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

- W. tAatsAtA hAth, 49, NhSe1 ht'A NAth1
ed her drawing-room. With the slightest
possible inclination of her head she eyed the
stranger through her 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-
ceIved him.
What is your business, If you pleaseg'
Miss Wlgger began.
Men, animals, and buildings wear out with
years, and submit 10 their hard lot. Time
only meets with flat contradiction. when he
ventures to tell a woman that she Is growing
old. Herbert Linley had rashly anticipated
that the ''young lady," whom il was the OBJ
ject OF his visit to sec, would prove 10 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, Fin answer to an advertiser .nt. May
j ask'-he paused and took a newspaper
from the pocket of his oyercoat--"if | have
wv fhAbA Va PAM W Wv hhN Nv -
mentioned herey'
lie opened the newspaper and pointed TO
the advertisement.
Miss Wlgger's eyes ~rested-not on the pas
sage indicated, but on the visitors glove. Ii
fitted him to such perfection that IL suggested
the enyiable position in life which has gloves
made 10 order. He politely pointe. again.
Still inaccessible TO the newspaper, Miss
NiORap fnPppd har ct.aataaI.a taxf M tlta
front window of the room, and discovered q
handsome carriage waiting at the door.
Money evidently in the pockets of those
beautiful trousers, worthy OF the glovesD
A. 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 q school, she offers her
services on trial, leaving 1t 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 ). W., IA,
Delta Gardens, y. E."
Mos impertinent!' said Miss Wigger.
Mr.. Linley looked astonished.
II say, most impertinent!' Miss Wigger
repeated.
Mr.. Linley attempted to pacify this terri
BILE woman. Its very stupid OF me-" he
said; II am afraid | don't quite understand
you"
'One of NV teachers has issued an adver-
tisement. and has referred 10 Ny address,
without first consulting Ne. Have / made
myself understood, sir" She looked at the
- .s. .w.. ..l.. l. Al II - -
Not even Linley's capacity for self-re-
straint could Iepress 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 | made myself understood9' Miss
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 i might almost say
something inn0cent-in the manner In which
the writer expresses herself. She seems to
be singularly modest on the subject Of her
W attachments, and unusually considerable
OF the interests OF others. 1 hope you will
permit ME-
Before he could add 80 see the young
lady" the door was opened a young lady en-
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 az her she in
terested him. Ii was an interest new to Lin
ley In his experience of himself. There was
nothing 10 appeal to his admiration (by way
of his senses in the pale. worn, young Great
IRE 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 herep' 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.
81 wish to know" she said, ''if this gentle
man desires 10 see me OH the subject Of my
advertisement"
Your advertisements" Miss Wigger re-
peated. Miss Westerfield, how dare you
beg for employment in Il newspaper without
asking my leaye?"
IL only waited to tell you what l had done
tll | knew whether my advertisement would
be answered or not"
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 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.
II am afraid / have taken q liberty in an
swering you personally, when-I ought to
have answered you by letter. My only ex-
cuse Is that | have no time 10 arrange for an
interview, In London, by correspondence. l
live in Scotland, and l am obliged to return
BY the mail tonight"
He paused. She was looking at him. Did
she understand him?
She understood him ca!y too well. 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 hezrtiess companionship SO well
knows how to infiict-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; II ain not very WELL"
Miss Wigger tapped her on the shoulder
and pointed to the door, Are you well
enough to see your way outg!' she asked.
Linley turned on the wretch with a mind
divided between wonder and disgust. Good
God, what has she done to deserve being
treated In that wayg' he asked.
Miss Wigger's mouth widened; Miss Wig
gers forehead developed new wrinkles. To
own it plainly, the school-mistress smiled.
When 1t is Of serious importance to a man
10 become acquainted with a woman's true
nature-say, when he contemplates marriage
Ibis one poor chance OF arriving at a 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 1t that her faults are
more than balanced by her good qualities.
II, ON the other hand, she exhibits the most
admirable self control, and sets him an ex-
ample which ought to make him ashamed Of