lady who terrified him were two diff
ferent persons.
Have 1 made myself umderStood9" Miss
Wigger repeated.
Perfectly, madam, AT the same time, |
am afraid must own that the advertisement
has produced a favorable impression on me-
~ fail entirely to see why Miss WiggcI
remarked.
There is surely" Linley pleaded, ''some.
thing Straightforward might Utmost say
something innocent-ln the manner in which
the writer expresses herself. She seems to
be singularly modest OH the subject of lel
own a%ttaimments, and unusually considerate
of the interests of others. l hope you will
permit me-W
Before he could add ito see the young
lady" the door was opened; q young lady Ell
tered the room.
Was this the writer OF the advertisement:
He felt sure of it. for no better reason thai
fHiS. Tho y,pp,aut ba Ionly,J al I,, sir, Il,
terested him. 1t was an interest new to Lin.
ley in his experience of himself. There was
nothing to appeal to his admiration (by way
of his senses in the pale. worn, young Great
ure who stood near the door, resigned before
hand to whatever reception she might mee1
with. The poor teacher made him think OF
his happy young wife at home-of his pretty
little girl, the spoilt child of the household
He looked at Sydney WeStertield with {;
heartfelt compassion which did honor t.
them both.
What doyou mean by coming here?" Mis-.
Wigger inquired.
She answered gently, but not timidly. Tlt
tone in which the mistress had spoken hat
evidently not shaken her resolution, SO far.
Il wish to know" she said, IF this gentle
man desires to see me on the subject OF III
advertisement"
"Y0ur advertisement" Miss Wigger re
peatcd. Miss Wcstertield, how dare yo,
beg for employment in a newspaper without
asking my leave?"
Il only waited to tell you what / had don't
till knew whether NY advertisement would
be answered or mott
She spoke as calmly as before, still submit
ting to the ~insOlent authority of the school
mistress with a steady fortitude very remark
able in any girl, and especially i'll q CIR
whose face revealed a sensitive nature. Lin
ley approached her and said his few kline
words before Miss Wigger could assert her
self for the third time.
L am afraid l have AIKEN a liberty in an
swering you personally, when l ought Il
have answered you by Letter. My only eX
cuse is that / have no time to arrange for al
interview, III London, by correspondence.
live in Scotland, and 1 am obliged to return
by the mail tonight
He paused. She was looking at him. Die
She understand him?
She understood him cnly too well. For the
first time, poor soul, in the miserable year
of her school life, she saw eyes that rested
on her with the sympathy that is too trul!
felt to be uttered in words. The admirabl,
resignation which had learnt its first hare
lesson under her mothers neglect-wllicl
had endured, in after years, the daily perse
cution that heartless companionship so wei
knows how to ~infict-failed to sustain her
when one kind look from a stranger pouret
its balm into the girls sore heart. Her heat
sank; her wasted figure %treinbled; a few
tears dropped slowly on the bosom of he
shabby dress. She tried, desperately tried
to control herself. II beg your pardon, sir
was all she could say: II an not very WELL
Miss Wigger tapped her on the shouldc
and pointed to the door, "Are you wei
enough to see yOtr way out?.' she asked.
Linley turned OF the wretch with u min,
divided between wonder and disgust. Goo,
God, what has she done to deserve beini
treated in that way?" he asked.
Miss Wigger's mouth widened; Miss Wig
gers forehead developed new wrinkles. Il
own it MAINLY thp srhool-nistYncc smiled