Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-22

spared any questioning just then.
 ssYou are looking real peaked, I'm sure." she continued, .'and one would think you spent bad night. I think you must either be sick or troubled. II hope you have had no bad news2"
 ''No, I have not" answered.
 sT'm very glad" she said. ''I saw you had a letter last night, and didn't know but you might have had unpleas- ant news"
 I 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 every body's secrets and who have no respect for anyone's rights and feelings, but who continue to probe and delve 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 morning2"
 offered noreply, but I was conscious | that the increasing color in my face be- trayed the fact that she had guessed aright, and that added still more to my confusion, thus the more plainly con- frming her supposition.
 II thought when I saw hlm go out last night" she went on, ''that some thing of an unpleasant nature must have transpired 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"
 l understood perfectly that she had offered that observation as bid for an explanation on my part, but did not choose to accept it as such, so kept si- lent. She continued, apparently lit tie disappointed that did not proceed to gratify 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, ''and suppose he is, though I know very little about him. l never saw MT. Bernard but two or three times before that day he came here with you, but I've always heard him spoken of very highly. Still, he's rich, and rich men can do pretty much as they please, and not be faulted- either. I don't doubt but what if Mir. Bernard was poor, peo- | pie would find plenty to say against him. But, lawl I don't suppose you will believe that, for he appears to take | a great interest in you, and I reckon he's doing a great deal for you. I've often wondered why it is he shows so much concern for your welfare. Of course, in way, there's sort of con- nection between you, but land salzes, men like him are not apt to care any thing about their wife's poor kinfolks, and especially when it comes to second | cousins"
 She paused and looked at me as if in- viting reply, but offered none, and after the lapse of moment she pro cee6ed:
 Mind now," she said, 'I don't say there fs anything improper in MT. Bernard's attentions to you, and don't mean to hint that he has any improper motives, but at the same time l mast say that people have room to form sus- | picions. don't say that I have them, but know other people will. because they can't sec what good motive would prompt a man like Bernard to interest himself so much in behalf of poor girl like you."
 | These words brought all the deluge of grief and fear back to my heart again, agitating me beyond description. Could it be possible, wondered, that Mir. Bernard entertained wicked de- signs on me? Was it true that because of his attentions 1 should be made a target for scandal, and be pointed at and remarked about as a characterlcss woman? Ahl how I longed then for some one to advise with me and in- struct me. How keenly felt the need of a mothers counsel or a fathers pro lection.
 | could not advise with Mrs. Bond, for felt that she was cold and unsym- pathetic, having far more interest in | gossip and scandal than in the poor
 creature who might be maligned. To
 make any revelations to her would be
 like scattering them to the four winds,
 and knew enough of the world to un- derstand how things were magnified
 and distorted by gossips until a very lit-
 tic was made to mean a great deal
 could not advise with Mrs. Bond with
 out making my situation worse, and
 there was no one else in the town to whom could go, because there was no one else with whom I was sufficiently intimate to warrant my making a con- Adante of her.
 would have given the world could 1 have only had the privilege of seeing : and talking with Mrs. Cornell My
 heart turned to her as to 8 mother, and to her should not have hesitated an instant in pouring out all the circum. . stances of my situation, knowing that , she would have advised me we'll, keep ing all my secrets safely locked in her own bosom. But Mrs. Cornell was faI away, and could not go to her with all my troubles and griefs.