Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-07-03
CHAPTER LIV.

NtA bAA VIM AiN W. ~ 'f'N
kissed her as he might have kissed a daugh-
ter of his own. DO you remember me at
home, Sydney, when You were a child? No;
you must have been too young for that"
She was deeply touched. In faint, trem-
bling tones she said: 81 remember your
name; my poor father often spoke OF you"
A man of true sympathy is never in dam
ger OF installing his way to a woman's heart,
when that woman has suffered. Bennydeck
consoled, interested, charmed Sydney, by
still speaking of the bygone days at home.
Il well remember how fond your father
was of you, and what a bright little girl you
were the captain went on. You have
forgotten, / dare say, the old fashioned sea
songs that lie used to be SO fond Of teaching
you. 1t was the strangest and prettiest con-
traSt TO hear your small, piping cEilds voice
singing of storms and shipwrecks, and
thunder and lightning, and reeting sails in
cold and darkness, without the least idea Of
what 1t all meant. Your mother was strict
in those days; you never amused her as you
used TO amuse your father and me. When
she caught you searching my pockets for
SweetmeatS, she accused me of destroying
your digestion before you were > years old.
l went on spelling it, for all that, Ire last
time | saw you, my child, your father was
singing The Mariners of England and you
were on his knee trying to sing with him..
You must have often wondered why YOU
never saw anything more OF me. Did YOU
think | had forgotten your
81 am quite sure / never thought thatI'
You see | was in the navy yard ut the
time" the captain resumed; land we were
ordered away 10 a foreign station. When |
got back 10 England miserable news was
waiting for me. | heard of your fathers
death and of that shameful trial. Poor fell
low He was rs innocent, Sydney, as you
are OF the ottenSc which he was accused of
committing. The first thing | did was to set
Inquiries on foot after your mother and her
children. 1t was some consolation To me TO
feel that was rich enough 10 make your
life easy and agreeable to YOU. | thought
money could do anything. A serious mis-
take my dear-mOney couldn't find the
widow and her children. We supposed You
were somewhere in London; and there, to
my great grief, it ended. From time to time
long atterward, when we thought we had
got the clew in our W hands, continued
my inquiries, still without success. A poor
woman and her little family are so easily
ingullcd in the big city! Years passed more
of them than J like 10 reckon up before |
heard of you at least by name. The person
from whom | got my information told me
how you were employed and where"
"Oh, Capt. Bennydeck, who could the per-
son have been?'
"A poor old ~broken-down actor, Sydney.
You We're his fayorlte pupil. Do you re-
member him?'
Il should be ungratcful, indeed, il | could
forget him. lie was the only person I'm the
school who was kind TO me. Is the good
old man still liying%'
NO; he rests at last. | am glad to say ]
was able to make his last days on earth the
happicst days of his lile.'
81 WONDER" Sydney confessed, show you
mel with him.
There was nothing at all romantic in my
first discovery of him. | was reading the
police reports in a newspaper. The poor
wretch was brought before a magistrate,
charged with breaking a window. His one
last chance Of escaping starvation in the
streets was to get sent TO prison. The magiS-
tratc questioned him and brought TO light a
really heaTt-breaking account of misfortune,
embntcred by neglect on the part of people
in authority who were bound 20 help him.
lie wa remanded, so that inquiries might
be made. | attended the court on the day
when he appeared there again and heard his
statement confirmed. l paid his fine and
cOntrived Ia put him in n way Of earning 4
little money. He was very grateful and
came now and then to thank me. In that
way | heard how his troubles had begun.
lie had asked for a small advance on the
Wretched wages that he received. Can you
guess how the schoolmistrcss answered
him?'
81 know but too well how she answered
him." Sydney said; 81 was turned out of the
house, too"
"And | heard of it," the captain replied
"from the woman herself. Everything that
could distress me she was ready to mention
She told me OF your mothers second mar
siage, Of her miserable death, of the poor
boy, your brother, missing, and never heard
OF since. But when | asked where you had
gone she had nothing more to say. She
knew nothing, and cared nothing, about
you. If had not become acquainted with
Mr.. Randall Linley / might never have heard
of you again. We will say no more OF that,
and no more of anything that has happened
in the past time. From to-day, my dear, we
begin IL new life, and please God a happier
life. Have you any plans Of your own for
the future?'
perhaps, if | could find holp," Sydney
said, resignedly. Il might enigrate. Pride
wouldn't stand in my way; no honest ell
pigment would be beneath my notice. Be
sides, If 1 went To America, / might meet
with my bIother."
my daar child, after the time that has
passed, there is 40 imaginable chance OF
yOuT meeting With your brother-and you
Wouldn't know each other again if you did
meet. Give up that vain hope and stay here
with me. Be useful and be happy III YOU
vs. county"
"Usoful?' Sydney repeated, sadly. You
own kind heart, Capt. BeDnydeck, is deceiv'
ing you. TO be useful means, | suppose, &c
help others. Who will accept help iron
meY'
II Wall, for one" the captain answered.
"YOu?'
yes. You can se of the greatest use tC
you shall hear now"
He told her Of the founding of his home
and Of the good it bad done. You are tho
very person." he resumed, ito be the gooC
sister-friend that ] want for my poor girls
you can say for them what they cannot al
ways say to me for themselves"
The tears rose in Sydney's eyes. 1T i
hard to see such a prospect as that" sh'
said, ''and to give it up as soon as it is SEEM
"Why give it up?'
Because i I'm not fit for it. You are a
good as a father TO those lost daughters o
yours. IL you give them 4 sister-friend, sh'
ought to have set them a good example
Have | done that? Will they listen to a cir
who is no better than Themselves
GLADLY! Your sympathy will find its wa.
TO their hearts, because 1t is animated b.
something that they can all feel in commol
something nearer aud dearer TO them thai
a sense OF duty. You won't consent, sgd
ney, for their sakes? VIII you do what
ask Of you, for my sakep'
She looked at him, hardly able to under
stand-or, as it might have been, perhaps
afraid to understand him. He spoke to he
more plainly.
Il have kept it concealed from you," h
continued, ''for why should [ lay my load o
suffering on a friend so young as you are, s
cruelty tried already? Let me only sa
that l am in great distress. Ii you wer
with me, my child, | might be better able t
bear it."