Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-03-13
XIV.

No second letter alriyed; but q telegram
was received from the lawyer toward the end
OF the week.
Expect me tomorrow on business which
requires personal consultation
That wa the message. In taking tie long
Journey 10 Cumberland Mrs. Linley's legal
adviser sacrificed two days of his precious
time in London. Something serious must as
suredly have happened.
I'm the meantime, who was the lawyer?
lie was Mr.. SarTazin of Lincoln's Inn
Fields.
Was Inc an Englishman or a Frenchman?
He was a curious mixture ot bots. His
ancestors had been among the prosecuted
French people who found a refuge in Eli
gland when the priest-ridden tyrant, Louis
XIV. revoked the edict Of Nantes. A Brit
ish subject by birth, and a thoroughly com.
petent and trustworthy man, Mr.. SarrszIn
labored under one inveterate delusion: he
firmly believed that his original French nat
IRE had been completely eradicated, under
the influence OF our lnsular climate and oui
insular customs. No matter how often the
strain of the lively French blood might a.
sert itself, at nconyenient times and under
regrettable circumstances. he never recog.
nized this foreign side OF his character. His
cNtsicht sptiS' Ho Iulch smpdkhttc, uhs
bright mutability of mind-all those qualities,
in short, which were most mischievously
ready 10 raise distrust in the minds OF En-.
glish clients, before their sentiments chang.
ed for the better under the light of later ex.
pe~rience-were attributed by Mr.. Sarrazin to
the ex~hilarating influence of his happy do
nestle circumstances and his successful pro-
fessional career. His essentially English
wife; his essentially English children; his
whiskers, his politics, his umbrella. his pew
at church, his plun-pudding, his Times news
paper, all answered for him Che was accus-
toned TO say a, an inbred member of the
glorious nation that l~eioices In hunting the
fox and believes In lnnumerable pills.
This excellent man arrived at the cottage,
desperately fatigued after his long journey,
but in perfect possession of his incompatible
temper, nevertheless.
He offered a proof of this happy state Of
mind on sitting down TO his p An
eplcure, II ever there was one yet, he found
the solid part OF the refreshments offered to
him to consist OF a chop. The old French
blood curdled at the sight of it-but the true
born Englishman herolcally devoted himself
TO the national meal. At the same time the
French yivacity discovered a kindred soul in
Kitty; Mr.. SarraZin became her intimate
friend in five minutes. He listened TO her
and talked 10 her as il the child had been his
client, and fishing from the pier the business
which had brought him from London. To
MIS-. Presty's disgust lie turned up a corner
of the table-cloth When lie had finished his
chop, and began 70 ~conjure so dettly with
the spoons and forks that poor little Kitty
toften dull, now, under the changed domestic
circumstances OF her life) clapped her hands
win pleasure, n became the Joyous child
of the happy old times once more. Mrs. Lin
ley, fiattered In her maternal love and her
maternal pride, never thought OF recalling
this extraordinary lawyer to the business
that was waiting to be discussed. But Mrs.
Presty looked at the clock and discovered
that her g%randchild ought to have been in
bed half an hour ago.
thine to say goodnight" the grandmoth-
er suggested.
The grandchild failed to see the subject of
bed In the same light. ''Oh, not yet" she
pleaded; Il want TO speak to Mr." Hav-
ing only heard the visitors name once, and
not innding her memory in good working or
der after the conjuring, Kitty hesitated.
Isn't your name something ike Saraceng'
she asked.
VERY like y cried the genial lawyer. Try
my other name, my dear. I'm amnel as
well as Sarrazin.r
"Ah, that'll do" said Kitty. ''Grandmani-
ma, before l go to bed I've something To ask
Samuel"
Grandmamma persisted in deferring the
question until tho next morning. Samuel
administered consolation before he said good
night. IN get up early" he whispered,
land we'll 90 on the pier before breakfast
and dsl."
Kitty expressed her gratitude in her own
o~utspoken wsy. ''Oh, dear, how nice 1t
would be, Samuel, II you lived with us.'
Mrs. Linley laughed for the first time, poor
soul, since the catastrophe which had broken
up her home. Mrs. Presty set q proper exam
pie. She moved her chair 80 that she faced
.he lawyer. and said: 'Now, Mr.. Sarrazinp'
lie acknowledged that he understood what
this meant by q very unprofessional choice
OF words. I'VE are in q ness" he began,
IAN the sooner we are out of it the better"
Only let me keep Kitty" Mrs. Linley de-
clared, 'ana I'll do whatever you think
right"
stick to that, dear madam. when YOU
have heard whatsI have To tell YOU. and l
shall not have taken my journey in vain. In
the first place. may ! look ut the letter which
! had the honor OF forwarding some days
since?'
Mrs. Presty gave him Herbert Linley's let
ter. lie read II with the closest attention,
and tapped tho breast pocket of his coat
when he had done.
If l didn't know what l have got here"
he remarked, II should have said: Another
person dictated this letter. and the name OF
the person Is Miss Wcsterfeid.'-
Just my idear' Mrs Presty exclaimed.
There can't be . doubt OF it,
.Oh. but there Is very great doubt OF II,
ma'am, and you will say "a. too when you
know what youf severe son-in-law threatens
70 do He turned b. Mrx Linlcy, AFTER
having secn that pretty little friend Of mine
who has Just gone 70 bed (how much nicer
Is would be for Ill OF MS II we could 20 10