Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-02-13
The Evil Genius.
A STORY.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.

49," ~ Sf'I NNhh 49, @thA aE ~
He had spoken a few commonplace words,
and yet he had said enough. She saw the
truth In his eyes, heard the truth in his voice.
A nit of trembling seized her. Linley step
ped forward, in the fear that she might fall.
She instantly controlled herself, and signed
to him to keep back. Don't touch me!
she said. y on come from Miss Wester.
tield!'
That reproach reused him.
II own that | come from Miss Wester-
field" he answered. She addresses a re.
quest to you through me-"
IL refuse to grant'it."
'Hear it first.
Nor
Hear it.-in your own interest. win you
permit her TO leave the house, never TO re-
turn again? While she is still innocent
His wife eyed him with a look of unutter-
able contempt. He submitted to it, but not
in silence.
"A man doesn't lie, Catherine, who makes
such a confession as l am making now. Miss
Westerfield offers the one atonement in her
power while she is still innocent of having
wrOnged you--except in thought"
us that all?' Mrs. Linley asked.
1T rests with YOU, he replied, 40 say If
there is any other sacrifice of herself which
may be more acceptable to YOU"
Let me understand first what the sacrifice
means. Does she make any conditions
"She has positively forbidden me to make
conditions"
And goes out into the world helpless and
friendlessY'
Yes"
Even under the terrible trial that wrung
her, the nobility OF the w0man's nature spoke
in her next words.
Give me time to think OF what yon have
said,' she replied. II have led a happy life:
| am not used to suffer as | am suffering
now In the minute that followed her
changing color revealed a struggle with her
self.
Miss Westerlield is innocent of having
wronged me, except in thought Mrs. Lin
ley resumed She might have deceived me
she has not deceived me. ] own it To her
to remember that. She shall go, but not
helpless and not friendless."
Her husband forgot the restraints he had
imposed ON himself.
as there another woman in the world like
you! he exclaimed.
MANY other women" she answered firm
ly. "A vulgar termagant, feeling a sense OF
injury. finds relief IN an outburst of jealousy
and Il furious quarrel. A woman in my posi-
ton, who respects herself, restlains herself.
| try to remember what | owe 10 others as
well as what they TO me-
She approached the writing table and took
up Il pen.
Feeling his position acutely, Linley had
abStained from again declaring admiration
of her generosity. Until he had deserved to
be forgiven, he had forfeited the right to eX-
press an opinion on her conduct. She misin.
terpreted his silence. As she understood il,
he appreciated an act OF selt-sacriiice on Miss
Westeriield's side-but he had no word o.:
encouragement for an act Of self-sacrilice on
his wife's side. She threw down the pen,
will the first outbreak OF anger that had eS-
capped her vet.
You have spoken for the goyerness," she
said 10 him. II haven't heard yet. sir, what
you have TO say for yourself. Is it YOU who
tempted her? You know how gratefully she
feels toward you-have you perverted her
gratitude and led her Dlindfold to love?
Cruel, cruel, cruel! Defend yourself, if you
cam
He made no reply.
rs it not worth your while to defend y0ur-
self" she burst out, paSslonately. Your ST.
lence is an %insult!'
MY silence is Il confession lie answered,
sadly. Il have as much need Of your mercy
as she has-and more
Something in the tone of his voice remind
ed her of past days-the days of perfect love
and perfect confidence, when she had been
the one woman IN the world TO him. Dearly
treasured remembranceS of her married life
filled her heart with tenderness, and dimmed
with tears the angry light that had risen in
her eyes. There was no pride, no anger, in
his wife when she spoke to him now.
oh! my husband, has she taken your love
from meg'
Judge for yourself, Catherine, ii there is
ne proof OF my love for you in what | have
resisted-and no remembrance OF all that
W to you in what | have confessed"
She ventured a little nearer To linn. Can
l believe your
Put me to the test
She instantly took him ut his word. "When
Miss Westertield has left us, promise not Il
see her again"
81 promise
"And not even to write to her"
81 promise"
She went back to the writing-table. my
heart is easier, > she said, simply. II can be
merciful to her now"
After writing q few lines she rose and
handed the paper to him. He looked up
from it in surprise. Addressed to Mrs. Mac
EdwinW he. said.
Addressed" she answered, ito the only
person l know who feels a true interest il
her. Have you not heard of itY'
IT ran,aD,kar ;; la enil-apH ,aoH tba Inns
that followed:
II recommend Miss Westerfield as a teach
er OF young children, having had ample
proof Of her capacity, industry, and gooC
temper while she has been %governess to my
child. She leaves her situation in my service
under circumstances that testify to her sens,
Of duty and her sense of gratitude
Have | said" she asked, more than
could hOn0rably and truly say-cven afte
what has happenedg'
He could only look at her; no words cOult
have spoken for him as his silence spoke fo
him at that moment. When she took back
the written paper there was pardon in hel
eyes already.
The last, worst trial remained TO be under
gone; she faced 1t resolutely. "Tcll Mis-:
Westerfeld that | wish to see her."
On the point of leaving the room, Herber
was called back. If you happen to NEE
with my mother" his wife added, Twill yol
ask her to come to meg'
Mrs. Presty knew her daughters nature
Mrs. Presty had been waiting near at hand
I'm expectation o< the message which she no"
received.
Tenderly and respectfully Mrs. Linley al
dressed herself to her mother. when W,
last met l thought YOU spoke rashly ant
cruelty. 1 know now that there was truth
some truth, let me say-in what offended m,
at the time. If you felt strongly it was 70
my sake. l wish to beg your pardon; | wa
hasty; | was wrong"
Un an occasion When she had first ~irritate'
and then surprised him, Randall Linley ha,
said to Mrs. Presty: "You nave got q heart
after allv Her reply to her daughter show
ed that view Of her character to be the RICH
one. Say no more, my dear" she answer
ed. Il was hasty; | was wrong"
The words had barely fallen from her lip
before Herbert returned. lie was followe'
by Sydney Westeriield.
The governess stopped in the middle of tn
room. Her head sank OH her breast; he
quiet, con yulsive breathing was audible i
the silence. Mrs. Linley advanced to til
place in which Sydney stood. There wa
something divine in her beauty as she lOol
ed compassiOnately at the shrinking girl an
held out her hand.