Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-06
11e Evil Genius.
A DOMESTIC STORY.
BY wILKIE


Sydney laid her down az In on the r.i'Cv.
gave her q last kiss. and ran out Of the room.
In the corridor she heard Linley's voice on
the lower Hoo. He was asking one OF the
servants IL Miss Westerfeld was In the house
or In the garden. Her first impulse was to
advance 10 the stairs aud to nswe his ques-
tion. In a moment more the remembrance
OF Mrs. Linley checked her. She went back
to her bedchamber.
The presents that she had received since
her arrival at Mount Morven were all laid
out so that they could be easily seen by any
person entering the room after she had left
the house. On the sofa lay the pretty new
dress which she nan worn al the evening
party. Other little gifts were arranged on
either side OF II. The bracelet, resting on the
pedestal OF a statue close by, kept a morsel
OF paper In its ~place-on which she had writ
ten a few penitent words Of farewell-ad-
dressed 10 Mrs. Linley. On the toilet-table
three Photographic portraits showed them
selves among the brushes and combs. She
sat down and looked first at the likenesses of
Mrs. Linley and Kitty.
Had she any right TO make those dear faces
her companions in the future9
She hesitated; her tears dropped on the
photographs. They're as good as spoilt
now" she thought; they're no longer fit for
anybody but me-" She paused. and abrupt
ly took up the third and last photograph, the
likeness OF Herbert Linley.
Was it an ~offense, now, even to look at his
portrsit9 No idea OF leaving il behind her
was In her mind. Her resolution vibrated
between two miseries-the misery of presery-
ing her keepsake after she had parted from
bun forever, and the misery Of destroying il.
Resigned 10 one more sacrifice. she took the
card In both hands to tear IL up. II would
have been scattered in pieces on the floor but
for the chance which had turned the portrait
side OF the card toward her instead of the
back. Her longing eyes stole a last look at
him-a frenzy seized her-she pressed her
lips to the photograph in u PASSION OF hope
less love. What does il matter?' she asked
herfelf. I'm nothing but the ignorant OBJ
ject Of his kindness-the poor fool who could
see no difference between gratitude and love.
Where is the harm OF having him with me
when | am starving in the streets or dying in
the wOrkhOuse?' The fervid spirit In her
that had never known q mothers loving dis
cipline, never thrilled TO the sympathy of a
sister-friend. rose in revolt against the evil
destiny which had embiitered her life. Her
eyes still rested Oh the photograph. Come
10 my heart, my only friend, and kill mer'
As those wild words escaped her she thrust
the card furiously into the bosom OF her dress
and threw herself on the floor. There was
something in the mad, self-abandonment Of
that action which Knocked the innocent de-
spair OF her childhood on the day when her
mother left her at the cruel mercy of her
aunt.
That night was anight Of torment in Sc
cret 10 another person at Mount MOnen.
Wandering, IN his need of self isolation,
up and down the dreary stone passages in
the lower part of the house, Linley counted
the hours. ineXorably lesSening the interval
between him and the ordeal OF confession 10
his wife. As vet he had failed to find the
opportunity OF addressing TO Sydney the only
words OF encouragement he could allow 10
pass his lips; he had asked for her earlier in
the evening, and nobody could tell him
where she was. Still in ignorance of the
refuge which she might by bare possibility
hope to find ia Mrs. MacEdwin's house, sgd
ney was spared the torturing doubts which
now beset Herbert Linlcy's mind. Would
the noble woman whom they had injured al
low their atonement 10 plead for them, and
consent TO keep their miserable secrety Might
they still put their trust in that generous nat
ure a few hours hence? Again and again
those questions confronted Iinley; and again
snd again he shrank from attempting 10 an.
swsr them.