Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-08-03
CHAPTER xvL-coSrrSurp.

CHAPTER NvL-CoNITSUED.
My mind was calm and collected
when l awoke and l reasoned easily.
My position was good one, thought,
inasnuch as it enabled me to live by my
own eNertions. and if gave it up | re-
allied how difficult | should find it TO
secure another through my own efforts.
Then, ! remembered. Mr.. Bernard was
u connection, and ought not TO have
any fear of him. 1t was true he had
done and said things that | considered
improper, and even shocking, bat was
inclined to excuse him now. believing
that he had lost control of himself for
the instant, and that in his calmcr mo-
ments he would regret his conduct
most sincerely. 1 reasoned, too. that
had but TO maintain my own proper
conduct, deporting myself toward him
as prudence demanded, to bc safe from
any designs he might have. My reason
ing may not have been very philosoph-
ical, but Il must be remembered that |
was ignorant and unschooled in the
ways OF the world and the arts of man
When l came down to breakfast my
altered, haggard looks attracted the at
tcntion OF my lanGlady, and all during
the meal she kept her eyes on me
with a curious, inquiring gaze. Her
action embarrassed me. sending =
crimson glow to my checks and causing
me to cast my eyes down. When was
about TO leave the table she detained
me, saying:
You are not looking well this morn
ing, Miss Owens. Arc you siclI?"
mo, ma am l replied. little short
~, wishing above all things to be
spared any questioning just then.
You are looking real peaked, I'm
sure" she continued, land one would
think You spent a bad night. think
you must either be sick or troubled /
hope You have had no bad news?"
mo, have not" answered.
I'm very glad" she said. 81 saw
you had letter last night, and didn't
know but you might have had unpleas-
ant news"
assured Mrs. Bond, my landlady,
that she was wrong in her surmises,
and, wishing TO escape any further CON
versation on the subject of my appear
ance, made another effort TO leave the
room. Mrs. Bond. however. was one
of those curious, prying old women who
are not satisfied until they get TO the
bottom of everybody's secrets and who
have no respect for anyone's rights and
feelings, but who continue to probe
and delvc into peoples actions until
they unearth their motives and the
causes that influence them to the very
bottom
Perhaps" she observed with a
smile ] did not like, the gentleman
who came to visit you last night had
something TO do with your appearance
this morning."
offered norcply, out was conscious
that the increasing color IN my face be
trayed the fact that she had guessed
Alright, and that added still more to my
confusion, thus the more plainly con
tirming her supPosition
Il thought when saw hlm 90 out
last night" she went on, that some
thing Of an unpleasant nature must
have transpiied between you He was
so excited that he hardly seemed to
know what he was doing or where he
was going. I couldn't Imagine. though.
whatever could have taken place be-
tween you
/ understood perfectly that she had
offered that observation a. 4 bid for an
explanation on my part, but did not
choose TO accept it as such, so kept ST
lent. She continued, apparently lit
tie disappointed that I did not proceed
to crafty her curiosity and enlighten
her as to what had taken place in my
room.
He had the appearance of one of the
finest OF gentlemen" she remarked,
land l suppose he is, though / know
very little about him. / never saw Mr..
bernard but two or three times before
that day he came here with you, but