Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-06-12
4le Evil Genius,
A STORY.
BY WILKlE

AT the parting Win Kitty. the H. ,sure of
her endurance was f. . even the fare
well at Mount NJ rysn hau tried her by an
ordeal SO cruel as this. No kind woman was
willing TO receive her and employ her now.
The one creature left who loved her wcs the
faithful little friend whom she must never
see again. III am still innocent to that child y
she thought--"and l am parted from her for
eyerv'
She rose 70 leave the garden.
A farewell look at the last place in which
she had seen Kitty tempted her to indulge in
q moment Of delay. Her eyes rested on the
turn In the path at which she had lost sight
OF the active little figure Fastening away to
plead her cause. Even in absence, the child
was Sydney's good angel still. AS she turn
ed away 10 follow the path that had been
shown to her, the relief of tears came at last.
1t cooled her burning head; it comforted her
aching heart. She tried TO walk on. The tears
blinded her-she strayed from the path-she
would have fallen but for a hand that caught
her and held her up. A mans voice, firm
and deep and kind, Quieted her first wild
feeling of terror. MY child, you are not fit
to be by yourself. Let me take care of YOU
let me comfort you, il / can"
He carried her back to the seat that she
had left, and waited by her in merciful ST.
lence.
you are very young TO feel such bitter
sorrow" lie said, when she was composed
again. Il don ask what your sorrow is; l
only want to know how | can help you"
Nobody can help me-"
Can / take you back to your friends?"
IL have no friends"
Npordnn ma won haVa ono fria,,l 90 Io..A
you have me-"
"You? A stranger"
mo human creature who needs my SYM
pathy is a stranger"
She turned toward him for the first time.
In her new position she was clearly visible
in the light. He looked at her attentiyely.
II have seen you somewhere" he said, be
fore now"
She had not noticed him when they had
passed each other at Sandyseal, II think
you must be mistaken" she answered. MAY
l thank you for your kindness? and may |
hope to be excused if | say ~good-nlght?"
He detained her. Are you sure that you
are well enough to go away by yourself?' he
asked, anxiously.
Il am quite sure!'
He still detained her. His memory OF that
first meeting at the seaside hotel reminded
him that he had seen her in the company of
a man. At their second meeting she was
alone and In tears. Sad experience led him
to form his W conclusions. "If you won't
let me take care of you," he said, Twill you
consider IL | can be OF any use TO you, and
will you call at that address, He gave her
his card. She took it without looking at il;
che was confused; she hardly knew what 20
say. DO you doubt me"' he ~asked-sadly,
not angrily.
"Oh, how can | do that! / doubt myself.
l am not worthy Of the interest you feel in
me-"
That Is sad thing TO say" he answered.
Let me try to give you confidence in your.
self. Do you go TO London when you leave
this placer"
YES"
Tomorrow" he resumed, II am going to
see another poor girl who is alone in the
world like you. II / tell you where she lives
VIII you ask her il / am a person 10 be
trustedp'
he had taken a letter from his pocket
while he was speaking, and he now tore OIL
a part OF the second leaf and gave it TO her.
II have only lately" he said, received the
address from a friend"
AS he offered that explanation, the shrill
and of a child's voice, raised in anger and
entreaty, reached their ears from the neigh
borhood Of the hotel. Faithful little Kitty
had made her escape, determined to return
to S~ydney-had been overtaken by the maid
and had been carried back in Susan's arms
to the house. Sydney imagined that she was
not perhaps alone In recognizing the voice.
The stranger who had been 80 kind to her
did certainly start and look round.
The stiffness Of the night was disturbed no
more. The man turned again TO the person
who had so strongly interested him. The
person was gone.
In fear of being followed Sydney hurried
to the railway station. BY the light in the
carriage she looked for the first time at the
fragment of the letter and the card.
The stranger had presented her with her
own address! And when she looked at the
card the name was Benn ydeckl