Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-24
TlG Evil Genius.
A DOMESTIC STORY.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.

the time that had been fixed for leaving
oaluyseal with her mind at ease Oh the sub
Jeet OF her luggage. my boxes are locked,
strapped, and labeled; l hate being hurried.
WHAT'S that your reading?' she asked, dis
covering a book on her daughters lap and a
nasty action Oh her daughters part which
looked like trying to hide it.
MIS-. Ormond made the most common and,
where the object is to battle curiosity, the
most useless of prevaricating replies. When
her mother asked her what she was reading
she answered Nothing"
"Nothing!' Mrs. prcsty repeated with an
llohlcal assumption of interest. 'The book
OF all others, Catherine, that most want to
see" She snatched up the book, opened il
at the first page, and discovered an inscrip-
tlon In faded ink which reused her indigna.
tlon: TO dear Catherine. from Herbert, on
the anniversary of our marriage" What
ulintended mockeTy in those words, read by
the later light of the divorce! "Well, this Is
mean said Mrs. Presty. keeping that
wretch's present after the public exposure
which he has forced on YOU. Oh, Cath
crime ~
Catherine was not quite 50 patient with
her mother as usual. Keeping my best re-
membrance of the happy time of my life"
she answered.
Misplaced sentiment Mrs. Presty de.
clared. but / must make allowances fol
you; your mind is giving way, my dear, I'M.
der the influence OF this miserable place"
Catherine asserted her own opinion against
her mothers opinion for the second time. IL
have recovered my health at Sandyseal,' she
said. IL like the place, and l am sorry to
leave it,"
Give me the shop windows, the streets,
the lite, the racket, and the smoke of Lon.
don" cried Mrs. Presty. Thank heaven.
these rooms are let over our heads, and out
we must go, whether we like ii or not"
This expression of gratitude was followed
by a knock at the door. and by a voice out.
side asking leave to come in, which was, be.
You'd all doubt, the voice of Randall Linley.
With GATHERINGS book still in her posses
sion Mrs. Presty opened the table-drawer,
threw it IN, and closed the drawer with a
bang. Discovering the two ladies, Randall
stopped in the doorway and stared at them
in aStOnlShment.
Didn't you expect to see us?' Mrs. Presty
inquired.
IL heard YOU were here from our friend
Sarrazin,' Kendall said; "but / expected Ia
see Capt. ~Bennydeck. Have ] mistaken the
number? Surely these are his rooms?'
Catherine attempted to explain. They
tcCr6 Capt. Benny decks rooms" she began
but he was so kind, although we are perfect
strangers 10 him.
Mrs. Presty mterpOsed. "My dear Cath
crime, you have not lIadmy advantages; you
have not been taught 10 make u complicated
statements in few words. Permit me to seize
the points Gin the late MI. Presty's style).
n to put them in the strongest light. This
place, Randall, is always full; and we didn't
write long enough beforehand 10 secure
rooms. Capt. Bennydeck happened to be
downstairs when he heard that we were
obliged to go away, and that one Of us was
a lady in delicate health. This sweetest of
men sent us word that we were welcome to
take his rooms, and that he would sleep on
board his yacht. Conduct worthy of Sil
Charles Grandson himself. When | weni
downstairs to thank him he was g0nc-and
here we have been for nearly three weeks;
sometimes seeing the captains yacht, but, To
our great surprise, never seeing the captain
himself
There's nothing to be surprised at, Mrs.
Presty. Capt. Bcmnydeck likes doing kind
things, and hates being thanked for it. eN'
pected him to meet me here to-day
Catherine wen to the window. "He is
coming to meet you,' She said. There is
his yacht in the bay"
And in a dead calm" Randall added, join
ing her. "The vessel will not get here be
fore | am obliged to go away again
Catherine looked at him timidly. do !
drive you away?' she asked, in tones that
falteTed a little.
Randall wondered what she could possibly
be thinking of, and acknowledged 1t in 50
many words.
''Shc is thinking of the divorce" Mrs.
PreSty explained. you have heard of ii, OF
course, and perhaps You take your brothers
paIt?"
IL do nothing of the sort, ma'am. My
brother has been in the wrong from the first
to last" lie turned to Catherine. Il will
stay with you as long as | can with the great
est pleasure" he said, earnestly and kindly.
THE truth is, l am on my way to visit SOM
friends; and if Capt. ~Bennydeck had got
here in time to see me | must have gone
away to the junction TO catch the next train
westward, just asI am going now | had
only two words TO say to my friend, about q
person in whom he is ntereSted-and | can
say them in this way" He wrote in pencil
VII plIN VI 40 NloilliS Nui't's biNN IAtlNA - VI
the table. Il shall be back in London in q
week" he resumed, "and you will tell me al
what address | can find you. In the mean
while l miss Kitty. Where is shc?'
Kitty was sent for. She entered the room
looking unusually quiet and subdued, but
discovering Randall, became herself again IN
a moment and jumped on his knee.
"Oh, Uncle Randall, Pm so glad to see
you!" She checked herself, and looked al
her mother. May | call him Uncle Ran
dal?' she asked. 'Or has ne changed hi'
name, too?'
Mrs. Presty shook q warning fore finger al
her granddaughter, and reminded Kitty thai
she had been told not to talk about names
Randall saw the child's look of bewildelmen
and felt for her. 'She may talk as sht
pleases to me" he said, 'but not TO strangers
She understands that, | am sure"
Kitty laid her cheek fondly against her I'M
cle's cheek. Everything is changed sh,
whispered. 1--WE travel about; papa la,
left us, and sgd has left us, and we have go
a new name. We are Ormond now. | wisl
l was grown up, and understood it,"
Randall tried TO reconcile her to her owl
happy ignorance. you have got yonr dea
good mother" he said, "and you have 60
me, and you have got your toys"
"And some nice boys and girls 10 pla,
WITH" cried Kitty, eagerly following tn,
new suggestion. ''They are all coming her,
directly to dine with me-. You will stay AM
have dinner too, won't you?'
Randall promised to dine with Kitty whel
they met in London. Before he left tn
room he pointed to his card on the table
'Let the captain see my message" he said
as he went out.
The moment the door had closed on hin
Mrs. Presty startled her daughter by takiaj
up the card and looking at what Randall Ia,
written on it. 1T isn't q letter, Catherine
and you know how superior / am to commol
%prejudlces." With that defense of her pro
ceeding she coolly read the message. IL an
sorry to say that | can tell you nothing NOR
of your old friends daughter as yet. | ca
only repeat that she neither needs nor de
serves the help that you kindly offer to her.
Mrs. Presty laid the card down again, an,
owned that she wished Randall had been
little more explicit. "Who can it be?' sh,
wondered. Another young husSy gon
wrong?'
Kitty turned to her mother with a look O
alarm. whats a hussy"' she asked. Doe
grandmamma mean me?" The great hote
clock in the hall struck 9, and the child
apyieties took n new direction. 'Isn't