Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-06-26
The Evil Genius.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.

- 49,
II he had been able TO look ava" rom her
he might have fOrcs' n v u w.s coming.
and he would have fSinr... ,cret that l,Is tri-
umph over the captain was still incomplete.
But his eyes were rlvcted or her face; his
tenderest memories OF her were pleading
with him. He answered as a docile child
might have answered:
II do believe you"
She took a lett r from her bosom. and.
showing 1t, begged him TO remark that il
was net closed.
II was in my bedroom writing" she said,
''when my mother calne to me and told me
that you and Capt. B%ennydeck had met IN
my sitting room. She dreaded a quarrel and
an exposure, and she urged me to 20 down
stairs and insist on sending you away--or to
permit her to do so. II | could not prevail on
myself TO follow her advice. 1 refused 10
allow the shameful dismissal of a man who
once had his claim on my respect. The
only alternative that / could Gee was TO speak
with you here In private. as we are speaking
now. NY mother undertoOhrto manage this
for me; she saw the servant and gave him
the message which you received. Where is
Capt. Bennydeck now?"
"Le is waiting in the sitting-room."
Waiting for your
Yes"
She considered a little before she said her
next words.
IL have brought with Inc what | was writ
Ing In my own ROOM" SIZE resumed. ''wish-
ing to show ii to you. win you read ito,
she Offered the letter to him. He hest.
tated. as il addressed TO me?' he asked.
ut is addressed To Capt. Bennydeck." she
answered.
The Jealousy that still ranked in his mind
Jealousy that he had no more lawful on
reasonable claim to feel than If he had been
q stranger-coniirmcd him in his resolution
not to read the letter. Spea ing with mark.
Ell respect he begged that she would accept
his excuses.
she refused 10 excuse him.
Before YOU decide" She said, you ought
at least To know why | have written TO Capt.
BenDydeck, instead of speaking to him as
had proposed. Ny heart failed me when l
thought of the distress that he would feel
and, perhaps, Of the contempt for myself
which, good and gentle rs he is, he might
not be able to Disguise. My letter tells him
the truth, without concealment. | IN
obliged TO speak of the manner in which you
have treated me, and of the circumstance
which forced me into acts OF deception that
j now bitterly regret. | have tried not to
m%isrepresent you; | have been anxious TO do
you no wrong. IL is for you, not for me, to
say If | have succeeded. Once more, will
you read my %letterY'
The sad elf-possessiOn, the quiet dignity
with which she spoke, appealed TO his mem
DRY of the pardon that she had so generously
granted, while he and Sydney Westerteld
were still g%uiltless of the injury inflicted on
her at a later time. Silently he took the let
ter from her and read il.
She kept her face turned away from him
and from the light. The effort to be still,
calm. and reasonable-to suffer the heart
ache, and not let the suffering be seen-made
cruel demands on the self -betraying nature
of a woman possessed by strong emotion.
There was a moment when she heard him
sigh while he was reading. She looked
round at him, and instantly looked away
again.
He rose aud approached her; he held out
the letter in one hand aud pointed TO it with
the other. Twice he attempted to speak.
Twice the influence of the letter unnamed
him.
1t was a hard struggle, but it was for her
sake: he mastered his weakness and forced
his trembling voice to submit to his will.
as the man whom on are going 10 marry
worthy Of Mis?' he asked, still pointing 10
the letter.
She answered, firmly: "More than worthy
OF it,
"Marry him, Catheriae-and forget Me-"
The great heart that he had sore sorely
wounded pitied him, forgaye him, answered
him with u burst of tears. She held out one
inploring hand. His lips touched 1.-THE
was gone.