Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-07-03
CHAPTER LII.

Mrs. Presty waited In the garden TO be
joined by her daughter and Capt. Benny
deck. and waited in vain. 1t was past her
grandcbild's bed time; she decided on re-
turning to the house.
suppose we look for them in the sitting
room?' Kitty proposed.
suppose we wait a moment before we 20
IMP her wise grandmother advised. If |
hear them talking, | shall take you upstairs
~ bed"
"Why?1
Because we mustn't interrupt them.'
"Whv?i
Mrs. Presty favored Kitty with a hint, re-
lating to the management OF inquisitiye
children, which might prove useful TO her in
after life. when YOU grow mp 10 be q wo-
man, my dear, beware OF making the mis-
take that have just committed. Never be
foolish enough 10 mention your reasons when
a child asks why"
WAS that how they treated you, grand
mamma, when you were a child yourself?'
"Of course it was"
"Whyg'
They had reached the sitting-room door
by this time. Kitty opened II without cere-
mOuy and looked IN. The room was empty.
Having contded her granddaughter 10 the
nursemnid's care, Mrs. Presty knocked at
GATHERINGS bedroom door. MAY | come
IMP
Come in directly! Where is Kitty?'
"Susan is putting her 20 bed"
'Stop i'll Kitty mustn't go to bed. No
questions! III explain myself whea you
COM back" There was a wi!dness in her
eyes. and a tone OF angry command in her
J ,r.f.a ,trl.foI, trarpa1 H.r .n.tbar 20 81, Ifx-
nity aside and submit.
IL don't ask what has happened" Mrs.
PresIy resumed on her return. '"rhat let
ter, that fatal letter 10 the captain, has JUS
tilted my worst fears. What in heavens
name are we 10 do now
I'VE are 10 leave this hotel" was the in
slant reply.
"When?'
Tonight"
Catherine! DO you know what time II
tsp"
Time enough to pack up and catch the
last train 10 London. Don't raise objections!
Ii | stay ut THIS place, with associations in
every part Of ii which remind me of that
unhappy man, / shall 20 mad! The shock l
have suffered tile misery, the humiliation
1 tall YOU It's more than l can bear. Stay
here by yourself ii you like; / meal 10 90"
Size paced with frantic rapidity up aud
down the room. Mrs. Presty took the only
way by which il was possible TO calm her.
Compose yourself. Catherine, and all that
you wish shall be done. iii settle every
thing with the landlord and give the maid
her %orlers; sit down by the open window
let the wind blow over you"
The railway service from %Sydenham to
London Is a late service. At a few minutes
before midnight they were in time for the
last train. When they left the station Cath
crime was calm enough To- communicate her
plans for the fueare. The nearest hotel to
the terminus would offer them accommoda-
ton for that night On the next day they
could find some quiet place in the country
no matter where, SO long as they were not
disturbed. Give me rest and peace, and
my mimi will be e~asier,'' Catherine said.
''Let nobody know where to find me-"
These conditions were strictly Observed
with an exception la favor OF Mr.. SarraZin.
While his clients pecuniary affairs were
still unsettled the lawyer had his claim to be
taken into her confidence.
The next moi1iag found Capt B~ennydcck
still keeping his rooms at Sydenham. The
state of his mind presented a complete con-
trast to the state OF GATHERINGS mind. 80
far from sharing her aversion to the PEI
sonal associations which were connected
with the hotel, he found his one consolation
in visiting the scenes which reminded him
of the beloved woman whom lac had lost.
The reason for this WAS not far to seek. His
| was the largest nature and his had been the
most devoted love.
As usual his letters were forwarded &c him
from his place Of residence in London.
Those addressed in handwiitings that he
knew were the first that he read. The Others
he took out with him to that seques;ered
part of the garden In which he had passed
the happiest hours Of his life by GATHERINGS
side.
He had been thinking Of her all the morn
Ing; he was thinking OF her now.
His unopened correspondence offered a
harmless occupation to his thoughts III the
meanwhile. One after another he read the
letters with an attention constantly wander
| ing amt CONSTANTLY isea,iod, an,i, 40 spgIcd
the last OF them that remained. In a mo-
ment more his interest was absorbed. The
first sentences In the letter told him that the
deserted creature whom he had met in the
Z Euihtu--t ouuueth W Nitpbl Nv -
help and consolation in the present and In
the future-Sas no other than the lost girl oil
whom he had been 80 long In search; the
daughter OF Roderick Wes.erield. once his
dearest and oldest friend.
In the pages that followed TIE writer con
fded to him her sad story, leaving it to heI
fathers friend to decide whether she wa
worthy of the sympathy which he had of
fered TO her when he thought she was q
stranger.
This part OF her letter was necessarily a
repetition of what Bennydeck had read IL
the confession which Catherine had address
ed 10 him. That generous woman had beer
guilty of one, and but one, concealment OF
the truth. In relating ths circumstance
under which the elopement from Mount
Moryen had taken place. she had a~bstained,
in justice to the sincerity Of Sydney's re.
p~entante. from mentioning Sydney's name.
Another Instance the captain thought
bitterly a. he closed the letter, ''of the viz.
tues which might have made the happiness
OF my iiser'
But he was bound 10 rcmembcr and he
did reHembsr-tiiat there was now a new
interest t-ndsrly associating itself with his
life 70 come. The one best way of telling
sydney huw dear she was 10 him already,
for her fathers sake. would be to answer
her in person. lie hurried away to London
By the first train, and drove at once to Ran.
dal's place OF abode to ask for Syiney's ad'
dress.
Wondering what had become Of the post
script 10 his letter, which had given Benny
deck the Information OF which he was now
In search, Randall complied With his friends
request, and then ventured to aIlude TO the
report OF the captains marriage engagement.
Am I 20 congratulate your he asked.
Congratulate me on having discovered
Roderick Wcsterleld's daughter"
That reply. and tho tone In which It wa
given. led Randall 10 ask II the engagement
kadeo eca prenaturcIy announced
There Is no engagement at all" Benny
deck answered. with . look which suggested
thar 4 might be wise not 70 dwell on tha
Il ~,.kfr~f IM.Nt#t