Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-02

Kindness. | concealed nothing from him.
He knew that / had no friends 10 speak for
me; he knew that ] had been dismissed from
my employment at the school. Oh, Mrs.
Llnley, everything [ said which would have
made other people suspicious Of me made
him feel for me. | began to wonder whether
he was an angel or a man. II he had not
prevented il, ! should have fallen on my
knees before hin. Hard looks and hard
words ] could have endured patiently. but |
had not seen a kind look. | had not heard a
kind word, for more years than / can reckon
Mp, That is all | can say for myself leave
tie rest 10 your mercy"
say my sympathy" Mrs. Linley answer.
ed. ''and YOU need say 10 more. But there
Is one thing | should like to know. You
have not spoken 10 me OF your mother. Have
you lost both your parentsY'
mo
Then You were brough, up by your moth
err
YES"
You surely had some experience of kind
ness when you were a chiid?'
A third short answer would have been no
very grateful return for Mrs. Linley's kind
ness. Sydney had no choice but 10 say plain
ly what her experience OF her mother had
been.
Are there such women in the world."
Mrs. Linley exclaimed. Where is your
mother now?'
'In America-i think"
You thiRk?r
my mother married again." Sydney an
swered. 'She went 10 America with her
husband and my little brother six years ago."
And left you behind?7
"Yes."
"And she has never written to youg'
Never
This time Mrs. Linley kept silence; not
without all effort. Thinking OF Sydney's
motner-and for one morbid moment seeing
her " little darling IN Sydney's place-she
was afraid Ia trust herself to speak while the
first impression was wildly present to her
mind.
II will only hope she replied, after wait
ing a little, that some kind person pitied
and helped you when you We're 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 b. quick about it,"
Did she speak In that shameful way to
the other girlN?'
"Oh, no, was taken into her school for
nothing. and. young as | was. | was expected
to earn my food and shelter by being lit TO
teach the low r class. The girl, hated me-.
IL was such a wretched life that hardly like
10 speak OF it ow. / ran away, and was
caught, and severely punished. When |
grew older and wiser | tried 10 find some
other employment for myself. The elder
girls bought penny journals that published
stories. They were left about now and then
ia tue bedrooms. ] read the stories when l
had the chance. Even my ignorance discov-
cred how feeble and foolish they were. They
encouraged me Ia Try il | coald write a story
myself; | couldn't DO worse, and | might do
better. i sent my manuscript TO the editor.
Ii was accepted and priDted-but when |
wrote and asked him il he would pay Inc
something for il 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, 50 l0ng
As the characters were lords and ladies, and
there was plenty of love in ii. MY next at
tempt 10 get away from the school ended III
another disappointment. A poor old man.
who had once been an actor. used TO come To
us I ice q week and get a few shillings by
teaching the girls Ia read aloud. He was
called Professor OF English Literature and
he taught out Of a ragged book of verses
which smelt OF his pipe. l learnt one OF the
pieces and repeated IL 10 him, and asked II
there was any hope of my being able to go
on the stage. He was very kind; he told me
the truth. Ny dear, you have 40 dramatic
ability tod forbid you should go on the
stage | went back again 10 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-l advertised for a
situation ~ governeSS. III Nj. Linley had
not seen my advertisement | might have
starved in the streets. When my aunt heard
of il she insisted Oh my begging her pardon
before the whole school. Do girls get half
maddened by persecution? IL they do /
think | must have been one of those girls. l
refused 10 beg pardon, and | was dismissed
from my situation without a character. Will
you think me very foolish? | shut my eyes
again when | woke in my delicious bed to-
day. | was afraid that the room, and every
thing in il, was a 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.
Have YOU been reaiing in the library"
Mrs. Linley asked. And Mrs. Presty an
swered: NO, Catherine; ] have been listen
ing"
Mrs. Linley looked at her mother; her
lovely complexion redeemed with n deep
blush.
Introduce me TO Miss westerheid,' Mrs.
Presty proceeded, as coolly as ever.
Mrs. LinIey showed some hesitation. What
would the goyerness think of her mother9
| Perfectly careless of what the goyerness
| might think, Mrs. Presty crossed the room
and introduced herself.
.Miss Westertield. | am Mrs. Liniey's
mother. And i am, in one respect, a remark
able person. When | form an opinion, and
find it's the opinion of a fool, 1 an not in the
least ashamed to change my mind. l have
changed my mine about you. Shake hands"
Sydney respectfully obeyed.
'Sit down again"
Sydney returned TO her chair.
Il had the worst possible opinion of you"
Mrs. Presty resumed. before l had the pleas
ure of listening on the other side Of the cur
tain. II has been my good fo~rtuue-what's
your Christian name? Did hear il, or have
l forgotten il? Sydney ELI? Very well. l
was about to say, Sydney, that il has been
my good fortune 10 be intimately associated,
In early life, with two remarkable characters.
Husbands of mine, i'm short, whose influence
over me has, / am proud TO say, set death
and burial at defiance. Between them they
have made my mind the mind Of a man. l
judge for myself. The opinions OF Others
lwhen shey don't happen 10 agree with mine)
/ regard as chaff to BIZ scattered to the winds.
No, Catherine, | am not wandering. l am
pointing ont TO a young person, who has her
way 10 make In the world, the vast impor-
lance, ON certain occasions, OF possessing an
independent mind. III i had been ashamed
10 listen behind those curtains there Is no in
jury that my stupid prejudices might not
have inflicted on this unfortunate girl. As
It Is, | have heard her story, and ! do her
justice. Count on me, Sydney, as your
lrlend-and now get up again. Ny grand
child (never accustomed 10 wait for anything
since the day when she was born) Is waiting