Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-30
che Evil Genius.
A STORY.
DY wILKIE COLLINS.

to them. Still strangely confused, Sydney
made commonplace apologies, and aske |
leave to go out and walk in the PARK. Hear
ing this, Kitty declared that where her gov
erness c she would 20, too. Mrs. Lin.ey
smoothed her daughters pretty auburn hair,
and said, playfully: II think | ought to be
jealous" To her surprise Sydney looked up
as If the words had been addressed TO her
self. You mustn't be fonder, my dear, of
your governess,' Mrs. Linley went ON, than
you are OF your mother" She kissed the
child, and, rising TO go, discovered that sgd
ney had moved TO another part of the room.
She was standing at the piano, with a page
OF music in her hand. The page was upside
down-and she had placed herself in a posi-
ton which concealed her face. Slow as Mrs.
Linley was To doubt any person lmore cs-
pecially n person who interested herr she lett
the room with a vague fear of something
wrong, and with a conviction that she would
do well 10 consult her husband.
Hearing the door close, Sydney looked
round. She and Kitty were alone again;
and Kitty was putting away her books, with
out showing any pleasure at the prospect Of
q holiday.
Sydney took the child fondly in her rms.
"Would you be yery sorry she asked, 'if 1
was obliged TO 30 away, some day, aud leave
you?' Kitty turned pale with terror at the
dreadful prospect which those words pre-
sented. There! there! | am only joking"
Sydney said, shocked at the elect which her
attempt TO suggest the impending separation
had produced. you shall come with me,
darling; we will walk in the park together"
Kitty's face frightened directly. She pro-
posed extending their walk TO the paddock
and feeding the cows. Sydney readily con.
sented. Amy amusement was welcome to
her which diverted the child's attention from
herself.
They had been nearly an hour in the park.
II were returning to the house through q
clump OF trees, when Sydney's companion.
running on before her, cried: Heres papa -
Her first impulse was to draw back behind q
tree in the hope of escaping notice. Linley
sent Kitty away to gatlier a noSegay OF
daisies, and joined Sydney under the trees.
Il have been looking FOR you everywhere"
he said. MY wife"
Sydney interrupted him. discovered al
readyW she exclaimed.
There Is nothing that need alarm YOU"
he replied. Catherine is too good and too
True herself TO suspect others easily. She sees
a change In you that she doesn't understand
she asks il / have noticed it-and that is
MI. But her mother has the cunning of the
devil. There is a serious reason for control
ling yourself.'
He spoke 80 earnestly that he startled her.
Are you angry with mcg' she asked.
Angry! Does the man 1.-Two who could
be angry with you"
1t might be better for both of us if YOU
acre angry With me. ] have tried to con-
troll myself; | will try again, Oh, If Won
only knew what | suffer when Mrs. Linley
Is kind 10 me,'
He persisted IN tryiiIa to rouse her 10 a
sense OF the danger that threatened them
While the visitors remained in the house. in
a few days, Sydney, there will be 10 more
need for the deceit that Is nov forced on us.
Til that time comes, remember-Mrs. Presty
suspects us"
Kitty ran back to them with her hands ful!
OF daisies before they could SAY more.
There is your nOsegay, papa. No, don't
want sou to thank mel want TO know what
present Soa ale going 10 give me- Her
fathers mind was preocclpied; nc looked at
her absently. The cliild'S sense of her own
Importance was wounded; she appealed TO
ner governcss. Would you believe ity' she
asked. "Papa has forgotten that next Tues
day is my birthday
VERY well, Kitty, l must pay the penalty
OF forgetting. What present would you like
to haye?."
II want a dolls perambulator."
"lIa! In my time we were satisfied with a
doll"
They Al. three looked round. Another per-
sou had suddenly joined In the talk. There
was no installing the persons voice. Mrs.
Presty appeared among the trees, taking 4
walk in the park. Had she heard what Lin
ley and The goycincSs had said TO each other
while Kitty was gathering daisies?
Quite a domestic scenc.' the sly old lady
remarked. Papa, looking like a saint in q
picture, with flowers in his hand; papa's
spoi.t child always wanting something and
always getting it; and papa's goyelnesS, so
sweetly fresh and pretty that | should GER
tainly fall in love with her il | had the adj
vantage of being a man. You have no doubt
remarked, llerbert-think | hear the bell;
Shall We go to lunch?-you have no doubt, L
say, remarked what curlouSiy opposite styles
Catherine and Miss Westeriield present--so
charming, and Yet such complete contrasts.
| wonder whether they occasionally envy
each others good looks? Does my daughter
ever regret that size is not Mss WeSterlieldp
And do you, my dear, sometimes wish you
were Mus. Liniey".'
while we are about it, let me put a third
question: Iin!ey MterpoScd. Are you
even aware Of it yourself, Mrs. Presty, when
you are talking nonscNSc?'
lie WIS angry, aud he showed it IN that
feeble repl-. sydney felt tic implied insult
offered TO her In another way. IL reused her
to The exercise o. s~clf-cOntrol as nothing had
reused her yet. She ignored Mrs. Presty's
irony with 4 eomposure worthy of Mrs.
Presty herself. Where e the woman she
said, "who would not wish to be as beauti.
FIJI rs Mrs. IIiniey-and as good"'
Thank You, my dear, for a compliment to
my daughters sincere compliment, no
doubt. 1t comes in very neatly and nicely"
Mrs. Presty acknowledged, after my SON
in-law's little outbreak Of TEMPER. My poor
Herbert, when will YOU understand that l
mean no ham? | ain ~ essentially humor-
Gus person-my wonderful spirits are always
carrying me away. 1 - assure sou, Miss
Westeriield, | don't kcoT what worry Ia.
My trOubles--deaths in the family, and that
sort of things-seem to slip off rne In u most
remarkable manner. Poor Nj. 0rmond used
to attribute 1t to my excellent appetite. Or,
no; l think he said my excellent digestion.
Ny second husband would never hear of such
an explanation as that. His high ideal Of
women shrank from allusion TO stomaclis.
lie used 20 speak SO nicely quoting some
poet of the sunshine of my breast. Vague,
perhaps" said Mrs. Presty, modestly look
ing down at the ample prospect of a personal
nature which presented itself below her
throat, but so fiattering to ones feelings.
There's the luncheon bell again, ] declare!
I'll run on before and tell them you are
coming. Some people might say they wish
cd TO he punctual. | I'M truth itself, and /
own ] don't like being helped to the under
side of the fish. Au reyoir! Do you remem-
Der, Miss Westerlield, when ] asked you to
repeat 'au rey0ir' as n specimen OF your
French? 1 didn't think much Of your accent.
Oh! dear me, / didn't think much Of your
accent"
Kitty looked after her fluent grandmother
with eyes that stared respectfully In ingorant
admiration. She pulled her fathers ~coattail.
and addressed herself grayely to his private
ear. "Oh, papa, what noble words grand
IN hasv'
II.
On the evening OF Monday IN the new
week the last of the visitors had left Mount