Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-04-22
CHAPTER XVI. I NEED A FRIEND.

For long time stood gazing blank ly at the door through which Mir. Bernard had passed from the room. I was completely dumfounded by his strange behavior, and all my senses seemed perfectly paralyzed. Over and over I asked myself: ''What did it mean?" but I got no answer. I was lost in 8 maze of wonder, surprise and trouble.
 'Is it wrong to love the dead, Or tho living counterpart of the dead2''
 That question came back to me all af once and it fell on my heart with ter rible blow. 1t stopped its action, and for an instant 1t stood still, teasing it's vibrations entirely. What did he mean? What could he mean?
 He loved my dead mother was her living counterpart. He IOUed me. Oh. Heaven, understood his meaning but too we'll. I would have doubted it if could, but there was no room for doubt, My head swan and I would have reeled and fallen had not clasped the table for support. A pain, sharp and excru; ciating, went through my heart. What should do? What could do? sat down and, resting my head or the table, tried to reason, but I could not. My mind was completely wrecked for the moment, and all my facultieI lay buried beneath a surging mass o: grief and fear. It was as if dam hat suddenly broken, letting the accumu lated waters of a great lake pour ovel me in mad, swirling rush. could only gasp and struggle, and submit tx be washed down again when I at tempted to rise.
 At last recovered my reasoning pow CTS little. heard the clock down stairs strike the. hour, and was sur prised, but not startled, that it hat grown so late. It was then thre' o'clock in the morning, and since ten had remained stupehed, and practically oblivious. had not noted the flight O the hours, had not heard the stroke O the clock, and had not seen the cles full moon as it crept down the wid sweep of western sky. had seen an' heard nothing. My brain was turbu lent, rolling sea, and through 1t, nls the singing of the waves, there eve ran one refrain and that was this:
 1T love the counterpart of the dead. arose and walked the floor for al ' and slept. Exhaustion had conquere and brought rest and peace. slep soundly and when I awoLe the sun wa shining into the room and I knew was late. It did not take me long t decide what to do, and arising dresse and went down to breakfast. resolve to go to the office and work as usual continuing my relations with Mir. Bel | Id hnA My mind was. calm and collecte when awoke and l reasoned easily My position was good one, I thought inasmuch as it enabled me to liGe by m own exertions, and if gave 1t up IT alized how difficult should find it { secure another through my own efforts Then, I remembered, MT. Bernard wa a connection, and ought not. to hay any fear of him. It was true he ha done and said things that considere improper, and even shocking, but wa inclined to excuse him now, believin that he had lost control of himself fo the instant, and that in his calmer mt ments :, he would regret his eondus most sincerely. reasoned, too, that had but to maintain my own props conduct, deporting myself toward hii as prudence demanded, to be safe frol any designs he might have. My reaso1 ing may not have been very philosopl ical. but 1t must be remembered that
 was ignorant and unschooled In u ways of the world and the arts of mAl
 When came down to breakfast m altered, haggard looks attracted the . tentiOn of my landlady, and all durin tho meal she kept her eyes on n with cufious, lnquir1ng gags. H' action embarrassed me, sending I eximson R1cw e 3nE eheeisB and chHhit aaa e ea1t my oye6 down. When svl n1aant ta ianEa ailn talalA tlsa Hetsss