The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-01-16

on the stairs that led to the bed-aiamhers
No fnquisitive eyes could look at her trul.
the windows OF the ground tioor-a solitliu
abandoned TO the curiosity of tourists. Sy,s
ney took her hat and cloak from the stand il
a recess at the side of the door, and Went III
to the garden. -
Wiz.
The dinner party had come to an end; the
%neighbors had taken their departure; and the
ladies at Mount Morven had retired for the
night.
On the way to her room Mrs. Piesty knock
ed at her daughters door. Il want to speak
to you, Catherine. Are you i'll bed?'
No, mamma. Come in."
ROBBED in q dressing-gown of delicately
mingled white and blue, and luXuriously ac-
cOmmodated on the sottest pillows that could
be placed in an armchair. Mrs. Linley was
meditating on the events of the evening.
"This has been the most successful party we
have ever given" she said to her mother.
And did you notice how chaImingly pretty
Miss Westerlield looked in her new dress?"
Its about that girl | want to speak to
yon,' Mrs. Prcsty answered, severely. 81
had a higher opinion of ler when she first
came here than | have now"
Mrs. Linley pointed to an open door com.
municating with a second and smaller bed
chamber. Not quite so loud,' she answer
ed, ''or you may wake Kitty. What has
Miss Westerield done TO forfeit your good
%OpinionY'
Discreet Mrs. Presty asked leave to return
to the subject at a future opportunity.
81 will merely allude now,'' she said, ITO
a change for the worse in your governess,
which you might have noticed when She LETT
the drawing room this evening. She had .
word or two with Herbert at the door, and
she LETT him looking as black as thunder"
Mrs. Linley laid herself back on her pill
low and burst out laughing. ''Black as
thunder? Poor little Sydney, what q ridic-
ulous description of her! beg your pardon,
mamma; don't be offended"
"On the contrary, my dear, l am agreeably
surprised. Your poor father-a man of re-
markable judgment on most subjects-never
thought much of your intelligence. He APP
pears to have been wrong; you have evident
ly Inherited some of my sense of lmmor.
However, that is not what i wanted to say;
/ am the bearer of good news. When we
find it necessary to get rid of Miss Wcster-
field
Mrs. Linley's indignation expressed Itself
by a look which, for the moment at least. re-
duced her mother to silence. Always equal
to the occasion, however, Mrs. Presty's face
assumed an expression of innocent amaze
ment which would have produced n round of
applause OH the stage. ''NNhat have | said
to make you angry?.' she inquired. "Surely,
my dear, you and your husband are very ex-
tiaordinaIy people"
DO you mean to tell me. mamma that
you have said TO Herbert what you said just
now to me-"
Certainly. I mentioned it to Herbert in
the course OF the evening. He vas excessive
ly rude. He said: Tell Mrs. MacEdwin to
mind her business-and set her the eX-
ample YOURSELF"
Mrs. Linley returned her mothei's look of
ama2ement without her mothers eye for dr-
matte effect What has Mrs. MacFdwin to
do With i,s' she asked.
"lt you will only let me speak, Catherine,
] shall be happy to explain myself. You
saw Mrs. MacEdwin talking to me at the
party. That good lady's head-a feeble
head as all her friends ~admit-has been COM
pletcly turned by Miss Westertield. The
first duty Of a govcrnes,' this foolish woman
said to mel is to win the affections of her
pupils. My governess has entirely failed to
make the children like her. A dreadfultem-
per; L have given her notice to leave my SER
vice. Look at that sweet girl and your little
granddaughter! | declare / could cry when
l see iluW; they understand each other and
love each other | quote S"r cha. trg
friends nonsense verbatim las we nsedsto
say when we Were in parliament in Mr.. Or
mond's time), for the sake of what it led to.
Ii, by any lucky chance, Miss Westeriield
happens to be disengaged in the future Mrs.
MacEdwin's house is open to her-at her
own time and ut her own terms. promised
to speak to You on the subject, and per-
form my promise. Think over it; l strongly
advise you TO think over it,"
Even Mrs. Liniey;s good nature declined
to submit to this. II shall certainly not
think over what cannot possibly lappen,'
she said. Goodnight, mamma"
Goodnight, Catherine. Your temper
doesn't seem TO improve us you get older.
Perhaps the excitement of the party has been
too much for your nerves. Try to get some
sleep before Herbert comes up from the
smoking-room and dist,ubs YOU
Mrs. Linley refused even to let this pass
unanswered. Herbert is too consideratc to
disturb me whel, his friends keep him up
late she said. "On those occasions, as YOU
may see for yourself, he has a bed in his
dressing-room."
Mrs. Presty PASSED through the dressing
room on her way ont. "a very comfortable
looking bed she remarked, in a tone in
tended 10 reach her daughters ears. Il won
der Herbert ever leaves it,
The way to her own b%ed-chmnber led her
by the door of Sydney's room. She sidden-
~ stopped; the door was not SHIT. This was
in Itself a suspicious Circumstance. Young
or old, ladies are not in the habit of Sleeping
with their bedroom doors ajai. 4 strict
sense of duty led Mrs. Presty to listen out
side. No sound like the breathing of a per-
son asleep was to be heard. A strict sense
of duty conducted Mrs. Presty next into the
room and even encouraged her to approach
the bed on tip-toe. The bed was empty; the
clothes had not been disturbed since it had
been made in the morning!
The old lady stepped out into the corridor
in u state of excitement which greatly i'm
proved her personal appearance. She look
ed almost Young again as she mentally re-
viewed the list of vices and crimes which a
govcrness might commit who had retired be-
fore II O'Clock and who was not III her bed
room at II. On further reileatim ii appear
ed-to be barely possible that Miss Wcster-
field might be preparing her pupils exercise
for the next day. Mrs. Pre>ly descended to
The sciInoEroom on the first floor.
No. Here again there was nothing to see
bat IN empty room.
Where was Miss Wes;el.icldf
Was it within the limits of probability that
She had been bold enough to join the party
in the sinoking-Ioom? The bare idea was
absurd.
III another minn.o, nevertheless. Mrs. T'resty
was at the door listening. Tie mems voices
were loud; they We're taiIiug politics. She
naarn1 thrpiub tbn lnr.J,ntn. tjn en,nt.urcr