The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-08-02
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE DIsAGREEABLE MAN GIVES UP HIS
FREEDOM
The morning after Bernardinc began
her book she and old Zerviah were sitting
together in the shop. He had come from
che little inner room where he had been
reading Gibbon for the last two hours. He
still held the volume in his hand, but he
did not continue reading; he watched her
arranging the pages of dilapidated book
Suddenly she looked up from her work.
Uncle Zerviah, she said brusquely,
''you have lived through long life and
must have passed through many different
experiences. Was there ever time when
you cared for people rather than books2"
YES" he answered a little uneasily.
He was not accustomed to have questions
asked of him.
'Tell me about it, J." she said.
1t was long ago." he said half dreami-
ly, long before married Malvina. And
she died. That was all.
THAT was all,' repeated Bernardine,
looking at him wonderingly. Then she
drew nearer to him.
"And you have loved, Uncle Zerviahp
And you were lovedf"
.'Yes, indeed, he answered softly
"Then you would not laugh at me If I
were to unburtlen my heart to you?''
For answer she felt the touch of his old
hand on her head. And thus encouraged
she told him the story of the Disagreeable
Man. She told him how she had never be-
fore loved any one until she loved the Dis
agreeable Man.
1t was all very quietly told in a simple
and dignifled manner. Nevertheless, for
| all that 1t was an unburdening of her
heart, her listener being an old scholar
who had almost forgotten the very name
of love.
She was still talking and he was still
listening when the shop door creaked.
Zerviah crept quietly away, and Bernar-
dine looked up.
The Disagreeable Man stood at the coun-
ter.
You little thing" he said, II have
come to see you. 1t is eight years since
was in England"
Bernardine leaned over the counter.
"And you ought not be here now, she
said, looking at his thin face. He seemed
to have shrunk away since she had last
seen him.
II am free to do what I choose" he
said. my mother is dead"
ST know" Bernardine said gently.
'But you are not Free"
He made no answer to that, but slipped
into the chair.
''You look tired" he said What have
you been doing?"
II have been dusting the books" she
answered, smiling at him. "You remem-
Der you told me should be content to do
that The very oldest and shabbiest have
had my tenderest care found the shop
In disorder. You see it now"
ct chOuld pOt call A. partiCu1arlv tidy
now," he said grimly. "Still, suppose
you have done your best. Well, and what
elsea"
II have been trying to take care of my
old uncle" she said. 1--WE are just begin
ming to understand each other a little, and
he Is beginning to feel glad to have me.
When first discovered that the days be-
came easier to me. 1t makes us into dig
nifled persons when we find out that there
is place for us to f1ll."
"Some people never find 1t out" he said
Probably, like myself, they went on for
long time without caring" she an
swered IT think have had more luck
than deserve"
WELL" said the Disagreeable Man,
land you are glad to take up your life
agains"
NO." she said quietly. IT have not
got as far as that yet But believe that
after some little time may be glad-I
hope SOL am working for that. Some
times l begin to have keen interest in
everything. wake up with an enthusi-
asm. After about two hours have lost it
again"
Poor little child" he said tenderly.
"L too, know what that is But you will
get back to gladness-not the same kind
of satisfaction as before, but some other
satisfaction, that compensation which Is
said to be included in the scheme"
And have begun my book, she said,
pointing to few sheets lying on the coun-
ter-''that is to say, I have written the
prologue"
''Then the dusting of the books has not
sufficedr' he said, scanning her curiously.
''I wanted not to think of myself, Ber-
nardine said. ''Now that have begun it
shall enjoy going on with 1t. hope it
will be companion to me-"
''Iwonder whether you will make fail
ure or a success Of itN' he remarked. II
wish could have SEEM"
$50 you WILL" she said. 1T shall finish
1t; and you will read it in Petershof"
~ shall not be going back to Petershof,"
he said. "Why should go there nowS"
''For the same reason that you went
there eight years ago, !" she said.
II went there for my mothers sake, !"
he said
'Then You will go there now for my
sake" she said deliberately.
He looked up quickly.
Little Bernardine, he cried, "my lit
tie Bernardine-is it possible that you care
what becomes Of me!"
She had been leaning against the ooun-
ter, and now she raised herself and stood
erect proud dignified little figure.
"Yes, do care, " she said simply and
with true earnastness. ~ care with all
my heast. And even II did not care you
know Ioq would not be FREQ. No one