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

no reply; his eyes rested m sympathy on his
sister-inlaw. She saw, and felt, his kind
ness at q time when kindness wss doubly
precious. Her tones trembled . little AZ she
spoke TO her silent husband.
Don't you approve OF what ] have done,
| Herberty'
His nerves were shattered by grief and sus
pense, but he made an effort this time to
speak gently. How can I say that" he re-
piled. 'ff the poor child's life depends on
Miss Westeriieldg / ask one fsvor-give me
time 10 leave the house before she comes
! here"
Mrs. Linley looked at him In amaxenent
Her mother touched her arm: Randall tried
By a sign to warn her to 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 4 trial to his self-control which
he had reason 10 dread; his look, his voice,
his manner. proclaimed IL TO persons capable
vi quietly deserving him. He had struggled
against his guilty passiof--at what sacrifice
Of his own feelings no one new but himself
and here was the temptation, at the very
time when he was hOnerably resisting II,
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 10 Others. From his point of yiew-no-
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-meant Efforts made by
her relatives 10 prevent II, Ma. Linley CON-
mitted the very error which 1t was most i'm
portant that she should avoid. She justified
herself, instead Of leaving 1t TO events TO
Justify her. Miss Westerfield comes here"
she argued, ION an Grand that is beyond re-
proach-An errand OF mercy. Why should
you leave the house?'
"In justice 70 you," Linley answered.
Mrs. Presty could restrain herself nc long
err. Drop IL, Cathefinep' she said, IN q
whisper.
Catherine refused 10 drop II; LinIey's short
and sharp reply had irritated her. After
my experience" she persisted, have ] no
reason TO trust your
1T is part OF your experience" he remind
ed her, that ] promised not to see Miss
Westertield again."
Gown ii at oncer' 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 10 boy. He
expressed his sense Of his mother-in-law's
friendly Offices in language which astonished
her.
"Hold your ~tOngue!"
"Do you hear thatP' Mrs. Presty asked,
appealing Indignantly to her daughter.
Linley took his hat. AT what time do
you expect Miss Westerield to arriveY' he
said TO his wife.
She looked at the clock on the msntelpiece.
Before the hslf-hour strikes. Don't be
alarmed" she added, with an air of ironicai
sympathy; you will have time to make your
escape"
He advanced to the door, and looked at
her.
One thing I beg You will remember" he
said. Every half-hour while 1 am away Il
am going to the farm you are to send and
let me know how Kitty sand especially II
Miss Westerfeld j~ustifes the experiment
which the doctor has advised us to try"
Having given those Instructions he went
out.
The sofa was near Mrs. Linley. She sank
on ii, overpowered by the utter destruction
OF the hopes that she had founded on the
separation OF Herbert and the goyerness,
Sydney Westerheld 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 q new testa-
ment, bound In excellent taste, on her toilet
table. The occasion suggested reflection OH
the system which produces average Chris
tlans at 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
rSage and the appearance Of the goyerness.
XVIII.
Pale, worn, haggard with anxiety, Sydney
VCStriutIu tntClCl tHC iOOui, dhu toOhCN
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 to the door;
eager to hurry upstairs 10 Kitty's bedside.
Mrs. Linley's gentle hand detained her.
sInha tnctnr haI loft cartoin inSfrt.finnS
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 q chair.
Their is one other precaution which we
must observe" she said; II must ask you to
wait in my room until l find that you may
show yourself safely. Now come with me-"
Mrs. Presty followed them, and begged
earnestly for leave to walt the result of the
momentous experiment at the door Of Kitty's
bedroom. Her self-asserting manner had
vanished; she was quiet, she was even hum
bic. While the last chance for the chiId's
life was fast becoming q matter OF minutes
only. the grandmothcrs better nature show
ed itself on the surface. Randall opened the
door for them as the three went out together.
He 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
sisieI-iu-isw ~ lei a.G. heal .i.at i,aa hap
! pened, without an instant of delay, he 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 a heart
after ALL"
Left alone, he was never for one moment
in repose, while the slow minutes followed
each other In the silent house.
He walked about the room. he listened at
the door, he arranged and disarranged the
furniture. When the nursemaid 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. sir
and looking as II she expected to feel an arm
round her waist next--trembled with terror
under that astounding salute. Her masters
brother, u pattern OF propriety mp 10 that
time. "A man declared by her feiloy-Saryants