The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-08-31
stopped, and, turning upon them,


giggle ran through the company, Twas
hurt and exasperated.
"Why do you speak Of me as you did
Just now?" l demanded.
"Why do you give us cause to speak
of you SOP" one Of them queried in re-
turn.
~ do not give You cause" I replied.
81 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 great deal"
"What hare done?" l asked.
"What have you done2 Well, 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 Mr..
Bernard is not 80 good to you for moth
ing. It's hardly likely that he would
be, I'm sure"
'sThat 1t isn't" observed another. 81
think it is perfectly shameful, for my
part"
81 can't help Mr. Bernards atten-
tions," urged.
"Oh, no, of course. Do you suppose l
couldnt?" 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 wanted9"
Hardly" said another, with laugh.
Imade no further reply, but went at
once to the office, where 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 mo, and / believed that
whatever suspicious the others enter
tanned were generated by her.
had been in the Office near an hour,
think, and was still weeping when
Mr.. Bernard entered. He appeared
greatly concerned and at once entreated
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 I can do to help
you, am ready and anxious to hear it."
"You can do nothing" l replied,
choking back my tears, Except to let
me go home"
"Go home?" he repeated. "Not back
TO your fathers house?"
mo, to Mrs. Bonds" answered
"Ahr 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 q shudder ran over me.
That act of familiarity, together with
TIE tender tones in which he addressed
his last question, filed me with alarm.
Ibid not answer him, and he went on
"You can go home, of course. see
you are in great trouble, and are in
need Of friendly advice, 30 I'll take you
home myself, and when you are calmer,
and feel like It, you may confide TO me
the secret Of this great sorrow and
will help you TO bear 1t. Come with me
and we will take q carriage"
went because knew not what else
10 do. / was incapable OF thinking
then, and had no power TO oppose the
man. He led me very gently through
the store, and more than once ] wai
conscious Of suppressed litter as we
passed the counters. My cheeks burned
with Indignation, and was glad when
we reached the street A carriage came
In moment and was handed In. Mr..
Bernard followed AMI took seat by
my side.
Now" he said, when we were going
~ should like TO know what hos hap
pened. WIN you tell me?"
"Not now" l replied. ~ must have
time TO think"
~ think I can guess something Of II,
he continued, seemingly paying little
notice to what / said. II believe the
people at the store have been saying
something that has wounded you Am
| not right?"
assented by nod of my head.
II thought So" he remarked. 81
guessed II from the tittering heard as
we passed. / knew there was mali.
ciousness at the bottom OF that giggling,
I'll give them something when l return
that will change their tune. Tell me
what they said TO you and I'll settle
with them for It."
"Not now," / said again.
"Well, when you feel inclined, then,
he replied. ~ believe that Miss Per-
kins Is at the bottom Of the affair.
She's a vicious, spiteful woman and
needs toning down occasionally. iii
get TO the bottom OF the affair and have
the whole matter sifted and so rest as
sured that you will be righted."
When we reached Mrs. Bonds went
directly to my room, leaving Mr.. Ber-
nard and Mrs. Bond In the hall. An
hour later Mrs. Bond came up, and my
door being unlocked she walked In.
She was in an unpleasant humor, and
before she had hardly seated herself she
broke out with:
"Well, Miss Owens, you seem 10 have
wonderful lot Of tears, judging from
the amount you shed. never see sc
much cryin' In all my life as you have
done since you come here"
"You never saw anybody whose life
was so dark and miserable" / replied.
"Well, that may be-" she answered
~ amt got nothin' TO say about that
But whose fault is IL fyour life Is dark
and miserable2 You can't blame any
body but yourself, for it's nobody bui
you that makes 1t that way. You know
that well enough"
Hooked at her In amazement, unable
TO comprehend her meaning. How wai
I responsible for all the misery had
-. 4 L.. L.. ln.u.r ..sA0 Han. 40