Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-03-06
Another had night. CatberineY'

Another bad night, Cafheriney'
The personal attractions that distinguished
| Mrs. Linley were not derived from the short
lived beauty which depends IN youth and
health. Pale as she was, her face preserved
It's fine outline her features had not lest their
grace and symmetry of form. Presenting
the appearance OF a woman who had suffer-
ed acutely. she would have been more than
ever lin the eyes of some mem a woman To
be admired and loved.
II seldom sleep well now" she answered,
patiently.
you don't give yourself a chance" Mrs.
Presty demonstrated. Here's q fine morn
ing-come ont for q sail on the lake. To
morrow there's a concert IN the town-iet's
take tickets. There's want of what 1 call
elastic power In your mind, Caiherine-the
very quality for which your father was so re-
insrkable; the very quality which Mr.. Presty
used to say made him envy Mr.. Ormond.
Look at your dress! Where's the common
sense, at your age, OF wearing nothing but
black? Nobody's dead who belongs to US,
and yet you 60 your best to look as II you
were IN mourning
II have no heart, mamma, to wear coiors."
Mrs. Presty considered this reply to be I'M
worthy OF notice. She went on with her
knitting, and only laid ii down when the
servant brought In the letters which had ar
rived by the mornings post. They were but
two in number, and both were for Mrs. Lin
ley. In the absence OF any correspondence
OF her OWN, Mrs. Presty took possession OF
her daughters letters.
"One addressed in the lawyers handwrit-
ing" she announced; and one from Randall.
Which shall j open for you tirst?"
''kandals letter, II you please"
Mrs. Presty handed it across the table.
ANY news IL a relief from the dullnes5 OF
this place." she said. If there are no secrets,
Catherine, read 1t out"
There were no secrets on the hrst page.
Randall announced his arrival in London,
from the continent, and his intention Of stay.
ing there for a while. He had met with q
I friend formerly an officer holding high rank
in the navy whom he was glad to see again
"a rich man, who used his wealth admirably
in the interests Of the poor and helpless fel.
low creatures. A "honie," established on a
new plan, was just now engaging all his at
tention he was d~eyoting himself so unremit
tingly to the founding of this institution that
his doctor predicted injury to his health al
no distant date. If it was possible 10 per.
suade him to take a holiday Randall Nigh,
CIVIL " tll' NOlitlftEllh 10 tliC AidNtllIk CAla
panlCn of his friend.
This must be the man whom he first met
at the club" Mrs. Presty remarked. ''Well,
Catherine, | suppose there is SOME more Of
IL. What's the matter? Bad news?'
Something that / wish Randall had not
written. Read ii yourself-and don't talk OF
il afterward."
Mrs. Presty read:
81 EpnNu nothing xyhatayar ~ AZ unfarfIf-
nate brother. If YOU think this IA too-indul.
gent way of abiding 10 man who has 50
shamefully wronged you, let my conviction
that he is already beginning 10 suffer the
penalty of his crime plead my excuse. Her
bert's nature is, in some respects, better
known to me than it is TO you. l am per
suaded that your hold on his respect and his
devotion Ia shaken-nOt lost. He has been
misled by one of those passing ~fancies, dis.
astrous and even criminal in their results, To
which men are liable when they are led by
no better influence than the influence of their
senses. 1t is not, and never will be, III the
nature of wOmen To understand this. | fear
may offend you in what / am now writing,
but | must speak what | believe 10 be the
truth at any sacrifice. Bitter repentance-if
he is not already feeling it's in store for
Herbert when he finds himself tied TO a per
son who cannot bear comparison with you. i
say this, plying the poor girl most sincerely,
when | think of her youth and her wretched
past life. How it will end | cannot presume
10 say. lcan only acknowledge that | do
not look TO the future with the absolute de-
spair which YOU naturally felt when | last
saw YOU"
Mrs. Presty laid the letter down, privately
resolving TO write TO Randall and tell him to
keep his convictions for the future 10 himself.
A glance at her daughters face warned her,
il she said anything, to choose "a new sub
jet.
The second letter still remained unnoticed.
Shall we see what the lawyer says"' she
suggested-and opened the envelope. TIL
lawyer had nothing TO say. He simply in
closed a letter received at his Office.
Mrs. Presty had long passed the age at
which emotion expresses itself outwardly
by a change OF color. She turned pale. never
~tlieless, when she looked at the second letter.
The address was in Herbert Linley's hand
writing.