Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-05-01
The EVIL Genius.
BY WILKiE

Benny deck was lllnKlng ONr the message
which he had just read. Catherine and her
mother were looking at him with the same
interest, inspired by very different motives.
The interview so pleasantly begun was In
some danger Of lapsing into formality and
embarrassment when a new parsonage APP
peared on the scene.
Kitty had returned In triumph from her
ride. 'Oh, mamma, the donkey did more
than g%allop--he kicked, and / never fell of.
She had got as far as that when the progress
OF her narrative was suspended by the dis
covery of a strange gentleman In the room.
The smile that frightened the captains
face when Kitty opened the door answered
for him as the man who loved children.
"Y0ur little girl, Mrs. Ormondr' he said.
Yes"
"a common question and a common reply.
Nothing worth noticing In either the one or
the other at the time-and yet they proved
10 be important enough TO turn GATHERINGS
lie into a new cOurse.)
In the meanwhile Kitty had been whisper
ing to her mother. She wanted TO know the
strange gentleman's name. The captain
heard her. my name is B~ennydeck," he
said; will you come to meg'
Kitty had heard the name mentioned in
connection with a yacht. Like all children,
she knew a friend the moment she looked at
him. 1--WE seen your pretty boat sir" she
said, crossing the room to Capt. Bennydeck.
us 1t very nice when you 20 sailing"
IF you were not going back to London,
my dear, / should ask your mamma to let me
take you sailing with me. Perhaps we shall
have another opportunity"
The captains answer delighted Kitty.
"Oh, yes, tomorrow or next day ~ she sug-
w,,sa sEIln ,sa., ln.., .I... A.. M -. a.
London? Mamma, where do | live, when |
am In LOndonY' Before her mother could
answer, she hit on a new idea. Don't tell
me; I'll find it myself. It's on grandmam-
mas boxes, and they're In the passage"
Capt. Bennydeck's eyes followed her, as
she left the room, with an expression Of in
terest which more than confirmed the favor
able impression that he had already pro-
duced on Catherine. She was Oh the point
OF asking il he was married and had children
of his own when Kitty came back, and de-
clared the right address TO be Bucks hotel,
Sydenham. Mamma puts things down for
fear of forgetting Them she added. "Will
you put down Buck?'
The captain picked up his pocket-book
and appealed pleasantly 10 Mrs. Ornond.
MAY | follow your example?' he asked.
Catherine not only humOred the little joke,
but, gratefully remembering his kindness,
said: Don't forget when you are i'm Lon.
don that Kitty's Invitation Is my invitation,
too" AT the same moment punctual Mrs.
Presty looked at her watch and reminded
her daughter that railways were not In the
habit OF allowing passengers to keep them
waiting. Catherine rose and gave her hand
TO the captain at parting. Kitty improved
| nm her tnotharJG form. 80 fraxual1. che N u
him a kiss and whispered a little reminder
Of her own: There's a river in London
don't forget your boat"
Capt B~ennydeck opened the door for them
and stood by II, secretly wishing that he
could accompany Mrs. Ormond and Kitty to
London.
Mrs. Presty made no attempt TO remind
him that she was still In the room. Where
her family interests were concerned the old
lady was capable ION very slight encourage
meDt) OF looking a long way into the future.
She was looking into the future now. The
captains social position was all that could
desired; he was evidently In easy pecun-
ny circumstances; he admired Catherine
nd GATHERINGS child. IL he only proved
to be a single man. Mrs. Presty's prophetic
soul, without waiting an instant 10 reflect,
perceived a dazzling future. Capt. Benny
deck approached TO take leave. mot just
yet" pleaded the most agreeable of women;
my luggage was ready two hours ago. Sit
down again for a few minutes. You seem
TO like my little granddaughter"
IF | had such a child as that" the captain
answered. II believe | should be the hap
piest man living
"Ah, my dear sir, all ise't gold that gilt
tiers" Mrs. Presty remarked. THAT proverb
must have been originally intended 10 apply
TO children. May | presume to make you the
subject of a guess? | fancy you are not a
married man."
The captain looked a little surprised. you
are quite right" he said; II nave never been
married"
At a later period Mrs. Presty owned that
she felt an inclination TO reward him for con-
Tossing himself to be a bachelor by a kiss.
He instantly checked that impulse by put
ting a question. Had you any particular
reason" he asked, ''for guessing that l was
a single manY'
Mrs. Presty modestly acknowledged that
she had only her own experience to help her.
You wouldn't be quite so fond of other peo-
pies children" she said, 'if you were a mar
ried man. All, your time will come yeti
mean your wife will come"
| f1e dlsWtItu ullS Stuly. MY tlHt Ills
gone by. l have never had the opportunities
that nave been granted 10 some favored
| men," He thought OF the favored man who
had married Mrs. OrDond. Was her hus-
band worthy of his happiness? as Mr.. Or
mond with you at this placer the captain
asked.
Serious issues depended on the manner in
which this question was answered. For one
1 p.prnapt and for Quq manppf nnty Mrl
Presty hesitated. Then lin her daughters
| interests, of course) she put Catherine In the
| position OF a widow, in the least blamable
of all possible ways, by honestly owning the
truth.
There Is no Mr.. Ormond," she said.
"Your daughter Is a widowp' cried the
captain, perfectly unable to control his de-
light at that discovery.
What else should she bef" Mrs. Presty
replied, facetiously.
What else, indeed! Ii mo Mr.. Ormond'
meant las II must mean) that Mr.. Ormond
was dead, and IL the beautiful mother Of
Kitty was an honest woman, what else could
she be but a widow? Capt Bennydeck felt
q little ashamed OF his own impetuosity. Be-
fore he had made up his mind what to say
next the unlucky waiter doomed to DO a
cause of disturbance on that day. appeared
again.
II beg your pardon, ma'am," he said; the
lady aud gentleman who have taken these
rooms have just arrived"
Mrs. Presty got up In a harry and cordially
| shook hands with the captain. Looking
round she took up the railway guide and her
knitting left ON the table. Was there any
| thing else left about? There was nothing to
be seen. Mrs. Presty crossed the passage to
her daughters bedroom to hurry the pack
Ing. Capt. Bennydeck went downstairs on
| his way back to the yacht.
In the hall Of the hotel he passed the lady
and gentleman, and, Of course, noticed the
lady. SIZE was little and dark and would
have been pretty II she had not looked III
and out OF spirits. What would he have said,
what would he have done, II he had known
that those two strangers were Randall Lin
ley's brother and Roderick Westerield's
daughter?
CHAPTER xxXvI.
The stealthy influence Of distrust fastens
its hold on the mind by slow degrees. Little
| by little 1t reaches It's fatal end and disguises
delusion successfully under the garbo truth.