Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-20


pense, but he made an effort this time t
speak gently. How can / say that" he re
piled, 'if the poor child's life depends or
Miss Westcrlield? ask one favor-give me
time 10 leave the house before she comes
here"
Mrs Linley looked at him in amaxement
Her mother touched her arm; Randall tried
by a sign 10 warn her 10 be careful. Their
calmer minds had seen what the wife's agi-
tation had prevented her from discovering.
In Linley's position the return of the gov
erness was q trial to his self-control which
he had reason to dread; his look, his voice,
his manner, proclaimed II TO persons capable
of quietly observing him. He had struggled
against his guilty passion-at what sacrifice
of his own feelings no one knew but himself
and here was the temptation, at the very
time when he was honerably resisting it,
brought back TO him by hts wife! Her mo-
tive did unquestionably excuse, perhaps even
sanction, what she had done: but this was an
estimate of her conduct which commended
itself TO others. From his point OF view-mo-
tive or no motive--he saw the old struggle
against himself In danger of being renewed;
he felt the ground that he had gained slip
ping from under him already.
In spite of the well-mesnt efforts made by
her relatives 10 prevent IL, MA. Linley com
mitted the very error which 1t was most inn
portant that she should avoid. She justified
herself, instead of leaving II to events TO
Justify her. Miss Westeriield comes here"
she argued, ION an Grand that is beyond re-
proach-an GRAND of mercy. Why should
you leave the houseP"
I'm justice 10 you," Linley answered.
Mrs. Presty could restrain herself no long
er. Drop 1t, Catherlne!' she said, In a
whisper.
Catherine refused to drop IL; Linley's short
and sharp reply had irrltated her. after
nv experience" she persisted, have ] no
reason TO trust you"
ut is part of your experience" he remind
ed her, that l promised not to see Miss
Westerteld again."
Gown it AT oncev' she broke ont, provoked
beyond endurance; though l may be will
ing to trust you-you are afraid to trust your.
self"
Unlucky Mrs. Presty interfered again.
You're quite right, Herbert Keep out of
harms way, and you keep right"
She patted him on the shoulder, as if she
had been giving good advice TO n boy. He
expressed his sense Of his mother-in.law's
friendly offices In language which astonlshed
her.
Hold your %t0ngue!'
"Do you hear thatp" Mrs. Presty asked,
appealing Indignantly to her daughter.
Linley took his hat. AT what time do
you expect Miss Westerfield to arriveY' he
said TO his wife.
She looked at the clock on the mantelpiece.
Before tho half-hour strikes. Don't be
alarmed" she added, with an air of ironical
sympathy; ''you will have time to make your
escape"
He advanced to the door, and looked at
her.
zone thing I beg You will remember" he
said. Every half-hour while | am way q
am going to the farm you are to send and
let me know how Kitty Island especially II
Miss Westerfield ~justilies the experiment
which the doctor has advised us to try"
Having given those instructions he went
out.
Thu sofa was near Mrs. Linley. She sank
on 1t, overpOwered by the utter destruction
OF the hopes that she had founded on the
separation of Herbert and the governess,
Sydney Westeriield was still in possession OF
her husbands heart!
Her mother was surely the right person to
say q word of comfort to her. Randall made
the suggestion-with the worst possible re-
suit, Mrs. Presty had not forgotten that she
had been told-at her age, In her position as
the widow Of a cabinet minister-to hold her
tongue. Your brother has insulted me-"
she said TO Randall. He was weak enough to
attempt to make an explanation. IL was
speaking Of my brothers wife," he said.
Your brothers wife has allowed me to be
insulted.' Having received that reply Ran
dial could only wonder. This woman went
to church every Sunday and kept new testa-
ment, bound in excellent taste, on her toilet
table. The occasion suggested reflection on
the system which produces average Chris
tians mt the present time. Nothing more was
said by Mrs. Presty. Mrs. Linley remained
absorbed In her own bitter thoughts. In ST.
lence they waited for the return of the car
rSpge and the appearance of the governess.
XVIII.
Pale, worn, haggard with anxiety, Sydney
Westeriield entered the room, and looked
once more on the faces which she had resign
ed herself never TO see again. She appeared
to be hardly conscious of the kind reception
which did its best to set her at her ease.
Am | in timer" were the first words that
escaped her on entering the room. ReasSured
by the answer, she turned back 10 the door;
eager to hurry upstairs 10 Kitty's bedside.
Mrs. Llnley's gentle hand detained her.
The doctor had left certain instructions,
warning the mother to guard against any ac-
cident that might remind Kitty of the day on
which Sydney had left her. At the time of
that bitter parting the child had seen her gov
erness in the same walking dress which she
wore now. Mrs. Linley removed the hat and
cloak and laid them on a chair.
"rhere is one other precaution which we
must observe" she said; II must ask you to
wait in my room until / find that you may
show yourself safely. Now come with me-"
Mrs. Presty followed them, and begged
earnestly for leave TO wait the result of the
mOnentous experiment at the door of Kitty's
bedroom. Her self-asserting manner had
vanished; she was quiet, she was even hum
BILE. While the last chance for the child's
life was fast becoming q matter of minutes
only. the grandm0thcrs better nature show
ed itself on the surface. Randall opened the
door for them as the three went out together.
lie was In that state of maddening anxiety
about his poor little niece in which men of
his imaginative temperament become morbid
and say strangely inappropriate things. In
the same breath with which he implOred his
s%ister-in-law 10 let him heal what had hap
pened, without an instant of delay, lie start
led Mrs. Presty by one OF his familiar re-
marks on the Inconsistencies In her character.
you disagreeable old woman he whisper
ed as she passed him, you have got q heart
after all"
Left alone, he was never for one moment
in repOse, while the slow minutes followed
each other In the silent house.
lie walked about the room, he listened at
the door, he arranged and %disarranged the
furniture. When the murSemaid descended
from the upper regions with her mistress
message for him, he ran out to meet her, saw
the good news in her smiling face, and, for
the first and last time in his life, kissed one
OF his brothers female servants. Susan-a
well-bred young person, thoroughly capable
in ordinary cases of saying For shame, sin. ~
and looking as If she expected TO feel an arm
round her waist neXt-trembled with terror
under that astounding salute. Her masters
brother, a pattern of propriety up 10 that
time, Il man declared by her fellow-servants
to be incapable OF kissing II woman unless
she had a right TO insist OH il In the licensed
character of his wife, had evidently taken
leave of his senses. Would he bite her nextp
No; he only looked confused, and said (bow
very extraordinary y that he would never do