Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-13
The Evil Genius.
A STORY,
BY wILKiE COLLINS.


~ ~ oGChtb ~ lt" iObitblpJiB 1u't 0Olhof
and yet he had said enough. She saw the
truth In his eyes, heard the truth in his voice.
A nt OF trembling seized her. Linley step
ped forward, in the fear that she might fall.
She instantly controlled herself, and signed
to him ~ keep back. Don't touch me y
she said. ~ oil come from Miss WeSter'
.!e!a.'
That reproach reused him.
II own that ! come from Miss Wester-
field" he answered. She addresses q re.
quest 10 you through me"
II refuse 10 grant'it."
''Hear IL first
mop
Hear it.-in your own interest. VIII you
permit her to leave the house, never 10 re-
turn again? While she Is still innocent
His wife eyed him with a look of unutter.
able contempt. He submitted to ii, but not
I'm silence.
"A man doesn't lie, Catherine, who makes
such a confession as | am making now. Miss
WesterfieId offers the one atonement In her
power while she IS still innocent OI ha} ing
wronged ~you--eXcept In thought"
"Is that ally' Mrs. Liniev d. sed.
1T rests with you" he replied, 30 say IL
there Is am other sacrifice Of herself which
may be more acceptable to you"
Let me understand first what the sacrifice
means. Does SHE make any c%onditions?'
''Slie has positively forbidden me to make
conditions"
And goes out into the world helpless and
friendlessp'
Yes"
Even under the terrible trial that wrung
her, the nobility OF the woman's nature spoke
I'm her next words.
Give me time to think Of what son have
said, she replied. II have led a happy life
! am not used to suffer as / am suffering
now In the minute that followed her
changing color revealed a struggle with her
self.
Miss Westeriieid IS innocent OF having
wronged me, except in thought Mrs. Lin
ley resumed. She might have deceived me
she has not deceived me. | own it to her
10 remember that. She shall go, but not
helpless and not friendless."
Her husband forgot the restraints he had
imposed on himself.
SIS there another woman in the world like
you! y he exclaimed.
MANY other women" she answered firm
~. y NulEdi NilldEdllti lttlIllS a stilst VI
injury. finds relief IN an outburst OF jealousy
and "A furious quarrel. A woman in my posi-
ton, who respects herself, restraints herself.
l try to remember what | owe to others rs
we'll as what they owe to me-"
She approached the writing table and took
up a pen.
Feeling his position ~aeu,ely. Linley had
abStained from again declaring admiration
OF her generosity. Until he had deserved 10
be forgiven, he had forfeited the right To ex-
press an opinion on her conduct. She misin-
terpTeted his silence. As she understood il,
he appreciated al act OF self-saeritice on Miss
Westerfield's side-but he had no word o.:
encouragement for an act Of self-sacriiice on
his wife's side. She threw down the pen,
with the first outbreak Of anger that had es-
capped her YET.
You have spoken for the goyerness." she
said 10 him. II haven't heard yet. sir, what
you have to say for yourself. Is il YOU who
tempted her? You know how gratefully she
feels toward you-have you perverted her
gratitude and led her Dlindfold to love?
Cruel, cruel, cruel. Defend yourself. il you
can"
He made no reply.
rs it not worth your while 10 defend your
SELF" she burst out, passionaiely. Your 81
lence is an insult!'
MY silence Is "a confession" he answered,
sadly. Il have as much need of your mercy
as she has-and more
Something In the tone of his voice remind
ed her OF past days-the days OF perfect love
and perfect confidence, when she had been
the one woman in the world to him. Dearly
treasured remembfances OF her married life
filled her heart with tenderness, and dimmed
with tears the angry light that had risen in
her eyes. There was no pride, nc anger, In
his wife when she spoke to him now.
oh. my husband, has she taken your love
from me?.'
Judge for yourself, Catherine. II there Is
ne proof OF my love for You in what have
fesisted-and no remembrance of oil that |
owe 10 you In what ! have confessed"
She yentured a little nearer To him. Can
l believe your
Put me 10 the test"
She instantly took him at his word. 'When
Miss Westerfield has left us, promise not ~
see her again"
II promise
And not even to write To her"
IL promise"
She went back to the writing-table. "My
heart Is easiei,' she said, simply. Il can be
mercifil to her now"
After writing q few lines she rose and
handed the paper to him. He looked up
from il In surprise. Addressed to Mrs. Mac
Edwin?" heEaid.
person l know who feels q true interest i'm
her. Have you not heard OF ity'
II remember" lie said.-and read the lines
that followed:
n recommend Miss Westerfield as a teach
er OF young children, having had ample
proof OF her capacity, industry, and good
temper while she has been governess 10 my
child. She leaves her situation in my service
under circumstances that testify to her sense
of duty and her sense OF gratitude
Have | said" she asked, ''morc than l
could honogHbly and truly say--cven after
what has happenedy'
He could only look ut her; no words could
have spoken for him as his silence spoke for
him at that moment. When she took back
sne wfisses i,.f,os aso.o VS. t-....o. T.. ..o.
eyes already.
The last, worst trial remained to be under
gone; she faced 10 resolutely. Tell Miss
Westerheld hat I wish to see her.
On the point OF leaving the room. Herbert
was called back. If you happen to meet
with my mother" his wife added, Evil! you
ask her to come to me?s''
Mira Presty knew her daughters nature;
Mrs. Presty had been waiting near at hand.
In expectation a the message which she no.
received.
Tenderly and respectfully Mrs. Linley adj
dressed herself to her mother. when we
last met l thought YOU spoke rashly and
cruelty. know now that there was truth
some truth, let me say-in what offended me
at the time. If you felt strongly II was for
my sake. i wish to beg your pardon; l was
IN an OCCASION When she had first i~rritated
I'M then surprised him, Randall Linley had
said to Mrs. Presty: "You nave got a heart,
after allv Her reply to her daughter show
ed that view Of her character to be the right
one. Say no more, my dear" she answer
ed. II was hasty; I was wrong"
The words had barely fallen from her lips
before Herbert returned. lie was followed
by Sydney Westerfield.
The g0yerness stopped In the middle OF the
room. Her heed sank on her breast; her
quiet, col vuisive breathing was audible In
the silence. Mrs. Linley advanced to the
place in which Sydney stood. There was
something divine In her beauty as she look
ed compasslonately q the shrinking girl and
held put her hand.
Sydney fell on her knees. In silence she
lifted that generous hand to her lips. In ST.
lencc Mira. Linlcy raised her, took the writ
Ing which testified to her character from the
s.AlA AAA ~rx>.~sx. "A lAs, I..Ix<I a. HE