The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-06-19

my poor little child. III Kitty had not re-
minded me OF her father"
Mrs. Presty dropped into a chair; she was
really frightened. Her fat cheeks trembled
like a jelly On Il dish that is suddenly moved.
HAS that man been hereP" she asked.
''What manY'
'The man who may break Off your mar
riage If lie meets with the captain. Has
Herbert Linley been here?"
'Certainly not. The one person associated
with my troubles whom | have seen to-day
is Sydney Westerfield."
Mrs. Prcsty bounced out of her chair. "You
have seen-Sydney Westertield?' she re-
peated, with emphatic pauses which express
ed amazement, tempered by unbelief.
"Yes; 1 have seen her"
"WhereY'
"ln the garden"
And spoken to herw
YES"
Mrs. Presty raised her eyes to the ceiling.
Whether she expected our old friend "the
recording angel to take down the questions
and answers that had just passed, or whether
she was only waiting to see the hotel that
held her daughter collapse under Il sense of
moral responsibility, it is not possible to de-
eide. After an awful pause the old lady IT,
membered tia she had something more to
say, and said 1t.
81 make no remark, Catherine; l don't
even want to know what you and Miss West
erfield said to each other. At the same line,
as a mater of convenience to myself, l wish
to ascertain whether | must leave this hotel
or not. The same house doesn't hold that
woman and Me. Has she gone%'
"She has gone"
AJrc l)rnct,, 1nnl-nI r,,,,.l 49, n.--. MA
taken Kitty with herY' she asked.
Don't speak of Kitty!" Catherine cried,
in the greatest distress. 81 have had to keep
the poor, innocent, affectionate child apart
from Miss Westerield by force. My heart
aches when l think of it."
I'm not surprised, Catherine. MY grand
daughter has been brought up ON the mod
ern system. Children are all little angels
no punishment-only gentle remonstmnce-
don't be naughty, dear, because you Will
make poor mamma unhappy And then
mamma grieves over it and wonders over 1t
when she finds her little angel disobedient.
What a fatal system of education! All my
success in life; every quality that endeared
me to your father and Mi. Presty; every
social charm that has made me the idol of
society, ! attribute entirely to judicious cor
ASSsioi III SdAiS llle, applicu iIcc!y Will tie
open hand. We will change the subject.
Where is dear B%ennydeck2 / want to con-
graduate him on his approaching marriage"
She looked hard at her daughter, and men
tally added: He'll live to regret itv'
Catherine knew nothing OF the captains
movements. II have something to say to
him, and l don't know where he is"
Mrs. Presty still kept her eyes fixed on her
daughter. Nobody observing GATHERINGS
face, and Judging also by the tone of her
voice, would haYe supposed that she was al
luding to the man whose irresistible attrac-
tons had won her. She looked i'll at ease
and she spoke SADLY.
you don't seem to be III gead spirits, my
dear" Mrs. Presty gently suggested. Ne
lovers quarrel already, l hopeT'
Nothing of the kind"
Can [ be of any use to you?"
"l GU might be OF the greatest use. But L
know only too well you would refuse"
Thus far Mrs. Plesty had been animated
by curiosity. She began now to feel vaguely
alarmed. AFTER all that | have done for
you" she answered, 'Idon'tthink you ought
to say that. Why should / rcfuse?."
Catherine hesitated.
Her mother persisted in pressing her. elias
it anything to do with Capt Bennydeckw
yes"
"What is it,"
Catherine reused her courage.
you know what it is rs well as l do"
she said. Capt. Bennydeck believes that |
am free to marry him because | am a widow.
You might help me tell him the truth"
.'WhatI!w
That exclamation of horror and a~stoDish-
ment was loud enough to have been heard
in the garden. If Mrs. Presty's hair had
been all her OWL, it must have been hair that
stood on end.
Catherine quietly rose. 1--WE won't dis
cuss il" she said, with resignation. II knew
you would refuse me-" She approached the
door. Her mother got up and reso!utely
stood in the way. Before you commit nm
act of downright Madness" Mrs. Presty
said, II mean to try ii | can stop you. &c
back to your chair"
Catherine refused.
81 know how it will end,' she answered;
''and the sooner it ends the better. You will
find that l am quite as determined rs you
are. A man who love Inc as ne loves me, is
a man whom l refuse to deceive"
Lets have it out plainly" Mrs. Presty
insisted. "He believes your first marriage
has been dissolved by Death. Do you mean
to tell him that it has been dissolved by Dl-
vorce?:"
81 do"
"What right has he to know III"
"a right that Is not to be denied. A wife
must have no secrets from her husband"
Mrs. Presty hit back sinartly.
YOU'RE not his wife yet. Wait till you
are married"
Never! Who but q wretch would marry
ON hopaof man ppIar ia leo nrofo,,cacyy .#
II deny the false pretenses! You talk as
If you We're an impostor. Are you, or are
you not, the accomplished lady who has
charmed fimE Are you, or are you not, the
beautiful woman whom he loves? There isn'1
a stain on your reputation. In every respect
you are the wife he wants and the wifa who
is worthy of him. And you are cruel enough
to disturb the poor man about a matter thai
doesn't concern him! You are fool enough
to raise doubts of you in his mind, and give
a reproach to cast in your teeth the first time
you do anything that happens to offend him
Any woman-1 don't care who she may be-
might envy the home that's waiting for you
and your child, if you're wise enough to holt
your tongue. Upon my word, Catherine, ]
am ashamed of you. Have you no princi
ples?.'
oHo iGtily IlleitIit IL! Liz purely stlllSi
considerations which she urged on hel
daughter were so many undeniable virtue;
in Mrs. Presty's estimation. She took thu
highest moral ground, and stood up ant
crowed on 1t with a pride in her own princi
pies which the primate Of all England Nigh
have envied.
But GATHERINGS rare resolution held as firm
as ever. She got a little nearer to the door
Goodnight, mamma" was the only repl,
she made.
us that all you have to say to me"
II am tired, and l must rest. Please le
me CO." Mrs. Presty threw open the dool
with a bang.
you refuse to take my advice" she said
"Oh, very well, have your own way! Yo!
are sure to prosper in the end. These ar
the days Of exhibitions and gold medals. L
there is ever an exhibition of idiots at large
l know who will win the prize"
Catherine was accustomed to preserve he
respect for her mother under difficulties, bu
this was more than her sense of tilial dut.
could successfully endure.
1T on1y wish T had navar taken vour ad