Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-06-05
CHAPTER XIV.
shs tried 10 think of Bennvdeck.

He eyes followed him as long as he was
IN sight, but her thoughts wandered. To
look at him now was to look at the little
companion walking by his side. Still, the
child reminded her of the living father; still,
the child innocently tortured her with the
consciousness of deceit. The faittiess man
from whom the law had released her possess
ed himself Of her thoughts, in spite OF the
law. He, and he only, was the visionary
companion Of her solitude when she was left
by herself.
Did he remind her of the sin that he had
conmittedp OF the insult that he had III
ficted on the woman whom he had vowed 10
love and cherish? No! he recalled to her the
years OF love that she had passed by his side:
he upbraided her with the happiness which
she had owed 10 him in the prime and glory
Of her life. Woman! set hat against the
wrong which / have done to you. o have
the right TO condemn me and society has the
right to condemn me-bu: l am your ehild's
father still. Forget me II you can!
All thought will bear the test Of solitude,
excepting only the thought that inds its orr
gin in hopeless ~self-reproach. The soft mys-
terry of twilight, the solemn silence OF the
slowly coming night, daunted Catherine In
that lonely place. She rose 10 return to light
and human beings. As she set her face to-
ward the house a discovery confronted her
She was not alone.
A woman was standing on the path, ap-
p~arently looking at her.
In the dim light and at the distance be-
tween them recognition of the woman was
impossible. She neither moved nor spoke.
Strained to their utmost point of tension,
GATHERINGS nerves quivered at the sight OF
that shadowy, solitary figure. She dropped
back on the seat. In tones that trembled she
said: "Who are you? What do you want?'
The voice that answered was, like her own
voice, faint with fear. 1t SAID: Il want q
word with YOU"
Moving slowly forward-stopping-mov-
ing onward Misunderstanding a%gain-the wo-
man at last approached. There was light
enough left Ia reveal her face, now that she
was near. 1t was the face Of Sydney West
erfield.
The survival of childhood, in the mature
human being, betrays itself most readily In
the sex that bears children. The chances
and changes of life show the child's mobility
or emotion constantly associating itself with
the passions OF the woman. At the moment
of recognition the troubled mind OF Catherine
| hu0 llottlt WI ot1>
OF that ~coarsest sense which levels US VIII
the animals--the sense OF anger.
II am amazed at your audacity," she said
There was no observation-disclosures was oni,
patient submission in Sydney's reply.
'srwice l have approached the house II
which you are living, and twice my courag'
has failed me. l have gone away again
have walked, l don't know where, l don
I.. hau far Shanaa and fear seemed II
be insensible to fatigue. This Is my thirt
attempt. II was a little nearer to you
think you would see what the effort has COS
me. Ihave not much 10 say. May l asl
you to heal me?"
"You have taken me by surprise, Mis-
Westerfeld. You have M right to do that
/ refuse to hear YOU"
TRY. madam, to bear In mind that no III
happy creature, in my place, would expos
herself to your anger and contempt withou
a serious reason. Win you think againg'
"No" +,
Sydney turned to 60 away-and suddenl
. stopped. q,
Another person was advancing from til
hotel; an interruption, a trivial domestic II
: terruptlon. presented itself. The nursemai
had missed the child, and had come into II
garden TO see II she was with her mother.
"Where Is Miss Kitty. ma'amy' the n
asked.
{ Her mistress told her what had happened
$ and sent her to the palace to relieve Cay
: Bennydeck of the charge that he had d
taken. Susan listened, looking at Sydne,
!: and recognizing the familiar face. As II
girl moved away. Sydney spoke to her.
III hope little Kitty is well and happy
The mother doesn't live WHO could ha'
resisted the tone in which that question W
mt The broken heart, the love for the chi
that still lived in 1t, spoke In accents tn
even touched tile servant. She came bacl
remembering the happy days when the go
erpess had won their hearts at Mount Nc
ven, and, for the moment at least, rememot
ing nothing else.
aQuite well and happy, miss, thank you
Susan said.
AS she hurried away on her GRAND 81
saw her mistress beckon ~ Sydney to retu
and place q chair for her. The nnrsema
; was not near enough TO hear what follows
Miss Westerield, I regret what said
YOU Just now; l ask you to pardon me
With those words Catherine pointed to :
chair. II am ready to hear you," she
~sumed-.but l have something to ask nr
. Does what you wish to say TO me relate on
To yourselfy"
, ut relates to another person as well -
> myself"
. That reply. and the Inference to which
led. tried GATHERINGS resolution to preset
her s~elf-control as nothing had tried Il yet
: "If that other person." she said, ines
Mr.. Herbert Linley-"
3 Sydney Interrupted her In words VIII
! she was entirely unprepared TO hear.
II shall never SEQ Mr.. Herbert Lin
again."
HAS he deserted youy'
mo. 1t Is !. who have left him"
Z Your
y The emphasis laid ON that one word for
SYDNEY to assert herself for the first time.
J. sIf 1 had not left hlm Of my " :
will.D she said, what else would excuse
= Tor venturing to ctme hcreY'
= CatherIns's sense Of justics felt The 70
: OF that reply. At The SANE Tina, her =
IL injury set " own construction a. =