The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-05-08
LII b.
"A STORY
BY WILKiE COLLINS.

behnydeck was thinking over the message
which he had just read. Catherine aud her
mother were looking ut him with TIE same
interest, inspired by very different motives.
The interview SO pleasantly begun was in
some danger of lapsing into %fornality and
embarrassment when a new parsonage APP
peared on the scene.
Kitty had returned in triumph from her
ride. "Oh, mamma, the donkey did more
than %gallop-he kicked, and | never fell off,
She had got as far as that when the progress
OF her narrative was suspended by the dis
covery of a strange gentleman in the room.
The smile that frightened the captains
face when Kitty opened the door answered
for him as the man who loved children.
"Your little girl, Mrs. OrmoDdY' he said.
Yes"
"a common question and a common reply.
Nothing worth noticing in either the one or
the other at the tiine-and yet they proved
to be important enough to turn GATHERINGS
life into a new cOurSe.)
In the meanwhile Kitty had been whisper
ing to her neither. She wanted to know the
strange gentleman's name. The captain
heard her. My name is B%ennydeck," he
said; will you come to me?"
Kitty had heard the name mentioned in
connection with a yacht. Like all children,
she knew a friend the moment she looked at
him. i've seen your pretty boat, sir" she
said, crossing the room to Capt. Bcnnydcck.
'ls it very nice when you 20 sailing?'
"lf you We're not going back to London,
my dear, should ask. your mamma to let me
take you sailing with me. Perhaps we shall
have another opportunity"
The captains answer delighted kitty.
"Oh, yes, tomorrow or next day! !" she sug-
gested. "Do you know where to find me in
London? Mamma, where do live, when |
am in London" Before her mother could
answer, she hit on a new idea. Don't tell
me; FL find it myself. It's on grandmam-
mas boxes, and they're in the passage"
Capt. ~Bennydeck's eyes followed her, as
she left the room, with an expression of in
terest which more than confirmed the favor
able impression that he had already pro-
duced on Catherine. She was OH the point
of asking If he was married and had children
of his own when Kitty came back, and de-
clared the right address to be Bucks hotel,
Sydenham. Mamma puts things down for
fear of forgetting them, :" She added. Twill
you put down Buck?'
The captain picked up his pocket-book
and appealed pleasantly to Mrs. Ormond.
MAY l follow your %eXample?' he asked.
Catherine not only hundred the little joke,
but, gratefully remembering his kindness,
said: Don't forget when you are in Lon.
don that kitty's invitation is my invitation,
too" AT the same moment punctual Mrs.
Presty looked at her watch and reminded
her daughter that railways were not in the
haDlt OF allowing passengers to keep them
waiting. Catherine rose and gave her hand
TO the captain at parting. Kitty improved
on her mothers form of farewell; she gave
him a kiss and whispered a little reminder
of her own: There's a river in London
don't forget your boat"
Capt. Bcnnydeck opened the door for them
and stood by it, secretly wishing that he
could accompany Mrs. Ormond and Kitty to
London.
Mrs. Presty made no attempt to remind
him that she was still in the room. Where
her family Interests were concerned the old
Lady was capable (on very slight encourage
ment OF looking a long way into the future.
she was looking into the future now. The
captains social position was all that could
desired; he was evidently in easy pecun-
ry circumstances; he admired Catherine
nd GATHERINGS child. Ii he only proved
to be a single man. Mrs. Presty's prophetic
soul, without waiting an instant to reflect,
perceived a dazzling future. Capt. Benny
deck approached to take leave. mot Just
yet" pleaded the most agreeable of women;
my luggage was ready two hours ago. Sit
down again for a few minutes. You seem
to like my little granddaughter"
"lfl had such a child as that" tho captain
answered, II believe l should be the hap
piest man living"
"Ah, my dear sir, all isn't gold that gilt
farS y Nry proafy rou,n rl,aI tprb,t ,rnyarh
must have been originally intended 10 apply
to children. May l presume to make you the
subject of Il guess? l fancy you are not a
married man."
Tie captain looked a little surprised. you
are quite right" he said; 81 have never been
married.
At a later period Mrs. Prcsty owned that
she felt an inclination to reward him for con-
Tossing himself to be a bachelor by a kiss.
He instantly checked that impulse by put
ting a question. Had you any particular
reason" he asked, "for guessing that l was
a single man?'
Mrs. Presty modestly acknowledged that
she had only her " experience to help her.
you wouldn't be quite so fond of other pco-
pies Children" she said, "if you were a mar
ried man. All, your time Will come yeti
mean your wife will come"
lie answered this sadly. my time has
gone by. have never had the opportunities
that have been granted to some favored
men, He thought of the favored man who
had married Mrs. Ormond. Was her hus-
band worthy of his happiness? SIS Mr.. Or
mond with you at this placer the captain
asked.
Serious issues depended on the manner in
which this question was answered. For one
moment, and for one moment only, Mrs.
PreSty heSitated. Then lin her daughters
interests, of %course) she put Catherine in the
position of Il widow, i'll the least blamablo
of all possible ways, by honestly owning the
truth.
"There is nc Mr.. Ormond," she said.
"Y0ur daughter is a widowW cried the
captain, perfectly unable to control his de-
light at that discovery.
What else should she be?" Mrs. Presty
replied, facetiously.
What else, indeed! II 'no Mr.. Ormond''
meant las it must mean) that Mr.. Ormond
was dead, and IL the beautiful mother Of
Kitty was an honest woman, what else could
she be but a widow! Capt. B%ennydeck felt
a little ashamed of his own impetuOsity. Be
fore he had made up his mind what to say
next the unlucky waiter doomed to be a
CiuSc VI u~tSIuiDhlce vi tudt uayI appcaicu
again.
81 beg your pardon, ma'am," he said; 18th
lady and gentleman who have taken these
rooms have just arrived"
Mrs. Presty got up in a hurry and cordially
shook hands with the captain. Looking
round she took up the railway guide and hcl
knitting left on the table. Was there any.
thing else left about: There was nothing tc
be seen. Mrs. Presty crossed the passage tc
her daughters bedroom to hurry the pack
ins. Capt. Bennydeck went downstairs Or
his way back to the yacht.
In the hall OF the hotel he passed the lady
and gentleman, and, of course, noticed the
lady. She was little and dark and wouIt
have been pretty if she had not looked i'll
and out of spirits. What would he have said
what would he have done, if he had known
that those two strangers were Randall Lin
ley's brother and Rpderick Westertield's
I-.--L AN.n E