Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-06

tated Randall. what do you want me to
dog' he asked sharply.
The reply only increased HIS perplexity.
Observe Miss Westerfield and your broth
er. Look at them now"
Randall obeyed. What is there to look
arp he inquired.
Cant You see?"
Il see they are talking to each other"
"They are talking confidentialIy talking
50 that Mrs. Linley can't hear them. Look
again.
Randall fixed his eyes on Mrs. Presty with
an expression which showed his dislike OF
that lady q little too plainly. Before he
could answer what she had just said 10 him
his lively little niece hit on a new idea. The
sun was shining, the flowers were in Their
brightest b~eauty-and the doll had not yet
i,-en taken into tie garden! Kitty at once
led the way out; so completely p~reoccupied
In steering the perambulator In a straight
course that she forgot her uncle and the para
sol Only waiting to remind her husband
and Sydney that they were wasting the beau
tiful morning indoors, Mrs. Linley followed
her daughter-and |innocently placed q fatal
obstacle In Mrs. Presty's way by leaving the
room. Having consulted each other by q
look, Linley and the goyerness went ont next.
Left alone with Randall. Mrs. Presty's anger,
under the complete overthrow OF her care
fully laid scheme, set restraint at defiance.
my daughters married life Is a wreck, y
she burst out, pointing theatrically to the
door by which Linley and sydney Wester.
field had retired. And Catherine has the
vile creature whom your brother picked up
in London to thank for Ill Now do you un.
deTstand me?'
Less than ever" Randall answered-"un-
less you have taken leave OF your senses
Mrs. Presty recovered the command Of her
temper.
On that fine morning her daughter might
remain In the garden until the luncheon bell
rang. Llnley had only to say that he wish
ed 10 speak with his wife, and the private in.
terview, which he had so ridely insisted on
as his Sole privilege, would assuredly take
place. The one chance left OF still defeating
him on his own ground was 10 force Randall
10 interfere by convincing him OF his broth
er's guilt. Moderation OF language and com
posure of manner offered the only hopeful
prospect Of reaching this end. Mrs. Presty
assumed the disguise Of patient submission.
and used the irresistible influence of good
humor and good sense.
II don't complain, dear Randall. OF what
YOU have said OF me- she replied. MY in
discretion has deserved it. | ought to have
produced my proofs, and have left il to you
to draw the conclusion. Sit down, if YOU
please. won't deiain you for more than a
few minutes"
Randall had not anticipated such modera-
ton RS this: he took the chair that was near
est to Mrs. Presty. They were both now sit
ting with their backs turned to the entrance
from the library to the drawing-room.
II won't trouble YOU with my own impress
sions,' Mrs. Presty went on. II will De- care.
full only 10 mention what | have seen and
heard. II You refuse 10 believe me | refer
YOU to the guilty persons themselves"
She had Just got TO the end of those intro
ductory word, when Mrs. Linley returned, by
way of the library, to fetch the forgotten
parasol.
Randall insisted on making Mrs. PreSty eX.
press herself plainly. You speak Of guilty
PERSONS he said. "Am | TO understand
that one of those guilty persons Is my brott..
er?'
Mrs. Liniey advanced a step and took the
paTasol from the table. Hearing what Ran.
DIAL said, she paused, wondering at the
strange allusion TO her husband. In the
meanwhile Mrs, Presty answered the ques-
ton that had been addressed to ler.
Yes" she said to Randall; Il mean your
brother and your brothers mistress-Sydney
Westeriield."
Mrs. Linley laid the parasol back on the
tables and approached them.
She never once looked at her mother: her
face, white and rigid, was turned toward
Randall. To him, and to him only, she spoke.
What does my mothers horrible language
mean%' she asked.
Mrs. Presty triumphed inwardiy; chance
had decided In her favor after all. Don't
you see" size said to her daughter, that /
am here to answer for myself?'
Mrs. Linley still looked at Randall, and
still spoke to him. 1T is impossible for ME
to insist on an explanation from my mother"
she proceeded. No matter what | liay feel
/ must remember that she 4 my mother. l
ask you again-you who have been listening
10 her-what does she mean"'
Mrs. Presty's sense OF her own Importance
refused to submit to being passed over in this
way.
However insolently you may behave,
1dlUti Ilt, yOu Will uDt SuCtctu III ptONOhliik
me. Your mother Is bound to open your
eyes to the truth. You have a rival in your
husbands affections, and that rival is your
goyerness. Take your own course now; l
have no more t. say" With her head high
in the ~air-looking the picture of conscious
virtue-the old lady walked out.
At the same moment Randall seized his
first opportunity of speaking.
He addressed himself gently and respect
fully to his sister-in-law. She refused to
hear him. The indignation which Mrs.
Presty had reused in her made no allow
ances, and was blind to ali sense Of right.
Don't trouble yourself to account for your
silence" she said most unjustly. You were
listening to my mother without a word of re-
monstrance when 1 came into the room.
You are concerned in this vile SANDER, too"
Randall considerably RETAINED from pro-
voking her by attempting to defend himself,
while she was incapable of understanding
him. You will be sorry when you find that
you have misjudged me" he said, and sighed
and left her.
She dropped into q chair. III there was
any one distinct thought in her at that mo-
ment 1t was the thought of her husband. She
was eager 10 see him; she longed to say TO
him: my love, l don't believe a word Of
itv' He was not i'm the garden when she re-
turned for the parasol, and Sydney was not
I'm the garden. Wondering what had become
OF her father and ner goyern-ss Atty he'd
asked the nursemaid to look for them. What
had happened since? Where had they been
found? After some hesitation Mrs. Linley
sent for the nursemald. She felt the strong
est reluctance, when the girl appeared, TO APP
proach the very inquiries which she was in
terested In making.
"Have you found Mr.. Linley?' she said
with an effort.
"Yes, ma'am."
Where did you find him?.'
I'm the s~hrubhery."
did your master say anything?"
II slipped away, ma'am, before he saw
me-"
.'Why?"
Miss Westerield was In the shrubbery
with my master. / might have been mis-
taken--" The girl paused and looked con-
fused.
Mrs. LinIey tried to tell her tn go ON. The
words were in her mind. but the capacity OF
giving expression to them failed her. She
ilnpatientiy made a sign. The sign was un-
dersto0d.
Il might have been mistaken" the maid
r~epeated-"but l thought Miss Westerield
was CRYING"
Having replied in those terms she seemed
TO be anxious to get away The parasol