Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-05-08

Oie VI HeI mOtntT ; uuilkS. III any case,
there II was, abandoned In the drawer OF q
table at an hotel.
"Oh," he thought bitterly, ''if | could only
feel as coldly towards Catherine as she feelt
towards mev' Ills resolution had resisted
much; but this final trial of his seIf-contrd
was more than he could sustain. lie drop
ped into a clair-his pride of manhood re.
colled from the contemplate weakness OF
c%rying-he tried to remember that she had
divorced him and taken his child from him.
In vain! In vain! lie burst into tears.
CHAPTER XXXvII.
With a heart lightened beyond reconcilia-
ton mot the first reconciliation u~nhappily),
with hopes revived, and sweet content re-
stored, Sydney's serenity of mind was not
quite unrufiied. Her thoughts were not
dwelling on the evil life which she had nom
estly deplored or on the wronged wife to
whom she had been eager TO make atone
ment. Where is the woman whose sorrows
are not thrown into the shade by the bright
renewal OF love? The one anxiety that truub-
led Sydney was caused by the remembrance
Of q letter which she had sent TO the convent
at Sandyseal.
As her better mind now viewed II, she had
doubly injured Herbert-firs In distrusting
him: then by appealing from him TO the COM
passion OF strangers.
III the reply for which she had rashly ask
ed was waiting for her at that moment-if
the mercy OF the mother superior was ready
TO comfort and guide her-what return could
she makeP How could she excuse herself
from accepting what was offered in kindly
reply TO her own petition? She had placed
herself, for all she knew TO the contrary, be-
tween two alternatives OF ingratitude equally
uncomfortable, equally degrading. To feel
this was TO feel the suspense which, TO per-
sons Of eXcitable temperament, is Of all trials
the hardest TO bear. The chambermaid was
still in the room. Sydney asked II the post
Office was near the hotel.
The woman smiled. Everything Is near
us, ma'am, in this little place. Can we send
10 the postoffice for you?'
Sydney wrote her initials. ASK, il you
please, for a letter addressed In that way"
She handed the memorandum 10 the cham
bermaid. Corresponding web her lover
under her husbands noser' That was how
the chambermaid explained il below stairs
when the porter remarked that initials look
ed mysterious.
The mother superior had replied. Sydney
trembled as she opened the letter. 1t began
kindly.
II believe you, my child, and | am anxious
10 help you. But | cannot correspond with
an unknown person. If you decide to reveal
yourself II is only right To add that | have
shown your letter to the reverend father
who, in temporal as In spiritual things, is
our counselor and guide. To him 1 must re-
far Nnn I'm tha fret inatanaa HE xxiadnna
will decide the serious question OF receiving
you into our holy church and will discover,
in due time, II you have a true vocation to a
religious life. With the fathers sanction,
you may be sure OF my affeetionate desire TO
serve you"
Sydney put the letter back in the envel-
ope, feeling grateful toward the m ther SUI
perior. but determined by the conditions I'M
posed on her TO make no further advance to-
ward the Benedictlne community.
Even ii her motive in writing 10 the con-
vent had remained unchanged, the illusions
10 the priest would still have decided her on
taking this step. The bare idea of opening
her inmost heart and telling her saddest Sc
crets 70 a man, and that man a stranger, was
too repelient TO be entertained for a moment.
In a few lines OF reply, gratefully and re-
speetfuliy written, she thanked the mother
superior, and withdrew from the correspond
ence.
The letter having been closed and posted
In the hotel box, she returne IN the sitting
room, free from the one doubt that had
troubled her, eager to show Herbert how
truly she believed in him, how hopefully she
looked 10 the future.
With a happy smile on her lips she opened
the door. She was oh the point of asking
him playfully IL he had felt surprised at her
long a~bsence-when the sight that met her
eyes turned her cold with terror in an in
slant.
His arm were stretched out on the table;
his head was laid on them; despair confess
ed itself in his attitude; grief spoke in the
deep sobbing breaths that shook him. Love
and compassion restored Sydney's courage;
she advanced 10 raise him In her arms-and
stopped once more. The book on the table
caught her eye. He was still unconscious
of her presence: she ventured to open it
She read the inscription-looked at him
looked back at the writing-and knew the
truth at last.
The rigor Of the torture that she suffered
paralyzed all outward expression of pain.
Quietly she put the book back on the table.
Quietly she touched him and called him by
his name.
He started and looked up; he made an at
tempt to speak to her In his customary tone.
IL didn't hear you come In" he said.
She pointed 10 the book without the slight
est change IN her face or her manner.
II have read the Inscription to your wife,"
che apcuvarad . al haua aaan ynu xuhilA Won
thought you were alone; the mercy which
has so long kept the truth from me Is mercy
wasted now. Your bonds are broken, Her.
bert. You are a free man."
he affected not to have understood her.
She let him try to persuade her OF IL, and
made no reply. He declared, honestly de
clared, that what she had said distressed
MIN. She listened In Submissive silence.
He took her hand and kissed IL. She let him
kiss II, and let him drop it at her side. She
frightened him; he began to fear for her
reason. There was silence-long. horrid,
hopeless silence.
She had left the door of the room open.
One Of the servants OF the hotel appeared
outside In the passage. He spoke to some
person behind him. perhaps the boob has
been left In here" he suggested. A gentle
voice answered: IL hope the lady and gen.
tleman will excuse me IL l ask leave to look
for my book" She stepped into the room to
make her apologies.
Herbert Linley and Sydney Westerield
looked at the woman whom they had out.
ragged. The woman whom they had out
ragged paused, and looked back at them.
The hotel servant was surprised at their
not speaking to each other. He was a stupid
man; he thought the gentlefolks were
strangely unlike gentlefolks in general they
seemed not to know what to say. Herbert
happened TO be standing nearest to him; he
thought 1t would be only civil to the gentle
man to offer a word OF explanation.
"The lady had these rooms, sir. She has
come back from the station to look for a
book that has been left behind"
Herbert signed to him to go. As the man
turned to obey he drew back. Sydney had.
moved TO the door before him TO leave the
room. Herbert refused to permit 1t. ''Stay
here" he said gently, 'this room Is yours"
Sydney hesitated. Herbert addressed her
again. He pointed TO his divorced wife.
you see how that lady Is looking at you,"
he said; II forbid you to submit 10 insult
from anybody"
Sydney returned into the room.
GATHERINGS voice wal heard for the hrst
time. She addresa0d h0rSalf tn Svdnoy with