Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-24
1le Evil Genius.
DOMESTIC STORY.
By wILKIE COLLINS.
CHAPTER xxxty.

the time that had been liked for leaving
Sandyseal with her mind at ease on the sub.
Ject OF her luggage. "My boxes are locked,
strapped, and labeled; | hate being hurried.
WHAT'S that your reading~?' size asked, dis
covering a book on her daughters lap and a
hasty action on her daughters part which
looked like trying TO hide il.
Mrs. Ormond made the most common and,
where the object is 10 battle curiosity, the
most useless OF preyaricating replies. When
her mother asked her what she was reading
che answered Nothing"
"Nothing!' Mrs. Presty repeated with an
iroilical assumption Of interest. 'fhe book
OF all others, Catherine, that | most want 10
see" She snatched up the book, opened il
at the first page, and discovered an iDscrip-
ton In faded ink which reused her indigna.
ton: 10 dear Catherine, from Herbert, on
the anniversary OF our marriage" What
unintended mockery In those words, read by
the later light of the divorce! well, this IA
mean," said Mrs. Presty. Keeping that
wretch's present after the public exposure
which he has forced on you. Oh, Cath
erlne!'
Catherine was not quite so patient with
her mother as usual. Keeping my best re-
membrance OF the happy time of my life,'
she answered.
Misplaced sentiment" Mrs. Presty de.
clared. But i must make allowances foi
you; your mind Is giving way, my dear, I'm
der the influence OF this miserable place"
Catherine asserted her own opinion against
her mothers opinion for the second time. Il
have rec0veTuU my health at Sandyseal, . she
said. IL like the place, and l am sorry tC
leave it,"
ANGtaFn mn tIn Eh,r, ,atnIa..a a.. .ew.at-
the life, the racket, and the smoke OF Lon.
don" cried Mrs. Presty. Thank heaven,
these rooms are let over our heads, and OH
VIZ must 90, whether we like il or not"
This expression OF gratitude was followed
by a knock at the door, and by a voice out
side asking leave to come in, which was, be.
You'd all doubt, the voice of Randall Linley.
With GATHERINGS book still in her posses
sion Mrs. Presty opened the table-drawer,
threw it in, and closed the drawer with q
bang. Discovering the two ladies, Randall
stopped In the doorway and stared ut them
in astonlshment.
Didn't you expect to see usg' Mrs. Presty
inquired.
II heard YOU were here from our friend
SarraZin,' Randall said; but | expected 10
see Capt. Bennydeck. Have ] mistaken the
iiib PAiNAN W I'VE lbhtilN.
Catherine attempted TO explain. They
tcere Capt. Benny decks rooms" she began
"but he was so kind. although we are perfect
strangers To him."
Mrs. Presty i%nterposed. my dear Cath.
crime, you have not had.my advantages; sou
have not been taught 10 make a complicated
statements in few words. Permit me to seize
the points lin the late Mr.. Presty's style).
and Ia Duf tlam I'm tha strnu0aet liybt fTbfC
place, Randall, is always full; and we didn',
write long enough beforehand 10 secure
rooms. Capt. B~ennydeck happened TO be
downstairs when he heard that we were
obliged to go away and that one OF us was
a lady in delicate health. This sweetest OF
men sent us word that we were welcome to
take his rooms, and that he would sleep on
board his Yacht. Conduct worthy of SlI
Charles Grandson himself. When 1 weni
downstairs to thank him he was gone-and
here we have been for nearly three weeks;
sometimes seeing the captains yacht, but, Ia
our great surprise, never seeing the captain
himself"
There's nothing 10 be surprised at, Mrs.
Presty. Capt. Bennydeck likes doing kind
things, and hates being thanked for il. leX-
pected him 10 meet me here to-day"
Catherine went 10 the window. lie Is
coming TO meet you,' She said. There is
his yacht in the bay"
And in a dead calm" Randall added, join
ing her. THE vessel will not get here be-
fore | am obliged to 90 away again"
Catherine looked at him tiIuidly. ID |
drive you awayY' she asked, in tones that
faltered a little.
Randall wondered what she could possibly
be thinking of, and acknowledged IT in 50
many words.
''She is thinking of the divorce" Mrs.
Presty explained. -"YOu have heard of il, OF
course, and perhaps YOU take your brothers
part?'
II do nothing of the sort, ma'ain. My
brother has been In the wrong from the first
to last" He turned to Catherine. Il will
stay with you as long as l can with the great
est pleasure" he said, earnestly and kindly.
The truth is, l AIN on my way TO visit some
friends; and If Capt. B~ennydeck had got
here In time to see me | must have gone
away 10 the junction 10 catch the next train
westward. just as am going now. | had
only two words To say to my friend, about a
person in whom he Is nterested-and / can
say them in this way" He wrote in pencil
on one of his visiting cards, and laid IL on
the table. II shall be back in London in a
week" he resumed, land you will tell me al
what address | can lind you. In the mean
while l miss Kitty. Where is she?'
Kitty was sent for. She entered the room
looking unusually quiet and subdued, but,
discovering Randall, became herself again in
a moment and jumped on his knee.
'Oh, Uncle Randall, Pm so glad to see
your She checked herself, and looked at
her mother. "May 1 call him Uncle Ran
dal?' she asked. ''Or has he changed his
name, too?'
Mrs. Presty shook warning fore finger al
her granddaughter, and reminded Kitty that
she had been told moi TO talk about names
Randall saw the child's look of bewildemeni
and felt for her. 'She may talk as she
pleases to me" he said. but not 10 strangers.
She understands that. l am sure"
Kitty laid her cheek fondiy against her I'M
cle's cheek. Everything is changed" she
whispered. ave travel about; papa has
left us, and sgd has left us, and we have got
a new name. We are Ormond now. l wish
/ was grown up, and understood it,"
Randall tried to reconcile her to her owl
happy ignorance. You have got Your deal
good mother" he said, ''and you have got
me, and you have got your toys"
And some nice boys n girls 10 play
WITH cried Kitty, eagerly following the
new suggestion. ''They are all coming here
directly to dine with me-. You will stay ant
have dinner too, won't your
Randall promised to dine with Kitty when
they met in London. Before he left the
room he pointed to his card on the table
"Let the captain see my message" he said,
as he went out.
The moment the door had closed on him
Mrs. Presty startled her daughter by taking
up the card and looking at what Randall had
written on II. 1T isn't a letter, Catherine
and you know how superior | avn to common
p~rejudices." With that defense OF her pro
ceeding she coolly read the message. II an
sorry to say that l can tell you nothing more
of Jour old friends daughter as yet. l car
only repeat that she neither needs nor de
serves the help that you kindly offer to her.
Mrs. Presty laid the card down again, and
owned that she wished Randall had been q
little more explicit. ''Who can Ii be?' she
wondered. Another young hnssy gone
wrong?"
Kitty turned to her mother with a look OF
alarm. Whats q hussyg' she asked. doe:
grandmamma mean meT' The great hote
clock in the hall struck 2, and the child's
anxieties took a new direction. Isn't I