Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-27
XX.

opsllcu peltilld nun. MfS. fTtsty iHU enter
ed III" drawing-rnnm. with = parpn>e a. !
seemed, in which Randall was concerned.
Xxx.
Strong as the impression was which Capt.
Belnydeck had produced on Randall. Mrs.
Presty's first words dismissed il from his
mind. She asked him If he had any message
for bis brother.
Randall instantly looked al the clock. Has
Catherine not sent to the farm, yet?' he ask
ed, in astonislment.
Mrs. Presty's mind seemed TO be absorbed
in her daughter. An, poor Catherine!
Worn out with anxiety and watching at
Kitty bedside. Night after night without any
sleep: night after night tortured by suspense.
As usual, she can depend on her old mother
for sympathy. | have taken all her house
hold duties on myself till she j. in better
health"
Randall tried again. 'NIrs. Presty. am I 10
understand after the plain directions Her
bert gaye) that no messenger has been sent
10 tie farm?'
Mrs. Presty heldi ,er venerable head high
ef than ever when Randall pronounced his
brothers name II see no necessity for be.
ing in a hurry" she answered. stiiiy. after
the brutal manner in which Herbert has be-
hayed to me. Put Yourself in my place-and
imagine what you would feel ii YOU were
told 10 hold your tongue"
Randall wasted no more time on ears that
were deaf 10 renOnstrance. Feeling the Sc
rious necessity of interfering 20 some good
purpose, he asked where he might ind his
sister-in-law.
Il have taken Catherine into the garden.'
Mrs. Presty announced. The doctor him
self suggested-nO, | may say ordeTed-it.
He is afraid that she may fall Ill next. poo.
soul, II she doesn't get air and exercise"
In Mrs. Linley's own interests Randall re-
solved on advising her 10 write to her hus-
band by the messenger: explaining that She
was not to blame tor the ineXcusable delay
which had already taken place. Without a
word more Ia Mrs. Presty he FASTENED ont ot
the room. That inyeterately |distrustlul We
man called him back. She desired Ia know
where he was going and why he was in a
hurry.
Il am going to the garden Randall an
swered.
TO speak TO Catherlne?'
Yes"
"NeedlesS trouble, my dear Randall. She
viii be back in a quarter of an hour, and she
will pass through this room ou her way mp
stairs"
Another quarter Of an hour was a matter
Of no Importance 10 Ms. PreSty. Handal
took his wi way-the way into the garden.
HIS silence and his determination to join
his sister-in-law reused Mrs. Presty'N ready
suspicious: she concluded that be- was bent
on making mischief between her daughter
and herself. The one thing 10 do in this
case was to follow him instantly. The active
Old lady trotted out OF the room. S,rongiy in.
cIined to tn That the Evil Genius OF the
Family might be Randall Linley after all.
They had both taken the shortest way &c
the garden; that is to SAY. the way through
the library, which communicated at il falth.
est end with the corridor and the vauited
flight of stairs leading directly out 0t the
house. OF the two doors in the drawing
room, one, on the left, led to tine grand stair
case and the hall; the other, on the right,
opened on the back stairs. ana on a side Ell
trance to the house, used 10y the family when
they were pressed for time, a. well a. by the
sc2vants.
The drawing-room bad not been empty
more thar Il few minutes when the door on
the right was suddenly opened. Herbert
Linlry entered with hurried. uncertain steps.
He took the chair that was nearest 10 him,
and dropped into il like a man overpOwtIed
by agitation or fatigue.
He had Ridden from the farm at headlong
speed, terrified by the unexplained DELAY IN
the arrival of the messenger from home. In.
able any longer to suffer the torment OF I'M
relieved suspense. he had returned 10 make
inquiry At the house. As he interpreted the
otherwise lacXplicaDle neglect OF his instruc.
tiOn-, the last chance OF saving the chlld's
life had failed, and his wife had been afraid
to tell him the dreadful truth.
After an interval he rose and went into the
library.
1t was empty, like tie drawing-room. The
bel was close by him. He lifted his hand tC
ring it-and drew back. As brave a man a.
ever lived, he knew what fear was now
The fathers courage failed him before the
prospect OF sunmoning II servant and hear.
Ing, Ton all he knew 10 the contrary, that his
child was dead.
How long he stood there, alone and irreso.
mte, ne never remembered when lie thought
OF il In after days. All he knew was that
there canie q time when a SOUND in the draw.
ing-roum attracted his attention. IL was
nothing more important than the opening OF
a door.
The sound came from that side of the room
which was nearest ID the grand staircase
and therefore nearest also 10 the hall, in one
direction, and to the bed-chambers in the
other.
Some person had entered the room. Wheth.
er il was one of the family or one of the serv-
ants he would hear in either case what had
happened in his absence. He parted the eur.
tains over the library entrance and looked
through.
The person VAS a roman She stood with
her back turned toward the library, lifting "a
cloak OF a chair. As she shook the cloak
before put zig ii on she changed her posi-
ton. lie saw :Ae face. never r. tA forgotten
by him to the last day of his life. He saw