Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-12-26
The Evil Genius.
"A STORY.
BY wrLKIE COLLINS.
BEFORE rHE STORY.

him was beyond dispute. Mr.. Herbert Lin
i-y's good breeding was even capable OF sup
pressing all outward expression OF the dis
may that he felt on nndmg himself face 10
face with the formidable person who had re-
ceIved him.
What is your business, IL you pleaseg'
Miss Wigger began.
Men, animals, and buildings wear out with
years, and submit 10 their hard lot. Time
only meets with flat contradiction. when he
ventures 10 tell a woman that she is growing
old. Herbert Linley had rashiy anticipated
that the young lady" whom Ii was the OBJ
tect OF his visit TO see, would prove 10 be
young In the literal sense OF the word. When
he and Miss Wigger stood face to face, If the
door had been set open for him he would
have left the house with the greatest pleas
ure.
Il have taken the liberty OF calling" he
said, "ln answer TO all advertiser mt. May
ask"-he paused and took a newspaper
from the pocket of his overcoat- .'if | have
the honor of speaking TO the lady who is
mentioned hereg'
lie opened the newspaper and pointed to
the advertisement
Miss Wigger's eyes ~rested-not on the pas
sage Indicated, but IN the visitors glove. 1t
lifted him 10 such perfection that il suggested
the enviable position in life which has gloves
made to order. lie politely pointe. again.
Still inaccessible 10 the newspaper, Miss
N1gger turned her speciacies next 10 the
front window OF the room, and discovered a
handsome carriage waiting at the door.
Money evidently in the pockets of those
beautiful trousers, worthy OF the gloveso
As patiently as ever, Linley 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 a little girl. Possessing but
few accomplishments, and having been only
q junior teacher at a school, she offers her
services on tiial, leaving il to her employer
to pay whatever salary she may be consider
ed to deserve, il she obtains a permanent en-
gagement. Apply, by letter, to s. W., IA,
Delta Gardens, y. f."
Most impertinentI r. said Miss Wigger.
Mr.. Linley looked astonislied.
VI say, most impertinent!' Miss Wigger
repeated.
Mr.. Linley attempted to pacify this terri
be woman. Its very stupid OF me" he
said; II am afraid 1 don't quite understand
you"
One Of My teachers has issued an adver-
tisement. and has referred 10 My address,
without iiTst consulting Me. Have | made
myself understood, sir%' She looked at the
carriage again. when she called him sir"
Not even Linley's capacity for ~self-re-
straint could repress 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
fereBt persons.
ssHaNa | mazda futGalf unHarztnaIps Nj +
Wigger repeated.
Perfectly, madam, AT the same time.
am afraid | must own that the advertisement
has produced a favorable impression on me-"
Il fail entirely to see why" Miss Wigger
remarked.
There Is surely" Linley pleaded, 'some-
thing straightforward Il might almost say
something innOcent-in the manner in which
the writer expresses herself. She seems 10
be singularly modest on tie subject Of her
W ~attainments, and unusually considerable
OF the interests of others. 1 hope you will
permit ME-
Before he could add to see the young
tered the ROOM.
Was this the writer of the advertisement?
He felt sure of il. for no better reason than
this: The moment he looked at her she in
ttItoitu liliiI. ~ % an tlt bC" " Liu- I
lev 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 meet
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 Westerfield with a
heartfelt compassion which did honor to
them both.
what do you mean by coming here?" Miss
Wigger inquired.
She answered gently. but not timidly. TIE
tone in which the mistress had spoken had
evidently not shaken her resolution, so far.
Il wish to KNOW she said, Iii this gentle
man desires 10 see me on the subject Of my
advertisement"
Your advertisement" Miss Wigger re
peated. Miss Westerfeld, how dare you
beg for employment in a newspaper without
asking my leaye?p
Il only waited u tell you what l had done
till / knew whether my advertisement would
be answered or not"
She spoke as calmly as before, still submit
ting 10 the insolent authority OF tue school,
mistress with a steady fortitnde very remark
able in any girl, and especially In a girl
whose face revealed a sensitive nature. Lin
ley approached her and said his few kind
words before Miss Wigger could assert her
self for the third time.
Il am afraid I have taken q liberty in all
swering you personally, when l ought TO
have answered you by letter. My only ex-
cuse Is that | have no time to arrange Tor an
interview, in London, by correspondence. l
live in Scotland, and | am obliged to return
by the mail tonight"
He paused. She was looking at him. Did
she understand him?
She understood him caly too we'll For the
first time, poor soul, in the miserable years
Of her school life, she saw eyes that rested
on her with the sympathy that is too truly
felt to be uttered in words. The admirable
resignation which had learnt its first hard
lesson under her mothers neglect-which
had endured, In after years, the daily perse-
cution that heartless companionship so well
knows how to infict-failed to sustain her,
when one kind look from a stranger poured
its balm into the girls sore heart. Her head
sank; her wasted figure trembled; a few
tears dropped slowly on the bosom OF her
shabby dress. She tried, desperately tried,
to control herself. II beg your pardon, sir,"
was all she could say; Il am not very WELL"
Miss Wlgger tapped her ON the shoulder
and pointed TO the door. Are YOU we'll
enough to see your way out..' she asked.
Linley turned on the wretch with a mind
divided between wonder and disgust. Good
God, what has she done 10 deserve being
treated i'm that way?!' he asked.
Miss Wigger's mouth widened; Miss Wig
gers forehead developed new wrinkles. To
own IL plainly, the schootmistress smiled.
When il Is OF serious Importance to a man
TO become acquainted with a woman's true
nature-say, when he contemplates marriage
his one poor chance Of arriving at o right
conclusion is to find himself provoked by ex-
asperating circumstances and 10 fly into q
passion. II the lady flies into q passion ON
her side, he may rely on it that her faults are
more than balanced by her good qualities.
III, ON the other hand, she exhibits the most
admirable sclf-control, and sets him an ex-
ample which ought to make him ashamed OF
himself, he has seen u bad sign, and he VIII
do well TO remember II.
Miss Wiyger's self-control put Herbert
Linley in the wrong before she took the
trouble OF noticing what he had said.