Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-16

~ /" ttltANh
abandoned 10 the curiosity OF tourists. sy,.
ney took her hat and cloak from the stand a.
q recess at the side of the door, and went IN
to the garden.
The dinner party had come to an end: the
neighbors had taken their departure: and the
ladies at Mount MorveH had retired for the
night.
On the way 10 her room Mrs. Presty knock
ed at her daughters door. II want TO speak
to YOU, Catherine. Are you In bed?'
mo, mamma. Come H."
Robed in Il dressing-gown OF delicately
mingled white and blue, and luxuriously ac-
c~ommodated on the softcst pillows that could
be placed in an armchair, Mrs. Linley was
medttatilig on the events OF tine evening.
This has been the most successful party we
have ever given" she said TO her mother.
"And did you notice how channingly pretty
Miss Westerieid looked in her new dress?'
Its about that girl | want TO speak to
you Mrs. Plesty answered, severely. 81
had a higher opinion OF her 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 SD loud," she answer
Ell, "or you may wake Kitty. What has
Miss Westerlield done to forfeit your good
opinion?'
Discreet Mrs. Presty asked leave to return
to the subject at a future opportunity.
Il will merely allude now she said. ITO
a change for the worse in your gOyerness.
which you might have noticed when She left
the drawing-roOm this evening. She had q
xHrl - 4... ,..sI II.l.x4 -. .L-aA- -
she lett him looking as black as thunder"
Mrs. Liniey laid herself back on her pill
lows and burst out laughing. BLACK as
thunder? Poor little Sydney, what a ride
uIbus description of her! i beg your pardon,
mamma don't be offended"
'On the contrary, my dear, | am agreeably
surprised. Your pO0r father-a man Of re-
markable judgment on most subjects-never
thought much of yodr intelligence. He APP
pears to have been wrong; you have evident
ly inherited some of my sense OF hWnor.
However, that is not what | wanted 10 say;
! am the bearer of good news. When W.
find IL necessary 10 get rid OF Miss Wester-
field--r
Mrs. Linley's indignation expressed Itself
by a look which, tor the moment at least, re-
duced her mother TO silence. Always equal
10 the occasion, however, Mrs. Presty's face
assumed an expression Of innocent amaze
e which would have produced a round Of
applause IN the stage. What have ! said
to make you angryY' she inquired. surely,
my dear, you and your husband are very eX-
~traordinary people"
ID you mean To tell me, mamma, that
you have said to Herbert what you said just
now to me-"
Certainly. / mentioned it TO Herbert ia
the course of the evening. He was excessive
ly rude. He said: Tell Mrs. MacEdwin to
mind her w business-and set her tie eX-
ample yourself"
Mrs. Linley returned her mothers look If
amazelnent without her mothers eye for dra-
matte effect what has Mrs. MacEdwm to
DO with itT' she asked.
If you will only let me speak, Catherine,
j shall be happy 10 explain myself. You
saw Mrs. MacEdwin talking To me al tire
party. That good lady's head-a feeble
head a. all her friends admit-has been com
pletely turned By Miss Westerheld. The
first duty OF a governess' Uhis foolish woman
said To me- is 10 win the affections OF her
pupils. Ny gOverncss has entirely failed 10
make the children like her. A dreadful tenn
per; | have given her notice 10 leave my ser
vice. Look at that sweet girl and your little
granddaughter! | declare | could cry when
| see now they understand each other and
love each other | quote our charming
friends nonsense verbatim las we used to
say when We Were in parliament in Mr.. Or
mond's time), for the sake of what 1t led to.
III, by any lucky chance, Miss Westerteld
happens 10 be disengaged in the future Mrs.
MacEdwin's house Is open TO her-at her
" time and at her own terms. | promised
to speak to YOU on the subject, and | per
form my promise. Think over il; | strongly
advise you to think over it,"
Even Mrs. Linley's good nature declined
10 submit to this. Il shall certainly not
think over what cannot possibly happen"
She said. Goodnight mamma"
Goodnight, Catherine. Your temper
doesn't seem TO improve as YOU get older.
Perhaps the excitement OF the party has been
too much for your nerves. Try 10 get some
sleep before Herbert comes up from the
slnoking-r0om and distHrhs you"
Mrs. Linley refused even to let this pass
unanswered. Herbert is too considerable TO
disturb me when his friends keep him up
late, she said. ''On those occasions, as you
may sec for yourself, he has a bed in his
dressing. room"
Mrs. Presty PASSED through the dressing
room on her way out. "A very comfortable
looking bed" she remarked, in a tone in
tended to reach her daughters ears. II won
der Herbert ever leaves it,"
The way TO her own bed-chamber led her
By the door OF Sydney's room. She sGdden-
Is stopped: the door was not shut. This was
Ia itself q suspicious circumstance. Young
or old, ladies are not in the habit of sleeping
with their bedroom doors aj1r. A strict
sense OF duty led Mrs. Presty Ia listen out
side. No sound like the breathing OF q per-
son asleep was 10 be heard. \ strict sense
Of duty conducted Mrs. Presty next into the
room aud even encouraged her 10 approach
the bed on tip-toe. The bed was empty; the
clothes had not been disturbed since il had
been made in the morning!
The old lady stepped out into the corridor
in q 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
goyerness might commit who had retired be-
fore IL O'Clock and who was iiot III her bed
room at Il. On further reelection 1t appear
ed 10 De DaTtiy pOssiDic thdt Mfss Ntsiel-
6eld might be preparing her pupils exercise
for the next day. Mrs. PTesiy descended to
..,r o~e..,sl! rooaa Oh the first tloor.
No. Here again there was nothing to see
bit an empty q
Where was Miss WeS$ci.elds
Was 1t within the limits of probability that
she had been bold enough to join the party
in the smoking-room? The bare idea was
absurd.
In another minnie, nevertheless, Mrs. Presty
was at the door listening. The mems voices
Were loud; they We're talking politics. She
peered through the key-hole: the smokers
had, beyond all doubt, been left to them
selves. Ii the house had not been full OF
guests Mrs. Presty would now have raised
an alarm. As things were the fear OF a pos
sible scandal, which the family might have
reason to regret. forced her to act with cau-
ton. Medltating IN the retirement OF her
w room, she arrived at q wise and wary
decision. Opening her door by a few inches,
she placed a CHAIR behind the opening, IN .
position which commanded a view OF sgd
ney's room. Wherever the goyerness might
be, her return TO Der bed-chamber before the
servants were astir in the morning was q
.hnx ~ A. - -, Vp.a .gxht a... IN