The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-01-02
The housekeeper has been all that is good

think OF beginning to teach Kitty till you feel
stronger and better. / see bu. too plainly
that you have not been happy. Don't think
OF your past life or speak of your past life
Forgive me, Mrs. | inley; my past life is
my one excuse for having ventured to come
into this ~ilouse.'
I'm what way, my dear9"
AT the moment when ,liat question was
put the closed curtains which separated the
breakfast-room from the library were softly
parted in the middle. A keen old face,
strongly marked by curiosity and distrust,
peered thlough-eyed the gorerness with
stern scrutily-and retired again into hid
ing. The introduction of a stranger with
out reterenccsl into the intimacy of the ami
~ circle was, as Mrs. Presty viewed it, a
crisis in domestic history. Conscience. with
Its customary elasticity, adapted itself to the
emergency, and i-inley's mother-;n-law stole
information behind the curtain-in Linley's
best interests, it is quite needless to say.
The talk of the two ladies went on, with
out a suspicion on either side that it was
overheard by a third person,
Sydney explained herself.
IF | had led a happier life" she said, ~
might have been able to resist MIR. Linley's
kindness. ! concealed nothing from him.
He knew that | had no friends to speak for
Inc; he knew that | had been dismissed from
my employment at the school. Oh, Mrs.
Linley, everything | said which would have
made other people suspicious of NE made
him feel torme! | began to wonder whether
he was an angel or a man. If he had not
prevented it, | should have fallen on my
knees before him. Hard looks and hard
words / could have endured patiently, but l
had not seen a kind look had not heard II
kind word, for more years than l can reckon
up. That is all l can say for myself leave
the rest TO your mercy"
Say my sympathy Mrs. Linlcy answer
ed, ''and you need say no more. But there
is one thing | should like to know. You
have not spoken to me of your mother. Have
you lost both your parcntsy."
No"
Then you were brought up by your moth
cre.n
Yes"
You surely had some experience of kind
ness when you We're Il child?'
A third short answer would have been no
very grateful return for Mrs. Linlcy's kind
ness. Sydney had no choice bur to say plain
ly what her experience of her mother had
been.
Are there such women in the world!'
Mrs. Linlcy exclaimed. Where is your
mother now?"
'In America-I think"
You Think"
"My mother married again." Sydney an
swered. "She went to America with her
husband and my little brother six years ago"
"And left you bohind?'
"Yes.n
"And she has never written to youg"
'Never."
This time Mrs. Linley kept silence; not
without an effort. Thinking of Sydney's
motner-and for one morbid moment seeing
her W little darling IN Sydney's ~place-sle
was afraid to trust herself to speak while the
first impression was viyidIy present to her
mind.
Il will only hope she replied, after wait
ing a little, that some kind person pitied
ard helped you when you were deserted,
Any change must have been for the better
after that. Who took charge of you?'
My mothers sister took charge of me; an
elder sister who kept a school. The time
when was most unhappy was the time
when my aunt began to teach me. If YOU
don't want to be beaten and kept on bread
and water she said, learn, you ugly little
wretch, and be quick about
Did she speak in that shameful way to
the other gilIs?"
oh, no.! was taken into her school for
nothing, and, young as | was, | was expected
to earn m food and shelter by being fit to
teach the lower class. The girls hated me.
1t was such a wretched life that | hardly like
to speak of it now. | ran away, and was
caught, and severely punished. When L.
grew older and wiser | tried to find some
other employment for myself. The elder
girls bought penny journals that published
stories. They We're left about now and then
in the bedrooms. read the stories when |
had the chance. Even my ignorance discov-
cred how feeble and foolish they were. They
encouraged me to Try if | could write a story
myself; l couldn't do worse, and l might do
better. | sent my manuscript to the editor.
1t was accepted and printed-but when l
wrote and asked him if he would pay me
something for it he refused. Dozens of
ladies', he said. wrote stories for him for moth
ing. II didn't matter what the stories We're.
Anything would do for his readers, so long
as the characters We're lords and ladies, and
there was plenty OF love in it. My next at
tempt to get away from the school ended i'll
another disappointment. A poor old man,
who had once been an actor, used to come to
us twice a week and get a few shillings by
teaching the girls to read aloud. He was
called Professor of English Literature and
he taught out of a ragged book of verses
which smelt of his pipe. | learnt one of the
pieces and repeated it to him, and asked if
there was any hope Of my being able to go
on the stage. He was very kind: he told me
the truth. My dear, you have no dramatic
ability: God forbid you should go on the
stage | went back again to the penny
journals, and tried a new editor, He SEEM
ed to have more money than the other one;
or perhaps he was kinder. ] got 10 shillings
from him for my story. With that money |
made my last attempt advertised for a
situation as governess. Ii Mr.. Linley had
not seen my advertisement l might have
starved in the streets. When my aunt heard
of it she insisted on my begging her pardon
before the whole school. Do girls get half
maddened by persecution? If they do 1
think l must have been one of those girls. l
refused to beg pardon, and / was dismissed
from my situation withouta character. Will
you think me very foolish? l Shut my eyes
again when l woke in my delicious bed to-
day. 1 was afraid that the room, and every
thing in it, was q dream" She looked
round, and started to her feet. 'Oh, here's
a lady! Shall | go away?'
The curtains hanging over the entrance to
the library were opened for the second time.
With composure and dignity the LADY WHO
had startled Sydney entered the room.
'Havc you been reaiing in the library?!"
Mrs. Linley asked. And Mrs. Presty an
swered: mo, Catherine; l have been listen
ing
Mrs. Linley looked at her mother; her
lovely complexion Redeemed with q deep
blush.
Introduce nc to Miss Westerficld,' Mrs.
Presty proceeded, as coolly as ever.