Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-07

chooseto accept II as sucn, 80 1 Rept NJ
lent. She continued, apparently 1T
tie disappointed that / did not proceed
30 crafty her curiosity and enlighter
her as TO what had taken place in my
room.
"Ile had the appearance Of one Of the
finest Of gentlemen" she remarked
land | suppose hc is, though I know
very little about him. ! never saw Mr.
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 faultcd either. ! don't doubt
but what II Mr.. Bernard was poor, peo-
/ pie would find plenty 10 say against
him. But, lawl | don't suppose you
will believe that, for he appears TO take
n great interest in you, and reckon
he's doing great deal for you. I've
often wondered why IL is he shows so
much concern for your welfare. OF
course, In way, there's sort OF con.
ncction between you, but land saltes,
men like him are not apt 10 care any
thing about their wife's poor kinfollss,
and especially when IL comes to second
cousins"
She paused and looked at me as II in.
viting Il reply, but offered none, and
after the lapse Of moment she pro-
cecdcd:
Mind now" she said. II don't say
there is anything improper in Mr..
Demands attentions 10 you, and don't
mean TO hint that lac has any improper
motives, but at the same time | must
say that people have room TO form sus-
picions. don't say that | have them,
but know other people will, because
they can't see what good motive would
prompt 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 10 my heart
again, agitating me beyond description.
Could II be possible, | wondered, that
Mr.. Bernard entertained wicked dc.
signs ON me? Was II true that because
Of his attentions I should be made n
target for scandal, and be pointed at
and remarked about as charactcrlcss
woman? Ali how longed then for
some one 10 advise with me and in.
struct me. How kccnly felt the need
OF mothers counsel or u 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 tho poor
creature who might he maligncd. To
make any revelations to her would be
like scattering them TO the four winds.
and knew enough Of the world TO I'M
derstand how things were magnihcd
and distorted by gossips until a very lit
tie was made 70 mean 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 10, because there was no
one else with whom | was sufficiently
Intimate TO warrant my making n con.
hdanto OF her
would have given the world could
have only had the privilege Of seeing
and talking with Mrs. Cornell. Nv
heart turned to her as To mother, and
10 her should not have hcsitatcd an
instant in pouring ont all the circum.
stances OF my situation, knowing that
she would have advised me well, keep
ing all my secrets safely locked in her
own bosom. hut Mrs. Cornell was far
away, and could not go tohcr with all
my troubles and griefs.
Mrs. Bond,' | said, breaking the
long silence, you don't believe Mr..
BERNARD has any improper thoughts
toward me- do you9"
Claw, Miss Owens" she exclaimed,
'how do know what TO believe?
can't tell what he has In his heart.
You ought 10 know better than | what
he thinks, because you know what he
says and does, and don't. II knew
what he says and does could tell YOU
what he means"
This was another bid for nv conf.
dcnce, but affected not TO understand
She continued, considerably exasper.
ated' think, and showing some dis.
pleasure in her tones
There's one thing about IL, though,
and that is this II don't look well for
a married man, who is no nearer re.
lated to you than he Is, to he coming
here OF nights, and for hours being
'loseted with You in your room. Any.
body seeing him when no went out,
md seeing you now, would know well
'nough that something took place be
ween you very muc9 out of common.
md If you won't tell What it was PEG.
lie will form their own opinions about
u aud perhaps you couldn't wonder
1uch II those ideas were not very com.
10 you"
saw that Mrs, Bond was disposed to
mt an unfavorablc construction on the
flair il left TO draw her own infer
noes, but did not sec wherein would
e benefited by giving her my conf.
enees, since she would augment every
disability into an assumed fact. /
ondered the matter long, and arrived
I the conclusion that had better keep
ny own counsel and go on about my
| " nm