Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-06-12
TlG Evil CeliQS.
A STORY.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.

At the parting Win Kitty. the ,snre Of
her endurance was f. 4. even the fare
well at Mount M5rysn ha,i tried her by an
ordeal so cruel as this. No kind woman was
willing to receive her and employ her now.
The one creature left who loved her wGs the
faithful little friend whom she must never
see again. II ain still innocent to that child"
she thougbt-'and l am parted from her for
evern
She rose to leave the garden.
A farewell look at the last place In which
she had seen Kitty tempted her to indulge in
q moment OF delay. Her eyes rested OH the
turn In the path at which she had lost sight
Of the active little figure Fastening away to
plead her cause. Even In absence, tile child
was Sydney's good angel still. AS she turn
ed away TO follow the path that had been
shown to her, the relief of tears came at last
Ii cooled her burning head; it comforted her
aching heart She tried TO walk on. The tears
blinded her-she strayed from the path-she
would have fallen but for a hand that caught
her and held her up. A mans voice, firm
and deep and kind, Quieted her first wild
feeling of terror. my child, you are not fit
10 be By yourself. Let me take care of you
let me comfort you, II can"
He carried her back to the seat that she
had left, and waited by her In merciful 81
lence.
You are very young 10 feel such bitter
sorrow" he said, when she was composed
again. Il don't ask what your sorrow Is; |
only want to know how / can help you"
Nobody can help me-"
Can / take you back 10 your friendsg'
II have no friends"
Pardon ME, you have one friend at least
You have me-"
"Yon? A stranger"
mo human creature who needs my SYM
patty is a stranger"
She turned toward him for the first time.
In her new position she was clearly visible
In the light He looked at her attentiyely.
II have seen you somewhere" he said, be
fore now"
She had not noticed him when they had
passed each other at Sandyseal. II think
you must be mistaken" she answered. MAY
l thank you for your kindness? and may |
hope to be excused if | say good-nightY'
He detained her. Are you sure that you
are we'll enough TO 90 away By yourselfg' he
asked, anxi0usly.
Il an quite surer'
He still detained her. His memory OF that
first meeting at the seaside hotel reminded
him that he had seen her in the company of
a man. At their second meeting she was
alone and in tears. sad experience led him
TO form his W conclusions. "ff you won't
let me take care OF you" he said, will you
consider IL | can be OF any use TO you, and
will you call at that address, He gave her
his card. She took it without looking at IL;
che was confused; She hardly knew what 10
say. ID you doubt mey' he asked-sadly,
not angriiy.
"0h, how can do that! doubt myself.
/ am not worthy OF the interest you feel in
me-"
THAT is a sad thing TO say" he answered.
"Let me try to give you confidence in your.
self. DO you go 10 London when you leave
this placer
Yes"
Tomorrow" he resumed, II am going TO
see another poor girl who is alone i'm the
world like you. III / tell you where she lives
will you ask her II l am a person TO be
trusted"
he had taken a letter from his pocket
while he was speaking, and he now tore on
a part OF the second leaf and gave it to her.
81 have only lately" he said, received the
address from a friend"
AS he offered that explanation, the shrill
sound OF a child's voice, raised in anger and
entreaty, reached their ears from the neigh
borhood OF the hotel. Faithful little Kitty
had made her escape, determined 10 return
to S~ydney-had been overtaken by the maid
and had been carried back in Susan's arms
10 the house. Sydney imagined that she was
not perhaps alone I'm recognizing the voice.
The stranger who had been so kind TO her
did certainly start and look round.
The stiffness Of the night was disturbed no
more. The man turned again to the person
who had so strongly interested him. The
person was gone.
In fear of being followed Sydney hurried
TO the railway station. BY the light in the
carriage she looked for the first time at the
fragment of the letter and the card.
The stranger had presented her with her
W address! And when she looked at the
card the name was Bennydeck!