People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-11-18

81 can't help Mr.. Bernard's atten.
tons" I urged.
"Oh, no, of course. Do you suppose |
couldn't?" the first speaker said. 'Do
you suppose he's going to force his at
tentions on anybody day after day when
ne is shown that they are not wanted?"
Hardly" said another, with laugh.
made 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 en-
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 me, 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 I was slow to speak.
If there is anything can do to help
you, am ready and anxious to hear il. {"
You can do nothing" I replied,
choking back my tears, except to let
me go home"
go home?" he repeated. Not back
to your fathers house?"
No, to Mrs. Bonds, / answered.
"Ah!" and he appeared very much re-
lieved. 'Why, certainly, you can 60.
Are you not feeling well, Agnes?"
He approached and laid his hand
caressingly on my head, causing me to
start while a shudder ran over me.
That act of familiarity, together with
tire tender tones in which he addressed
his last question, filed me with alarm
| did 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, SO Ill take you
home myself, and when you are calmer.
and feel like it, you may confde to me
the secret Of this great sorrow and |
will help you to bear it. Come with me
and we will take carriage"
went because l knew not what else
to 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 was
conscious Of a suppressed litter as we
passed the counters. Ny cheeks burned
with indignation, and was glad when
we reached the street. A carriage came
in a moment and | was handed in. Mr..
Bernard followed AMI took seat by
my side.
Now" he said, when we were going.
u should like to know what has hap
pen0d. VIII you tell me?"
mot now" replied. 81 must have
time to think"
Il think can guess something of il. "
he continued, seemingly paying little
notice to what | said. 81 believe the
people at the store have been saving
something that has wounded YOU Am
not right?"
assented by nod of my head.
81 thought So" he remarked. 81
guessed it from the tittering | heard as
we passed. ! knew there was mali
eiousness at the bottom of that giggling.
I'll give them something when,I return
that will change their tune. Tell me
what they said to you and I'll settle
with them for it."
Not now," l said again.
well, when you feel inclined, then"
he replied. 81 believe that Miss Per-
kins is at the bottom of the affair.
She's a vicious, spiteful woman and
needs toning down occasionally. I'll
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 nv
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 to have
a 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
We'll, that may be-" she answered
i amt got nothin' to say about that
But whose fault is it if your life is dark
and miserable? You can't blame any.
body but yourself, for it's nobody but
you that makes it that way. You know
that well enough"
y looked at her in amazement. unable
to comprehend her meaning. How wa.
responsible for all the misery haC
suffered from infancy up? How was
accountable for the life of suffering t.
which | had been born? What had
to do with my lone, friendless condi
ton2 How could avoid the knots snC
= gnarls that saddened my life and mad,
he the most wretched creature OF
earth? How was ITO blame for myes
istence being long series of troubles
disappointments, prosecutions and sor
rows2 had I made It SO? Had | tn,
power to make itotherwise? :
"you might as ,xeQdry your tears,
Mrs - wsI IS after pause, ''ant