The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-02-20

name exactly fitted Mrs. Presty. He made
M reply; his eyes rested In sympathy on his
sister-in-law. She saw, and felt, his kind
ness at a tune when kindness was doubly
precious. Her tones trembled q little as she
spoke to her silent husband.
Don't you approve of what l have done,
Nerberto"
MS nerves were shattered by grief and sus-
peiise, but he made an effort this time to
speak gently. How can say that" he re-
pied. III the poor cliiid's life depends on
Miss Westefiie!d?: Task one favor-give me
time to leave the house before she comes
here"
Mrs. Linley looked al him in amazement.
Her mother touched her arm; Randall tried
by a sign TO warn her to be careful. Their
calmer minds had seen what the wite's agi-
tation had prevented her from discovering,
In Linley's position the return OF the gov
erAess was a trial to his s%elf-control which
he had reason to dread; his look, his voice.
his manner, proclaimed it to PERSONS capable
of quietly observing him. he had struggled
against his guilty passion-at what sacrifice
OF his own feelings no II knew but himself
and here was the temptation, at the very
time when he was honorably resisting it,
brought back 10 him by his wife! Her mo-
tive did unquestionably excuse, perhaps even
sanction, what she had done; but this was an
estimate of her conduct which commended
itself to others. From his point of view-mo-
tive or nc motiye--he saw the old struggle
against himself In danger of being renewed;
he felt the ground that he had gained slip
ping from under him already.
In spite of the well-msant efforts msde by
her relatives to prevent 1t, Mri. Linley com
mitted the very error which II was most i'm
portant thai she should avoid. She justified
herself, instead of leaving 1t to events to
justify her. miss WestertieId comes here
she argued, ION an errand that is beyond re-
proach-m errand of mercy. Why should
you leave the house2'
in justice to YOU" Linley answered.
Mrs. Presty could restrain herself no long
Ell. Drop it, Catherine!' she said, IN a
whisper.
Catherine refused to drop it; Liniey's short
and sharp reply had irritated her. After
my experience" she persisted, "haye 1 no
reason TO trust you?'
1T is part of your experience he remind
ed her, that l promised not to see Miss
Westertield again"
own 1t at once.p she broke out, provoked
beyond endurance; Though | may be will
ing to trust you-yOu are afraid to trust your
self"
Unlucky Mrs. Plesty interfered again.
You're quite right, Herbert. Keep out of
harms way, and you keep right
She pstted him On the shoulder, as if she
had been giving good advice to a boy. He
expressed his sense of his motiier-in-law's
friendly offices In language which astonished
her.
Hold your tongue!'
"Do you hear that" Mrs. Presty asked,
appealing Indignantly to her daughter.
Linley took his hat. AT what time do
you expect Miss Westerfield to arrived" lie
said to hts wife.
She looked at the clock on the mantelpiece.
"Before the half-hour strikes. Don't be
alarmed" she added, with an air of ironical
sympathy: you will have time to make your
escape"
He advanced to the door, and looked at
her.
One thing l beg you will remember" he
said. Every half-hour while | am away Il
am going to the farm you are to send and
let NE know how Kitty is-and especially II
Miss Westerfeld ~justiiies the experiment
which the doctor has advised us to try"
Having given those instructions lie went
out.
The sofa was near Mrs. Lin,ey. She sank
on it, ~overpowered by the utter destruction
of the hopes that she had founded on the
separation OF Herbert and the governess,
Sydney Wes,eriield was still in possession OF
her husbands heart!
Her mother was surely the right person to
/ saw a word of comfort tn hav Randall made
the suggestion-with the worst possible re-
suit. Mrs. Presty had not forgotten that she
had been told-at her age, in her position as
the widow of a cabinet minister-to hold her
tongue. your brother has insulted me-"
she said to Randall. He was weak enough to
attempt to make an explanation. II was
speaking of my brothers Wife, he said.
"iour brothers. wife has allowed me to be
insulted.o Having received that reply Ran
dial could only wonder. This woman went
to church every Sunday and kept anew testa-
ment, bound in excellent taste, on her toilet
table. The occasion suggested reflection on
the system which produces average Chris
tians at the present time. Nothing more was
said by Mrs. Presty. Mrs. Linley remained
absorbed in her own bitter thoughts. In 81
lence they waited for the return of the car
riage and the appearance OF the goyerness.
XVIII.
Pale, worn, hagsald with anxiety, Sydney
Westertield entered the room, and looked
once more on the faces which she had resign
Ell herself never to see again. She appeared
to be hardly conscious of the kind reception
which did its best to set her at her ease.
Am | in timer were the first words that
escaped her on entering the room. treasured
by the answer, she turned back to the door
eager to hurry upstairs to kitty's bedside.
Mrs. Lin!ey's gentle hand detained her.
The doctor had left certain instructions,
warning the mother 10 guard against any az
cident that might remind Kitty of the day on
which Sydney had LETT her. AT the time OF
that bitter parting the child had seen her gov.
einess in the same walking dress which she
wore now. Mrs. Linley removed the hat and
cloak anG laid them on Il chair.
"Ihere is one other precaution which We
must observe she said; II must ask you tC
wait in my room until ! find that You may
show yourself safely. Now come with me-
Mrs. Presty followed them, and begged
earnestly for leave to wait the result of the
moIneltous experiment at the door of kitty's
bedroom. Her selt-aSserting manner had
vanished; she was quiet, she was even hunn,
Bile. While the last chance for the child's
llle was laSt becoming q matter OF minutes
only. the g%randmother's better nature show.
ed itself on the surface. Randall opened the
door for them as the three went out together
He was in that state OF maddening anxiety
about his poor little niece in which men OF
his imaginative temperament become morbit
and say strangely inappropriate things. Ii
the-same breath with which he implored hi
sister-in-law to let him hear what had hap
pened, without an instant of delay, he start
led Mrs. Presty by one of his familiar re
marks on the inconsistencie in her character
"You disagreeable old wolnail," he whisper
ed as she passed him, ''you have got a hear
after all
Left alone, he was never for one momen
in repose, While the slow minutes followed
each other in the silent house.
He walked about the room, he listened a
the door, lie arranged and disalranged Ill
furniture. When the mlsemaid descende,
from the upper regions with her mistress
message for him, he ran out to meet her, say
the good news in her smiling face, and. 70
the first and last time in his life, kissed on
Il cf his br,tbar's fn,,ala snrXnpts Sttca, 1.