Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-07
oPTareHT ls?i By AifKtttocs utwsraHs Co
CHAPTER xvi
/ NEED A FRIEND.

NEED FRrEND.
For long time stood gazing blank
ly at the door through which MIR
Bernard had passed from the room.
was completely dumfounded by hi,
strange behavior, and all my senses
seemed perfectly paralyzcd. Over aud
over ] asked myself: "Whnt did II
mean2" but | got no answer was lost
in maze Of wonder, surprise and
trouble.
as IL wrong 10 love the dead, or the
living counterpart Of the dcad?"
That question came back 10 me all nt
once and IL fell on my heart with n ter
riblc blow. It stopped It's action, and
for an instant II stood still, ccnsing its
vibrations entirely. What did he mean
What could he mcnn2
lie loved my dead mother was her
living counterpart. he i0rcd mr. Oh
Heaven, understood his meaning but
too we'll. would have doubted IL II I
could, but there was no room for doubt
My head swam aud would have rcclcd
and fallen had | not clasped the table
for support. A pain, sharp and cxcru.
ciating, went through my heart. What
should do2 What could do2
sat down and, resting my head on
the table, tried 10 reason, but could
not. My mind was completely wrecked
for the moment, and all my faculties
lay buried beneath surging mass of
grief and fear IL was as II IA dam had
suddenly broken, letting the accumu-
lated waters Of great lake pour over
me In n mad, swirling rush. could
only gasp and struggle, and submit to
be washed down again when at
tempted TO rise.
At last recovered my reasoning pow
ers n little. ! heard the clock down.
stairs strike the hour. and was sur.
priscd, but not startled, that II had
grown 50 late. IL was then three
o'clock In the morning, and since ten
had remained stupehcd, and practically
oblivious. had not noted the flight Of
the hours, had not heard the stroke Of
the clock, and had not seen the clear
full! moon rs II crcpt down the wide
sweep Of western Sky. had seen and
heard nothing. My brain was turbu.
lent rolling sea, and through II, like
the singing ~ the waves, there ever
ran one refrain and that was this:
81 love the counterpart of the dead"
] arose and walked the floor for an
hour then threw myself on the bed
and slept. Exhaustion had conquered
and brought rest and peace. slept
soundly and when awolie the sun was
shining into the room and knew II
was late. IL did not take me long TO
decide what 60 do, and arising dressed
and went down 90 breakfast resolved
20 so TO the Office and work as usual,
continuing my relations with Mr.. Der
nnrd ms though nothing had transpircd.
Ny mind was. calm and collected
when awokc and reasoned easily.
My position WINS good one, thought,
inusmuch as II enabled me 10 live by my
own eSertions, and II gave IL up re-
allied how difficult I should find II TO
secure another through my own efforts.
Then, | remembered, Mr.. Bernard was
n connection, and ought not to haye
any fear Of him. II was true he had
done and said things that ! considered
improper, and even shocking, but 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. reasoned, too, that |
had but to maintain my own proper
conduct, dcporting myself toward him
MS prudence demanded, to be safe from
any designs he might have. My reason
ing may not have been very philosoph-
icul, but II must be remembered that |
was ignorant md unschooloa in the
ways Of the world aud the arts OF man.
J When came down TO breakfast my
altered, huEgard looks attracted the at |
tention of my landlady, and all during
the meal she kept her eyes ON me
with curious, inquirng gaze. Her I
action embarrassed me, sending n |
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 nrc not looking well this morn
ing, Miss Owens. Are you siclS?"
mo, maam," / 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 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 10 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 10 probe
and delye into peoples actions until
they uneArth their motives and the
causes that influence them 20 the very
bottom.
Perhaps" she observed with
smile ! did not like, "the gentleman
who came 10 visit yon last night had
something 10 do with your appearance
this morning?"
] offered noreply, but 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
thus the more plainly con
hrming her supposition.
II thought when ! saw HIM 20 out
last night" she went on, that some
thing OF an unpleasant nature must
have transpired between you He was
70 excited that he hardly seemed TO