Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-05-08
CHAPTER XXXvIr.

In vain! In vain! lie burst into tears.
CHAPTER NXXvII.
With a heart lightened beyond ~reconcilia-
ton mot the first reconciliation u%nhappily).
with hopes revived, and sweet content re-
stored, Sydney's serenity of mind was not
quite unrutfied. Her thoughts were not
dwelling on the evil life which she had hon
estly deplored or on the wronged wife 10
whom she had been eager 10 make atone
ment. Where is the woman whose sorrows
are not thrown into the shade by the bright
renewal OF love? The one anxiety that truub-
led Sydney was caused by the remembrance
of a letter which she had sent to the convent
at Sandyseal.
As her better mind now viewed II, she had
doubly injured Herbert-first in ~distrusting
him: then by appealing from him to the COM
passion OF strangers.
IL the reply for which she had rashly ask
ed was waiting for her at that moment-if
the mercy of the mother superior was ready
70 comfort and guide her-what return could
she make? How could she excuse herself
from accepting what was offered in kindly
reply TO her own petition She had placed
herself, for all she knew TO the contrary, be-
tween two alternatives of ingratitude equally
uncomfortable, equally degrading. To feel
this was 10 feel the suspense which, TO per-
sons OF eXcitable temperament, is of all trials
the hardest TO bear. The chambermaid was
still In the room. Sydney asked II the post
Office was near the hotel.
The woman smiled. Everything is near
us, ma'am, in this little place. Can we send
TO the postoiiice for you?'
Sydney wrote her initials. ASK, il YOU
please, for a letter addressed In that way"
She handed the memorandum 10 the cham
bermaid. Corresponding web her lover
under her husbands nose!' That was how
the chambermaid explained it below stairs
when the porter remarked that initials look
ed mysterious.
The mother superior had replied. Sydney
trembled as she opened the letter. 1t began
kindly.
Il believe You, my child, and ] am anxious
to help YOU. But / cannot correspond with
an unknown person. If you decide to reveal
yourself ii is only right to add that | have
shown your letter to the reverend father
who, in temporal as in spiritual things, is
our counselor and guide. To him must re-
fer you in the first instance. His wisdom
will decide the serious question OF receiving
you into our holy church and will discover,
in due time, if you have a true vocation to a
religious life. With the fathers sanction,
you may be sure of my atfectionate desire to
serve you"
Sydney put the letter back in the envel-
ope, feeling grateful toward the III ther SUI
perior, but determined by the conditions I'M
posed on her to make no further advance to-
ward the Benedictme community. :
Even II her motive in writing TO the con-
vent had remained unchanged, the illusions
to the priest would still have decided her on
taking thiss step. The bare idea of opening
her nmost heart and telling her saddest Sc
crets 70 a man, and that man a stranger, was
too repellent to be entertained for q moment.
In a few lines Of reply, gratefully and re-
specially written, she thanked the mother
superior, and withdrew from the correspond
ence.
The letter having been closed and posted
In the hotel box, she returnc tO the sitting
room, free from the one doubt that had
troubled her, eager TO show Herbert how
truly she believed in him, how hopefully she
looked to the future.
With a happy smile on her lips she opened
the door. She was on the point of asking
him playfully if he had felt surprised at her
long absence-when the sight that met her
eyes turned her cold with terror in an in
slant.
His arms were stretched out on the table;
his head was laid on them; despair confess
ed itself in his attitude; grief spoke in the
deep sobbing breaths that shook him. Love
and compassion restored Sydney's courage;
she advanced to raise him in her arms-and
stopped once more. The book on the table
caught her eye. He was still unconscious
of her presence: she yentured to open it.
She read the inscription-looked at him
looked back at the writing-and knew the
truth at last.
The rigOr of the torture that she suffered
paralyzed all outward expression of pain.
Quietly she put the book back on the table.
Quietly she touched him and called him by
his name.
He started and looked up; he made an at
tempt to speak to her in his customary tone.
81 didn't hear you come in" he said.
She pointed to the book without the slight
est change in her face or her manner.
81 have read the Inscription to your wife,"
she answered; II have seen you while you
thought you were alone; the mercy which
has so long kept the truth from me is mercy
wasted now. Your bonds are broken, Her
bert. You are a free man."
de affected not to have understood her.
She let him try to persuade her of it, and
made no reply. lie declared, honestly de
clared, that what she had said distressed
him. She listened in Submissive silence.
He took her hand and kissed il. She let him
kiss II, and let him drop it at her side. She
frightened him; he began to fear for her
reason. There was si~lence-long, hOrrid,
hopeless silence.
She had left the door of the room open.
One OF tho servants of the hotel appeared
outside In the passage. He spoke to sOme
person behind him. perhaps the book has
been left In here" he suggested. A gentle
voice answered: 81 hope the lady and gen
tleman will excuse me if | ask leave to look
for my book" She stepped into the room TO
make her apologies.
Herbert Linley and Sydney Westerfield
looked at the woman whom they had ont.
ragged. The woman whom they had out.
ragged paused, and looked back at them.
The hotel servant was surprised at their
not speaking to each other. He was a stupid
man.; he thought the gentlefolks were
strangely unlike gentlefolks in general; they
seemed not TO know what to say. Herbert
iAuppViNh NC otuiidiiS NV w nm iV
thought it would be only civil 10 the gentle
man to offer a word OF explanation.
The lady had these rooms, sir. She has
come back from the station to look for a
book that has been left behind"
Herbert signed to him to go. As the man
turned to obey he drew back. Sydney had =.
moved to the door before him 10 leave the
room. Herbert refused TO permit 1t. 'Stay
here" he said gently, ''this room is yours"
Sydney hcsitated. Herbert addressed her
again. He pointed to his divorced wife.
you see how that lady is looking at you"
he said; Il forbid you to submit to insult
from anybody"
Sydney returned into the room.
GATHERINGS voice was heard for the first
time. She addressed herself to Sydney with
a quiet dlgnity--far removed from anger,
farther removed still from contempt.
II do you justice" she said. you can
still feel a sense of shame"
Herbert snatched up the book. 1t was only
a momentary outbreak Of anger. The next
moment he matched GATHERINGS self-control;