The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-01-16
The Evil Genius.
A STORY.
BY wILKrE coLLINs.

80 taAo 49, ''''h 's''N ~ 'a Wv
south, who happened to be visiting Scotland.
were invited to stop at Mount Morven or
their way to the highlands, and were accus-
toned TO meet the neighbors of the Linleys
at Inner on their arrival. The time for this
yearly festival had now come round again:
the guests were in the house; and Mr.. end
Mrs. Linley were occupied in making tieil
arrangements for the dinner party. Witt
her unfailing consideration for every one
about her. Mrs. linley did not ~forgetSydney
while she was sending out her cards of invi
tation. Our table will be full at dinner
she said to her husband; Miss WestertielC
had better join us in the evening with Kitty
~ suppose so,' Linley answered with some
hesitation.
you seem to doubt it, Herbert. Ehyw
~ wa only WONDERING
"Wondering about wllat?:"
"Has Miss Westeriield got a gown, Cath
crime, that will do for a party?"
Linley's wife looked at him as il she doubt
ed the evidence of her own senses. "Fanc,
a man thinking OF that!' she exclaimed.
Herbert, you astonish me-"
He laughed uncasily. II don't know how
/ came to think of it-unless it is that she
wears the same dress every day. Very neat;
but (perllaps FIN wrong) n little shabby,
too.''
Upon my word, you pay Miss Westertield
a compliment which you have never paid to
me! Wear what ! may, you never seem to
know how / am dressed"
II beg your pardon, Catherine, l 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,
that you only remind me of what l had
thought of already. My milliner is at work
for Miss Westertield. The new dress must
be your gift"
Are You joking?'
Il am in earnest. Tomorrow is Sydney.
birthday; and here is my present." She
opened a jewelers. case and took out Il plain
gold bracelet. Suggested by Kitty" She
added, pointing to an inlaid miniature por.
trait of the child. Herbert read the inscrip
ton; To Sydney Wcste,feld, auiht Catherine
Ltnley's lore. He gave the bracelet back to
his wife in silence; his manner was more Sc
rious than usnal-he kissed her hand.
The day of the dinner party marked ar
epoch In Sydney's life.
For the first time in all her experience she
could look in the glass and see herself pretti
ly dressed, with u gold bracelet on her arm
Ii we consider how men Tin one way ant
milliners Tin a%notler) profit by it, vanity i:
surely to be reckoned, not among the vices
but among the virtues of the sex. Will an,
woman who speaks the truth hesitate 10 nc
knowledge that her IirSt sensation of graft
fed vanity rank among the most exquisite ant
most enduring pleasures that she has eve
felt? Sydney locked her door and exhibited
herself to hcrseH-in the front view, the sidt
view, and the back view (ovcr the shoulder
with eyes that spalkied and cheeks tina
glowed in a delicious confusion of pride and
establishment. She practiced bowling tC
strangers in her new dress; she practiceC
shaking hands gracefully with her bracele
well in view. Suddenly she stood still be
fore the glass and became serious and thought
full. Kind and dear Mr.. Linley was in he
mind now. Willie she was asking hersel
anXionsly what he would think of her, Kit,
Arranged in her new iinery, as vain and a
happy as her govcrIeSs-dmmmed with botl
!. tists outside the door and announced at til,
top of her voice that it was time to 90 down
stairs. Sydneyss agitation at the prospect o
meeting the ladies' in the drawing-room add
ed a charm OF its own to tile flush that he
exercises before the glass had left on he
face. Shyly following instead OF LEADING
litl llllic companion lllp tIt IOOlll, Sllt pre-
sented such a charming appearance Of you'll
and beauty thai the ladies stopped in thei
talk to look at her. Some few admired
Kitty's governess with generous interest; tn
greater number doubted Mrs. Linley's pru
dence in engaging a girl so very pretty an,
SO very young. Little by little Sydney
manner-simple, modest, shrinking from OF
seryation-pleated in her favor even wit
{ba In1iac who boJ hnnp ,,nsnJ;.ol ,,n,-o
her at the outset. When Mrs. Linley pre-
sented her to her guests the most beautiful
woman among them (Nlrs. MacEdwin) mad
room for her on the sofa, and with perfcc
tact and kindness set the stranger at her ease
When the gentlemen came in from the dir
ner table Sydney was composed enough t
admire the brilliant scene and to wonde
again, as SHE had wondered already, villa
Mr.. Linley would say to her new dress.
Mr.. Linley certainly did notice ller-at
distance.
He looked at her with a momentary fervo
of interestanu admiration, which made sgd
ney $50 gratefully and so guiltlessiy %attaciie
TO him) trenble with pleasure; he sven stel
ped forward as ii to approach her, checke
himself, and went back again among Iii
guests. Now in one part of the room. an
now i'll another, she saw him speaking t
them. The one neglected person whom Ii
never even looked at again was the poor gil
to whom his approval was the breath of lie
life. Had she ever felt as unhappy as sh
felt now? No, not even at her Aunt's school
Friendly Mrs. MacEdwin touched her arm
"My dear, you are losing your pretty colol
Are you overcome by the heat? Shall l tax
you into the next room?'
C,i-.., y,,.,. I,.,,. ,::.,,. ,a,a e A..
lady's kindness. Her commonplace excus
was a true eXcuse-she had a headache, an
she asked leave to retire to her room.
Approaching the door, she found hersel
face to face with Mr.. Linley. lie had ius
been giving directions to one of the servants
and was rc-entering the drawingloom. Sh,
stopped, trembling and cold; but, in the yer,
intensity OF her wretchcdness, she foun,
courage enough to speak to him.
"You seem to avoid me, Mr.. Linley," sh,
began, speaking with an air of formal re
spect and keeping her eyes on the ground
81 hope she hesitated and despcratel
looked at him-"I hope l haven't done any
thing to offend you?.'
In her knowledge of him up to that misera
BILE evening he constantly spoke to her with
smile. She had never yet seen him so seriou
and so lnattentivc as he was now. His eyes
wandering round the room, rested on Mr.,
Linley- brilliant and beautiful, and laugh
ing gayly. Why was he looking at his wifi
with plain signs of embarrassment in hi
face? Sydney piteonsly persisted in repeaI
ing her innocent question: "Illope ! haven
done anything to offend y0u|
He seemed to be still reluctant TO motto
heron the one occasion of all others whe
she was looking her best! But he answere
at last.
MY dear child, til impossible that 70
should offend me; you have misunderstood
and mistaken HE. Don't suppose-pra
don't suppose that / am changed or can eve
be changed toward you.'' He emphasize
the kind intention which those words revea
ed by giving her his hand.
Blu the next molient.he drew back. Thel
Eas no Disgusting it, he drew back as ii h
wished to get away from her. She notce
that his lips were firmly closed aud his eye
brows knitted III a trown, he looked like
man who was forcing himself 10 submit I
some hard necessity that he hated or feared
Sydney left the room in despair.
He had denied in the plainest and kinde.
terms that he was changed toward her. Wa
that not enough? Twas nothing like enough
The facts We're there to speak for themselves
he was an altered man; anxiety, sorrow, +,
morse-one or the other seemed to have x