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

stronger and better. | see but too plainly
tna' yon nave not been happy. Don't think
oi 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 house,
In what way, my dear?'
Al the moment when that question was
pun 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,
peefed thoroughbred the governess with
stern sc%rutiny-and retired again into hid
ing. The introduction OF a stranger with
out reterences) into the intimacy of the fami-
~ circle was, as Mrs. Presty viewed il. a
crisis in domestic history. Conscience, with
It's customary elasticity, adapted itself to the
emergency, and Linley's mother-in-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 IL was
overheard by a third person.
Sydney explained herself.
III | had led Il happier life" she said, az
might have been able to resist Mr.. Linley's
Kindness. | concealed nothing from him.
lie knew that ! had no friends to 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
nm feel for me! | began TO wonder whether
he was an angel or a man. If he had not
prevented il, ] should have fallen on my
knees before him. Hard looks and hard
words ! could have endured patiently, but |
had not seen IA kind look. | had not heard a
Kind word, for more years than / can reckon
up. That is all | can say for myself leave
the rest TO your mercy"
Say my sympathy" Mrs. Iinley
Led, land 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 ~parents?'
NO
Then you were brought up by your moth
er?.'
YES"
"You surely had some experience of kind
ness when you We're IA child?'
A third short answer would have been no
very grateful return for Mrs. Linley's kind
ness. Sydney had no choice but to 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?'
'ln America-I think"
"IOu 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 behind?'
"Yes."
"And she has never written to youP"
"Never."
This time Mrs. Linley kept silence; not
without al effort. Thinking of Sydney's
mother-and for one morbid moment seeing
her W little darling IN Sydney's place-she
was afraid Ia trust herself to speak while the
first impression was wildly present to her
mind.
Il will only hope" she replied, after wait
ing a little, that some kind person pitied
and helped you when YOU were deserted.
Amy 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. III YOU
don't want to be beaten and kept on bread
and water, She said, learn, YOU ugly little
wretch, and be quick about it,"
Did she speak in that shameful way TO
the other girlS?'
"Oh, no! was taken into her school for
nothing, and, young rs ] was, | was expected
to earn my food and shelter by being fit TO
teach the lower class. The girls hated me.
Ii was such IA wretchcd life that | hardly like
to speak of ii now. | ran away, and was
caught, and severely punished. When l
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
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; i couldn't do worse, and | might do
better. ] sent my manuscript TO the editor.
1t was accepted and p~rinted-hut when |
wrote and asked him if he would pay mt
something for il he refused. Dozens of
ladies, he said, wrote stories for him for moth
ing. 1t didn't matter what the stories were.
Anything would do for his readers, SO long
as the characters were lords and ladies, and
there was plenty of love in it. My next at
tempt to get away from the school ended in
another disappointment. A poor old man,
who had once been an actor, used TO come to
MS twice u 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 il to him, and asked If
there was any hope of my being able to go
on the stage. lie was very kind; he told me
the truth. MY dear, you have 40 dramatic
ability; God 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 advertised for a
situation as gOverneSS. If Mr.. Linley had
not seen my advertisement | might have
starved in the streets. When my aunt heard
of it she insisted ON my begging her pardon
before the whole school. Dc girls get half,
maddened by persecution? IL they do ]
think | must have been one of those girls. ]
refused to beg pardon, and / was dismissed
from my situation without character. vii
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 ii, 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 t.
the library were opened for the second time
With c0mposure and dignity the lady wht
had startled Sydney entered the room.
Have you been reading in the libraryY
Mrs. Linley asked. And Mrs. Presty an
swered: mo, Catherine; | have been listen
ing"
Mrs. Linley looked at her mother; he
lovely complexion Redeemed with a dccl
blush.
Introduce me to Miss Westerfield," Mrs
Presty proceeded, as coolly as ever.
Mrs. Linley showed some hesitation. Wha
would the gOyerness think of her mother
Perfectly careless of what the governes
might think, Mrs. Presty crossed the roor
and introduced herself.
"Miss Westertield, | am Mrs. Linley'
mother. And i am, in one respect, a remark
able person. When | form an opinion, an,
find it's the opinion of a fool, | am not in tn
least ashamed to change my mind. | hav
changed my mind about you. Shake hands.
Sydney respectfully obeyed.
'Sit down again"
Sydney returned to her chair.