Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-28
CHAPTER XIV.
DEFENSE

During the next few days We were busy
rrttiny quartz down from the Bank
Rroancr called daily to- SEQ Pratt, who con
tinur,l in the same condition Of imbecility AMI
physically seemed neither better nor worse.
Pro,ncr seemed also To have made a favor
abb, IMPRESSION on HilIyear. noticed them
lingering about the door holding th0~r
lengthy eve departing conversations Away
betokening that two people have found some
topic Of common interest and consequent
bond Of sympathy between them. Only, in
this case. knew or rather felt that the bonl
was manufactured by Broener for the Occa-
sion and concluded il was for the purpose Of
winning the dOg-like allegiance Of Hillvc2r
from Pratt and transferring it to himself,
thereby making more secure whatever Of
Pratt's secrets or differences concerning the
"Bank" Hillyear might possess.
Meantime a steady eStrangement was grow
inc between myself and Broener. 1t came
of NV thought. suspense. uncertainty and
jealousy regarding Blanche Sefton-or rath-
cr the presumed Blanche Seton. It was
gradual in growth. like the GOODNESS of the
early autumn certain TO terminate in the
icineSS Of winter, winter which must ever
come between two people when one or both
fear loss at the hands Of the other. OF this,
the cause lav with me. was breeder of
the worst typo | would live over and over
in mind all that imagination, stirred up 10
rcdoubled action by jealousy, created for me
REGARDING the matter. l began to dislike
Rroener for his superiority in many things
over rnvSelt-a superiority | was obliged to
acknowledge. Dwelling on this made me
realize more and more his inherent gift of
command-cOmmaud first Of himself, next
of his fellowS-COmmaud not oStentatiouSly
asserted with pOmp and buster, but com
mand based on tact, the art Of saying the
right word and doing the right thing at the
right time and place. Broener seemed to
know where lay the door to every persons
good will; more he knew how TO open 1t.
This reflection seemed to germinate q more
diSagreeable idea, that despite all Broener
had done for me, was but his creature He
WAS ruling and influencing me as he did
Others. / and this last thought srnote me
bsrD stood to him as Hillyear had to Pratt
when Pratt was himself
So the cloud, the cloud I alone made out
Of my thought, came between US and grew
darker and darker, and more and more chilly.
Yet our external intercourse was much the
same as ever-at least ws attempted to make
it 80, though the very attempts served but to
reveal the change more clearly.
/ resolved at last 10 have the secret out Of
him. II he would not speak Blanche Sefton'S
name would So, one day, as we were com
inc down from the Bank" laden each with
forty pounds Of rich quartz, l said in as in
different a tone as | could assume: THAT
Girl who played looks to me like one / knew
home named Blanche Seton
Your friend has reason to be proud Of the
RESEMBLANCE replied Broener, in a careless
way. Then he added in lower tone: eve
mustn't talk loud here Bill Settlers crowd
are working but hundred feet below us,
and Setter is an artistic and accomplished
busybOdy, with one ear always open for
other peoples business"
No sooner were the words ont OF my mouth
than / saw that had now laid myself fully
open to BrOener. That hs had my secret If