Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-09

n ttti itiiAtNa w oEANC Ntt Fptf ~ 49,
to Herbert. 1T does seem hard to recall Miss
Westerield 10 the miserable life that she has
led. and to do il In the way OF all others
which must try her fortitude most cruelty.
At the same time"
"Ob, don't spoil what you have said by
seeing the other side OF the question - cried
mis- brother. "You have put it admirably:
leave II as il is"
AT he same time Randall gently per-
sisted. IL have heard no reasons which sat
isfy me that we have a right to keep Miss
Westerfield in ignorance of what has hap
pened."
This serious view of the question in debate
highly diverted Mrs. PreSty. Il do like that
man." she announced, pointing to Randall;
'he always amuses me. Look at him now!
lie doesn't know which side he is on, him
self"
He is on my side" Herbert declared.
Not hep
Herbert consulted his brother. what do
you say yonrselfy
Il don't know" Randall answered.
There" cried Mrs. Presty, what did i
tell your
Randall tried to set his strange reply in the
right light. IL only mean" he explained,
THAI L WANT Il little LlliIt W lHiIb.
Herbert gave up the dispute and appealed
to his wife. You have still got the Ameri-
can newspaper in your hand" lie said.
"What do you mean To do with it?'
Quietly and firmly Mrs. Linley answered:
al mean to show il to Miss Westertield."
Against my opinion? Against your moth
er's %opinion?" Herbert asked. Have we no
influence over you? Do as Randall does
take time, my dear, to think"
She answered this with her customary
calmness OF manner and sweetness OF tone.
IL am afraid ! must appear obstinate; but it
Is indeed true that | want no time to think;
my duty Is too plain To me-"
Her husband and her mother listened 10
her In establishment. Too aniable and too
hsppy-and II must be added too i~ndolent-
10 assert herself in the ordinary emergencies
OF family life, Mrs. Linley only showed Of
what metal she was made on the very rare
occasions when the latent firmness in her
nature was stirred TO its mnermoss depths.
The general experience of this sweet-tem-
pered and delightful woman, ranging over
long intervals of time, was the only expert
ence which remained in the memories OF the
persons about her. In bygone days they
had been amazed when her unexpected read
HISS anu III iliiltSS vi ut'iotol Ilt1rIOtu all
exception to a general rule-just as they
were amazed now.
Herbert tried a last remonstrance. as it
possible. Catherine, that you don't see the
cruelty Of showing that newspaper TO Miss
Westerieldy'
Even this appeal to Mrs. Linley's sympa.
thies failed TO shake her resolution 'You
may trust me to be careful was all she said
in reply; Il shall prepare her as tenderly for
the sad news from America as IL she was a
daughter of my own"
Hearing this. Mrs. Presty showed a sudden
interest In the proceedings. when do you
mean TO begin?' size asked.
AT once, mamma"
Mrs. Presty broke up the meeting on the
spot. swat till | am out of the way" she
Stipulated. do you object to Herbert CIV
ing me his arn? Distressing scenes are not
in his way or in mine"
Mrs. linley made no objection. Herbert
resigned himself mot at all unwillingly) 20
circumstances. Arm IN arm lie and his wife's
mother left the room.
Randall showed no intention of following
them; he had given himself time TO think.
w are all wrong, Catherine he said;
''and you alone are I.ght What can | do to
help your
She took his hand gratefully. Always
kind! Never thinking OF yourself! l viii
see Miss Westertield in my W room. Wait
here. in case | want YOU
E.fter a much shorter absence thar Randall
anticipated, Mrs. Linley returned. Has it
been very distressing he asked, seeing tie
traces OF tears in her eyes.
There are noble qualities she answered,
sin that poor ill-used girl. Her one thought,
as soon as She began to understand my mo-
tive in speaking TO her, was not for herself,
but for me. Even you, a man, must have
felt the tears in your eyes, il you had heard
her promise that l should sufIer no further
anxiety on her account. You shall see no
distressing change in me- she said, when
we meet tomorrow Ali she asked was to
be left in her room Tor the rest OF the day. l
feel sure of her resolution 10 control herself;
ana yet l should like to encourage her if l
can. Her chief sorrow (as II seems to mel
must be-not for the mother who has so
shalnefully neglected her-but for TIE poor
little brother, a castaway, lost In a strange
land. Can we do nothing 10 relieve her
anXiety?'
Il can write" Randall said, Ito a man
whom l know in New York; a lawyer in
large practice"
The very person we want! Write-pray
write by to-day's post"
The letter was dispatched. 1t was decided
and wisely decided, as the result proved
10 say nothing to Sydney until the answer
was received. Randal's correspondent wrote
back with as little delay as possible. He had
made every inquiry, without success. Not a
trace of the boy had been found, or Tin the
opinion of the police was likely to be found.
The one event that had happened, since the
appearance OF the paragraph in the New
York journal, was the confinement OF James
Bcllhridge in an asylum as a nladman under
restraint without hope OF recovery.