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

III he had been able TO look AVA Grom her
he might have fore. n V q Wa coming.
and lie w0Jld have ISIl T., .cIrd that ..s tri-
umph over the captain was still incomplete.
But his eyes were rivctcd on her face; his
tendereSt memories OF her were pleading
with him. He answered as a dOcile child
might have answered:
IL Ito believe YOU
She took a lett + from her bosom, and.
showing it, begged him to remark that it
was not closed.
Il was in my bedroom writing" she said.
"when my mother came to me and told me
that you and Capt. Bennydeck 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. it | could not prevail on
myself TO follow her advice. | refused 10
allow the shameful dismissal of 4 man who
once had his claim on my respect. The
only alternative that | could zee was 10 speak
with You here in private. as We are speaking
now. Ny mother unacrtOoktO manage this
for me-; she saw the servant and gave him
the message which you received. Where is
Capt. B~ennydeck now?'
ale Is waiting In the sitting-room,n
waiting for you.''
yes"
She considered Il little before she said her
next words.
ii have brought with me what | was writ.
inE in my own room she resumed, 'wish-
ing to show IL to YOU. viii YOU read it?'
she offered the letter TO him. He hesi-
tat2d. lis il addressed to me?' he asked.
at is addressed 10 Capt. B~cnnydeck," she
answered.
The jealousy that still rankled in his mind
Jealousy that he had no more lawful or
reasonable claim 10 feel than if he had been
a stranger-coniirmed him in his resolution
not to read the letter. Spea ing with mark.
ed respect he begged that she would accent
his excuses.
she refused TO excuse him.
Before you decide" She said, you ought
at least Ia know why | have written 10 Capt.
Bennydcck, instead of speaking 10 him as |
had proposed. My heart failed me when |
thought of the distress that he would feel
and, perhaps, Of the contempt for myself
which, good and gentle as he is, he might
not Toe able Ia disguise. My letter tells him
the truth, without Concealment. | am
obliged 10 speak of the manner in which YOU
have treated me, and of the circumstances
which forced me intO acts of deception that
now bitterly regret. | have tried not To
miSrepreSent YOU; | have been anxious to do
you no wrong. II is for you, not for me, to
say If | have succeeded. Once more, will
you read my letter."
The sad Self-possessiOn, the quiet dignity
with which she spoke, appealed 10 his mem
DRY of the pardon that she had SO generously
granted, while he and Sydney Westertield
were still g%uiItleSs of the injury inflicted on
her at a later time. Silently he took the let
ter from her and read it.
She kept her face turned away from him
and from the light. The effort TO be still,
calm, and reasOuahlc-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.
lie rose and approached her; he held out
the letter in one hand and pointed to it with
the other. Twice he attempted to speak.
Twice the influence Of the letter unnamed
him.
1t was 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 to marry
worthy Of HiS?' he asked, still pointing 10
the letter.
She answered, firmly: "More than worthy
of it,
"Marry him, C~atheriac-and forget Me-"
The great heart that he had sore sorely
wounded pitied him, forgave him, answered
him with a burst Of tears. She held out one
impl0ring hand. His lips touched it-he
was gone.