Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-16
The Evil Genius.
A STORY.
BY wILKIE

FSats - 'ffI
their way 10 the highlands, and were accus-
toned to meet the neighbors of the Linleys
nj dinner on their arrival. Thetime for this
yearly festival had now come round again
the guests were in the house; and Mr.. enc
Mrs. Linley were occupied in making theiI
arrangements for the dinner party. Will
her unfailing consideration for every one
about her, Mrs. Liniey did not forget Sydney
while she was sending out her cards OF invi
tatlon. 'Our table will be full at dinner"
she said TO her husband Miss Westeriield
had better join US IN the evening with Kitty
II suppose so" Linley answered with some
hesitation.
"You seem to doubt it, Herbert. EhyT
81 was only wondering"
"Wondering about whatT'
"Has Miss WesterfeId got a gown, Cath
crime, that will do for a party?"
Linley's wife looked at him as II she doubt
ed the evidence of her own senses. ''Fancs
a man thinking OF THAR she exclaimed.
Herbert, you astonish me-"
He laughed uncasiiy. II don't x1ow how
i came to think of it-unless it Is that she
wears the same dress every day, Very neat;
but (perhaps I'm wrong a little shabby,
too"
Upon my word, you pay Miss Westerfeld
a compliment which you have never paid to
me! Wear what l may, You never seem to
know how l am dressed"
II beg your pardon, Catherine, i know
that you are always dressed we'll"
That little tribute restored him to his place
In his wife's estimation. II may tell you
now" she resumed, with her gentle smile,
'tIat you only remind me of what 1 had
thought of already. My milliner is at work
for Miss Westertield. The new dress must
be your gift"
Are you jokingP'
II am in earnest. Tomorrow is Sydney's
birthday; and here is mU present" She
opened a jewelers. ease and took out a plain
gold bracelet. Suggested by Kitty" she
added, pointing TO ali inlaid miniature por-
trait of the child. Herbert read the inscrip-
ton; To Sydney WesteIteld, With Catherine
Linleys lore. He gave the bracelet back 10
his wife in silence; his manner was more Sc.
rious than usual-he kissed her hand.
The day Of the dinner party marked an
epoch In Sydney's life.
For the first time in all her experience she
could look in the glass and see herself pretti.
~ dressed, with a gold bracelet on her ann.
Ii we consider how men lin one way and
milliners lin another profit by it, vanity Is
surely Ia be %reckoned, not among tile vices,
but among the virtues of the sex. Will any
woman who speaks the truth hesitate To ac-
knowledge that her first sensation of graft
fed vanity rank among the most exquisite and
most enduring pleasures that she has ever
felt? Sydney locked her door and exhibited
herself to herself-in the front view, the side
view, and the back view lover the shoulder
with eyes that sparkied and cheeks that
glowed in a delicious confusion of pride and
astonishnlent. She practiced bowling to
strangers in her new dress; she practiced
shaking hands gracefully with her bracelet
well In view. Suddenly she stood still be.
fore the glass and became serious aud thought.
full. Kind and dear Mr.. Linley was in her
mind now. While she was asking herself
anxiously what he would think of her, Kitty
arranged In her new finery, as vain ana as
happy as her goyerness-drummed with both
fists outside the door and announced at the
top of her voice that il was time to 20 down
stairs. Sydney's agitation at the prospect OF
meeting the ladies In the drawing-room add.
ed a charm OF its own to the flush that her
exercises before the glass had left on her
face. Shyly following instead of leading
her little companion into the room, she pre-
sented such q charming appearance Of youth
and beauty that the ladies stopped in then
talk ~ look at her. Some few admired
kitty's goyernesS with generous interest: the
greater number doubted Mrs. Linley's pru-
denee in engaging a girl so very pretty and
SO very young. Little by little Sydney's
manner-simple, modest shrinking from OBJ
servation-pleaded in her favor even with
the ladies who had been prejudiced against
her at the outset. When Mrs. Linley pre-
scented her to her guests the most beautiful
woman among them Mrs. MacEdwin) made
room for her on the sofa, and with perfect
tact and kindness set the stranger at her ease.
When the gentlemen came in from the din.
ner table Sydney was composed enough to
admire the brilliant scene and 10 wonder
again, as she had wondered already, what
MI. Liniey would say to her new dress.
Mr.. Linley certainly did notice her--at q
distance.
He looked at her with a momentary fervor
OF interesta n admiration, which made sgd
ney $50 gratefully and so guiltiessiy attached
to HIM tremble with pleasure; he even step
ped forward as If to approach her, checked
himself, and went back again among his
guests. Now IN one part of the room. and
now in another, she saw him speaking tc
them. The one neglected person whom he
never even looked at again was the poor girl
TO whom his approval was the breath of heI
life. Had she ever felt as unhappy as she
felt now? No, not even at her aunt's school
Friendly Mrs. MacEdwin touched her arm.
my dear, you are losing your pretty color.
Are you overcome by the heat? Shall | take
you into the next room?'
Sydney expressed her sincere sense of the
lady's kindness. Her commonplace excuse
was a true excuse--she had q headache, and
she asked leave to retire to her room.
Approaching the door, she found herself
face TO face with Mr.. Linley. He had iust
been giving directions to one OF the servants,
and was re-entering the drawing-room. She
stopped, trembling and cold; but, in the very
intensity OF her wretchedness, she found
courage enough to speak to him..
"You seem to avoid me, Mr.. Linley," she
began, speaking with an air OF formal re-
spcct ard keepinv her eyes on the ground.
IL hope she hesitated and desperately
looked at him-'I hope l haven't done any
thing to offend you?."
In her knowledge OF him UP 10 that misera-
BILE evening he constantly spoke to her with a
smile. She had never yet seen him SD serious
and so mattentive as he was now. Ills eyes,
wandering round the room, rested on Mrs.
Linley- brilliant and beautiful, and laugh
ing gayly. Why was he looking at his wife
with plain signs Of embarrassment in His
face? Sydney piteously persisted in repeat
ing her innocent question: VI hope i haven't
done anything to offend your
He seemed to be still reluctant to notice
heron the one occasion of all others when
she was looking her best! But he answered
at last.
MY dear child, II is impossible that you
should offend me; you nave misunderstood
and mistaken ne. Don't s~uppose-pray
don't suppose that l am changed or can ever
be changed toward you" He emphasized
the kind intention which those words reveal
ed by giving her his hand.
Blu the next momenehe drew back. There
was no Disgusting IL, he drew back as ii he
wished to get away from her. She noticed
that his lips were firmly closed and his eye
browsk knitted In a frown, he looked like a
mar who was forcing himself TO submit to
some hard necessity that he hated or feared.
Sydney left the room In despair.
he had denied In the plainest and kindest
terms that he was changed toward her. Was
that not enough? II twas nothing like enough.
The facts were there to speak for themselves;
he was an altered man; Anxiety, sorrow, re-
morse-0ne or the other seemed 10 have got
nnssaSSion af him fndUipu hx- Mr.. Z iulav,a