Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-27

" Xz MIR. BERNARD ENTERED. which stung me through and through. l stopped, and, turning upon them, asked:
 "What do you mean by such lan- guage?"
 They made no reply, but suppressed giggle ran through the company. I was hurt and exasperated.
 "Why do you speak of me as you did just now?" demanded.
 "Why do you give us cause to speak of you SOP" one of them queried in re- turn.
 'I have done nothing" ''Oh, no, of course not" she sneered. ''I suppose you think it's nothing. But we beg leave to differ with you. We think it's a great deal"
 "What hGce I done?" I asked.
 "What have you done? We'll, you've done so much that can't afford to re- main in this store another day if you stay. We know very well that MT. Bernard is not so good to you for noth- ing. It's hardly likely that he would be, Pm sure.''
 ''That it isn't,'' observed another. ''I think it is perfectly shameful. for my part"
 'l can't help MT. Bcrnard's atten- tions," urged.
 ''Oh, no, of course. Do you suppose I couldn't?" the first speaker said. ''Do you suppose he's going to force his at tentions on anybody day after day when he is shown that they are not wanted?' Hardly" said another, with a laugh.
 made no further reply, but went at once to the office, where I sank down in my seat and, laying my head on the desk, burst into tears. The other em- ployes never had liked me, knew, and for weeks they had managed to make me very miserable while was at the store. Miss Perkins, the leader in the conversation just given, was especially sour toward me, and I believed that whatever suspicious the others enter tained were generated by her. had been in the office near an hour, I think, and was still weeping when MT. Bernard entered. He appeared greatly concerned and at once entrcated me to tell him what my trouble was.
 Do not hesitate to speak out,' he urged, seeing that was slow to speak. ''If there is anything can do to help you, am ready and anxious to hear it. g
 You can do nothing" replied, choking back my tears, ''except to let me go home."
 ''Go homer" he repeated. Not back to your fathers house?"
 ''No, to Mrs. Bond's," answered.
 "Ah!' and he appeared very much re- lieved. ''Why, certainly, you can go. Are you not feeling well, Agnes?''
 He approached and laid his hand caressingly on my head, causing me to start while a shudder ran over me. That act of familiarity, together with tfe tender tones in which he addressed his last question, filled me with. alarm. l did not answer him, and he went on:
 You can go home, of course. I see you are in great trouble, and are in need of friendly advice, so I'll take you home myself, and when you are calmer, and feel like it, you may confde to me the secret of this great sorrow and l will help you to bear it. Come with me and we will take carriage
 Iwent because knew not what else to do. I was incapable of thinking then, and had no power to oppose the man. He led me very gently through ! GIlO SLOTSs dnO IlOrO -Unt1n once l was conscious of a suppressed litter as we passed the counters. My checks burned with indignation, and I was glad when we reached the street. A carriage came in a moment and ISvas handed in. Mir Bernard followed and took a seat by my side.
 'Now," he said, when we were going "I should like to know what has hap pened. Will you tell me?''
 "Not now," replied. ''I must have time to think"
 ''I think can guess somsthing of it, he continued, seemingly paying little notice to what I said 'tI believe the people at the store have been saying something that has wounded you. Am not right?''
 assented by nod of my head.
 'I thought so," he remarked. ''l guessed it from the tittering heard as we passed. knew there was mali. ciousness at the bottom of that giggling. I'll give them something when return that will change their tune. Tell me what they said to you and I'll settle with them for it.''
 Mot now" said a9pin Every knows n woman is hare to please. She likes the matrimonia harness. but doesn't like to hitched uI with man who il strapped. -Bing