The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-06-26
The Evil Genius.
A STORY.
BY wILKiE COLLINS.
CHATTER XLvuI.

Il want to see Catherine he said.
TINS deliberate fudencsS proved to be the
very stimulnnt that was wanted to restore
Mrs. Prcsty to herself. The smile that al.
ways meant mischief made its threatening
appearance on the old lady's face.
What sort of company have You been
Keeping since l last saw you?!' she began.
"INtat have you got to do with the com.
pany | keep"
Nothing whatever, ] am happy to say. ]
was merely wondering whether you have
been travelling lately in the south part OF
AFRICA, and have liYed exclusively in the so
c;cty of Uot.entots. The only other explain.
alton Of your behavior is that have been so
unfortunate rs to offend You. But 1t seems
improbable-l am not Jour Wife"
"Thank God for that!''
"Thank God, as you say. But l should
really be glad (as Il mere matter OF curiosity
to know what your extraordinary conduct
means. You present yourself in this room
unlimited, you lind Il lady here, and you be.
have MS If you had come into a shop and
wanted to ask the price of something. Let
mt give you a lesson in good manners Oh.
serve; l receive you with Il bow, and 1 say:
How do You do, MI. Linley.' Do you ul.
deistand mew
81 don't understand you'll want to see
Catherine%'
"Who is Gatllcrincw.
"You know as well as i do-your daucl-
ter"
my daughter, sir, is a stranger to you.
We will speak of her, if you please, by the
name-the illustrious name-which she in
ferited at her birth. You wish to sec Mrs.
Ormond?'
"Call her what you like. have a word to
say to her, and | mean to say it"
No, Mr.. Linley, you won't say it."
Wen see about that! Where is she?:"
MY daughter is not WE'LL"
'iYell or i'll, 1 sha'n't keep her long"
my daughter has retired to her room."
where is her room?"
Mrs. Presty moved to the fireplace, and
laid her hand Oh the bell.
Are you aware that this house is a hotelpY
she asked.
sit doesn't matter to me what 1t is"
"Oh, yes, 1t does. A hotel keeps walters.
A hotel, when 1t is as large as this, has a
policeman In attendance. Must l ringY'
The choice between giving way and being
disgracefully dismissed from the hotel was
placed plainly before him. Herbert's life
iibu DtSI lit VI d SGiiLiShIdh, uj hiiCW
that he had forgotten himself; it was impos-
sible that he could hesitate.
~ won't trouble you to ring" he said,
land l will beg your pardon for having al
lowed my temper to get the better of me. AT
in my favor, that | have had some provoca-
ton"
81 don't agree with you" Mrs. Prcs.y an
svxrnra,l Ska wnS Jaof IN INV onnnot for
mercy from Herbert Linley. LAS to provo
cation" she added, returning to her chair
without asking him to be seated, when you
apply that word to yourself, you insult my
daughter and me. You provokcdp Oh,
heavensp
You wouldn't say that" he urged, speak
ing with marked restraint OF tone and man
ner, III you knew what l have had to ell.
dure-'
Mrs. Presty suddenly looked toward the
door. "Nalt a minute she said, II think |
hear somebody coming in."
In the silence that followed, footsteps
were audible outslde-not approaching the
door, however, but retiring from it. Mrs.
Presty had apparently been mistaken.
"Yes," she..shid, %resignedly, permitting the
person who had intruded or her to proceed.
He really had something to say for min.
self, and he said it with sufficient modera,
ton. That he had been guilty of serious
otfenseS he made no attempt to deny; but he
pleaded that he had not escaped without
Justly suffering for what he had done. He
had been entirely in the wrong when hi
threatened to take his child away from hel
mother by force of law; but had he not beef
punished when his wife obtained her di
| vOrce, and separated him from his llttlC
daughter us well as from herself? (No; Mrs
Presty failed to sec it,; if anybody had suf
fered by the divorce, the victim was her in
jured d%aughter.) Still patient, Herbert die
not deny the injury; he only submitted once
more that he had suffered his punishment
Whether his life with Sydney Westeriield
had or had not been a happy one, he mus
decline to say; he would only declare that il
had come to an end. She had left him. Yes
she had left him forever. He had no wisl
to persuade her to return to their guilty life
they were both penitent, they were botl
ashamed of it. But she had gone away
without tho provision which he was bount
in honor to offer to her; she wa fricndless
she might be in n condition OF poverty toe
dreadful to be contemplated-and that wa.
indeed a bitter reflection to the man who hac
misled her. (Mrs. Presty decided on stop
ping him there. She had heard more thar
enough of Sydney already.)
81 see nothing to be gained" she said, Sd,
dwelling on the past; and / should be glat
to know why you have come to this place to
night"
Il have come for two reasons. One o
them is to see Kitty"
quite out of the question"
"Don't tell me that, Mrs. PrestyI Pm on,
of the wretchedest men living, and l ask TO
the consolation of seeing my child. Kit,
hasn't forgotten me yet, l know. He
mother can't be SO cruel as to refuse. Sli,
shall fix her own time and send me ava
when she likes; I'll submit to anything
Will you ask Catherine to let me see Kitty,
It was impossible to consent to this-ant
equally impossible to mention the reason TO
refusing. unwilllngly, to do her justice
Mrs. Presty passed over without reply th'
Just request, the touching request, that hat
been addressed to her.
you have two reasons for coming here
she reminded him. "What is your othe
reasoD?"
He declined to be ignored in that way
"Will you ask Catherine to let me see KittyY
he repeated.
II can't do it"
He got up from his chair. His face pre-
sented tile same expression which Mrs
Presty lad seen on 1t when he first entere,
the room.
"When / came in here" he said, II toll
you ] wished to speak to Catherine.
doesn't matter. l have got the Information
w~anted-and got 1T from you"
~ don't understand YOU"
''rha newspapers werc not mistaken, Mrs
Presty, when they called Catherine a widow
| know 10Y why my brother, who never de
ceiyed me before, has deceived me abou
this. | understand the part that your daugf
ter has been playing-and l nm as certain a
II 1 had heard 1t, of the devilisl lie that OH
OF you-perhaps both of you-must hav,
told to my poor child. No, no; l had bette
not see Catherine. Many a man has kllIc,
his wife and has not had such good reaso
for doing 1t as | have. Yon are quito rigt
to keep mo away from her."
He stopped; he, too, looked suddenl
toward the door. Il hear lier," lie criet
"She's coming IMP
The footsteps outside were audible ono
more. This time they were approaching
they were close to the door. Herbert Dire,
back from 1t. Looking round to see that h
was out Of the Way. Mrs. Prestv rnshed fo]