Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-10
The Evil Genius.
A STORY.
BY wILKfE COLLINS.

Oii' sHe > aNluii! sllODG, 4 can tell YOU. Sfie
rubbed on the -luggage-iabel in 40 time.
Mamma says: What are you doing that
iorY And g-randnlanma ~says-ihis Is the
dFcaa;G! ;aiHg hat | want you 10 explain;
oh, l can remember 1t all: it's like learning
lessons, only much Observation-Disclosures
says: Before the day is over the name on
yoar boxes will be your name no longer"
Mr.. SarTazin now became aware Of the
labyrinth into which his young friend had
innOcentiy led him. The divorce, and the
inevitable return (when the husband was no
longer the husband 10 the wife's maiden
naine-theSe were the subjects on which
kitty's desire for enlightenment applied TO
the wisest person within her reach, her moth
crs legal adviser.
Mr.. SarraZin tried to put her OF his knee.
She held him round the neck. He thought
OF tie railway as a promising excuse, and
told her he must go back 10 London. She
held him a little tighter. II really can't
wait my dear he got up as he said il. Kitty
hung on TO him with her legs as well as her
arms, and, finding the position uncomfort.
able, lost her temper. Mammals going TO
have a new name" she shouted. as ii the
lawyer had suddenly become deaf. Grand.
mamma says she must be Mrs. Ormond.
ahAAA a ltA0 Nv llNN 'lii'ltts u WIN y
Where's papa? | want to write TO him; ]
know he won't allow IT, Do you hear?
Where's papa?'
She fastened her little hands on MIR. SaI-
razin's coat collar and tried TO shake him, III
a fury of resolution 10 know what IL ali
meant. At that critical moment Mrs. Presty
opened the door and stood petrilied on the
Threshold.
Hanging on 90 Mr.. Sarrdzi1 with her
arms ana her legs exclaimed the old lady.
you little wretch, which are you, a mOnkey
or a child?'
The lawyer gently deposited Kitty on the
hoJr. II mean 70 have il out Of you" she
whispered, as he set her Oh her feet.
Mrs. Presty pointed sternly 10 the open
door. screaming, too" she resumed. when
quiet In the house Is OF the utmost impOr
lance 20 your mother. Go! If | hear yoU
again, bread and water and no doll for the
rest OF the week" d.
Kitty retired IN disgrace. and Mrs. Presiy
sharpened her tongue on Mr.. Sarrazin next,
I'm astonlshed, sit, at your allowing that
impudent grandchild of mine To take such
liberties with you. Who would suppose that
You were a married man, With children OF
your own%'
nav : Just Al' lENHNils Ia lffAt lldAldit,
Mr.. Sarrazin smartly replied. ~ rOmp with
my own c~hildren-why not with Kitty. Can
! do anythin Tor YOU in London?' he went
on, getting a little nearer TO the door; Il
leave Edinburgh by the next train. And I
promise YOU, lie added, with the spirit OF
mischief twInkling in his eyes, this shall be
my last confidential interview with y0ul
gTandchild. When she wants to ask any
n.Ya ,,t..ffn,,a I ,p,,.f.r IAs .. $500. -
Mrs. Presty looked after the retreatine
lawyer thoroughly mystined. What con
iidential Interview What ''questionsg'
Was this one more lamentable case OF a re.
spectacle man oyertaken by liquor? scotch
whiskyr' she suddenly concluded ~ thought
he smelt OF spirits when he first came in"
CHAPTER XXI.
or the friends and neiglIbors who had as
sociated with Herbert Linley In bygone days
not more than two or three kept mp their in
timaey with him al the later time OF his dis.
grace. Those few. it is needless 10 say, wer,
men.
One of the faithful companions who had
not shrunk from him bet had just left the
London hotel al which Linley had taken
rooms tor sydney Westeriield and himself
/ III l4lt latNtt VI III. anu WIS. IINi pFiN. 1nAs
old friend had been shocked by the change
for the worse which he perceived in the iugi-
tive master OF Mount MOryen. Linley's stout
figure OF former times had fallen away as IL
he had suffered under long Illness; his
healthy color had faded; he made an effort
To assume the hearty manner that had once
been natural TO him, which was simply pitt
able To see. After sacrificing ali that makes
life truly decent and truly enjoyable for a
woman, he has got nothing. not even false
happiness, in return!' With that dreary
conclusion that retiring visitor descended
the hotel steps and went his way along the
street.
Linley returned 10 the newspaper which
he had been reading when his friend was
shown into tie room.
Line by line he followed the progress OF
the law report which informed its thousands
OF readers that his wife had divorced him
and had taken lawful possession OF his child.
Word by word he dwell with morbid atten-
ton ON the lerIns of crushing severity IN
which the lord president had spoken of sgd
ney Westeriield and of himself. Sentence
tg sentence lie read the Toproof inflicted on
the unhappy woman whom lie had vowed
10 love and cherish. And then-even then
urged by his own self-tOrmentlDg suspicion,
he looked for mere. On the opposite page
there was a leading article, presenting COM
ments on the trial. written in a tone OF lofty
and virtuous regret, taking the wlte's side
against the judge, but declaring, at the same
time, that no condemnation OF the conduct
Of the husband and the governess could be
too meTclless. and no misery that might over
take them in the future more than they had
deserved.
He thew the newspaper on the table at
his side and thought over what he had read.
1.-The had done nothing else, he had drained
tie bitter cup TO the drcgs. When he looked
back he saw nothing but the life that he had
wasted. When his thoughts turned to the
future they confronted a prospect empty o.
all promise to a mar still In the prime of life.
Wife and child were as completely lost To
him as If they had been dead-and 1t was
the wife's doing. Had he any right to coin
plain? Not the shadow of q right. Is the
newspapers said, he had deserved 1t.
The clock reused him, striking the hour.
He rose hurriedly and advanced toward
the window. As he crossed the room he
passed by a mirror. His own sullen despair
looked at him In the rejection of his face.
s'She will be back directly, The remembered;
''she mustn't see me like thls!' He went ON
to the window 10 divert his mind (and so TO
clear his faee) by watching the stream OF life
flowing by in the busy street. Artificial
cheerfulness, assumed love in Sydney's pres
ence-that was what his life had come to al
ready.
If he had known THAT she had gone ont
seeking a temporary separation, with his
fear Of self betrayal-if he had suspected
that she too had thoughts which must be- con-
~cealed-sad forrbodings of losing her hold
on his heart, terrifying suspicious that he
was already comparing her, 10 her own dis
advantage, with the wife whom he had de-
serted-if he had made the,e discoveries
whak would the emf have been? But she
had thu far escaped the danger OF exciting
his distrust. That she loved him he knew.
That sine had begun to doubt his attachment
10 her he would not have believed IL his old
est friend had declared il on the best eyi-
dence. She had said TO him that morning.
at breakfast: There was a good woman,
who used to let lodgings here IN London,
and who was very kind to me when / was a
child. aud she hsJ asked leave 10 go to the