The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-06-19
The Evil Genius.
STORY.
BY w1LKIE

AT the parting wifi Kitty, the meae,:re of
her endurance was ful., No. ven Tie fnrc-
well at Mount NIGlwen Had lied her by an
ordeal SO cruel as this. No kind woman was
willing to receive her employ her now.
The one creature left who loved her wGa the
faithful little friend whom she must never
see again. II am still innocent to that child"
she t~iought-'and l an parted from her for
cyerv'
She rose to leave the garden.
A farewell look at the last place in which
she had seen Kitty tempted her to indulge in
a moment of delay. Her eyes rested on the
turn in the path at which she had lost sight
of the active little figure fastening away to
plead her cause. Even in absence, the child
was Sydney's good angel still. AS she turn
ed away to follow the path that had been
shown to her, the relief of tears came at last.
1t cooled her burning head; it comforted her
aching heart. She tried to walk OH. The tears
blinded her-sle straysd from the patll-she
would have fallen but for a hand that caught
her and held her up. A mans voice, firm
and deep and kind, Quieted her first wild
feeling of terror. MY child, you are not fit
to be by yourself. Let me take care of you
let me comfort you, ii l can"
He carried her back to the seat that she
had left, and waited by her iii merciful 81
lence.
"You are very young to feel such bitter
sorrow" he said, when she was composed
again. II don't ask what your sorrow is; l
only want to know how l can help YOU"
Nobody can help me-"
'Can l take You back to your friends?:"
81 have no friends"
Pardon NE, you have one friend at least
you have me-"
"You? A s%tranger"
mo human creature who needs my sym
pathy is a stranger"
She turned toward him for the first time.
In her new position she was clearly visible
in the light. He looked ut her attentively.
II have seen you somewhere" he said, 'be-
fore now"
She had not noticed him when they had
passed each other at Sandyseal. II think
you must be mistaken" she answered. May
l thank you for your kindness? and may l
hope to DO excused if | say goodnight"
He detained her. "Are you sure that you
are well enough to go away by yourselfY" he
asked, anXiously.
81 am quite sure!"
He still detained her. His memory of that
first meeting ut the seaside hotel reminded
him that he had seen her in the company of
a man. AT their second meeting she was
alone and in tears. Sad experience led him
to form his own conclusions. ST you won't
let me take care of YOU" he said, will you
consider il l can be of any Use to You, and
will you call at that address," He gave her
his card. She took it without looking at it;
che was confused; she hardly knew what to
say. DO you doubt mel" he ~asked-sadly,
not angrily.
"Oh, how can 1 do that! l doubt myself
l am not worthy of the interest you feel il
me-"
That is a sad thing to say" he answered
"Let me try to give you confidence in your
self. Do you go to London when you leave
this placer"
Eyes"
Tomorrow" he resumed, Il am going tt
see another poor girl who is alone in Tho
world like you. Ii l tell you where she live.
Will you ask her IL / AM a person to bt
trustedl"
He had taken a letter from his poke
while he was speaking, and he now tore of
a part of the second leaf and gave it to her
II have only lately" he said, received tn,
address from a friend"
As he offered that explanation, the shril
boAhu "a ~ AZ . NplSC, luloCN III uilSSh hiAu
entreaty, reached their ears from the neigh
borhood of the hotel. Faithful little Kitty
had made her escape, determined to return
to S~ydney-had been overtaken by the maic
and had been carried back in Susan's arms
to the house. Sydney Imagined that she was
not perhaps sloffsin recognizing the voice
The stranger who had beer 80 kind to hel
did certainly start and look round.
The stiffness of the night was disturbed n6
more. The man turned again to the person
who had so strongly interested him. The
person was gone.
In fear of being followed Sydney hurried
to the railway station. By the light in the
carriage she looked for the first time at the
fragment of the letter and the card.
The stranger had presented her with he
own address! And when she looked at the
card the name was B%ennydeck!