The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-07-12
SHIPS THAT PASS
IN the NIGHT.
By BEATRICE HARRADEN.
CHAPTER VII.
RERNARDINE.

Iarly l1felCSS ana appehreu 10 urtR nerselt
about with painful effort, but the place
suited her, and she enjoyed sitting in the
sun listening to the music which was
played by a soratchy string band. Some
Of the Kurhaus guests, seeing that she was
alone and ailing, made some attempt to be
kindly to her. She always seemed aston
ished that people should concern them
selves about her Whatever her faults
were, it never struck her that she might be
of any Importance to others, however i'm
portant she might be to herself She was
grateful for any little kindness which was
shown her, but at first she kept very much
to herself, talking chiefly with the Disa-
greeable Man, who, by the way, had sur
prised every one--but no one more than
himself-by his unwonted behavior in be-
slowing even fraction of his companion
ship on a Pctershof human being.
There was great deal of curiosity about
her, but no one ventured to question her
since Mrs Rcffold's defeat. Mrs Reffold
herself rather avoided her, having always
a vague suspicion that Bernardine tried to
make fun of her But whether out of per
versity or not Bernardine never would be
avoided by her, never let her pass by with
out few words of conversation, and al
ways went to her for information, much
to the amusement of Mrs. Reffold's faith
full attendants.
There was always a twinkle in Bernar-
dimes eye when she spoke with Mrs. Ref
fold. She never fastened herself onto any
one. No one could say she intruded. AS
time went on there was vague sort of
feeling that she did not intrude enough.
She was ready to speak If any one cared to
speak with her. but she never began a con
versaton except with Mrs. Reffold When
people did talk to her, they found her gen
ial. Then the sad face would smile kind
ly and the sad eyes speak kind sympathy,
or some bit of fun would flash forth and
a peal of young laughter ring out. 1t
seemed strange that such fun could come
from her.
Those who noticed her said she appeared
always to be thinking.
She was thinking and learning.
Some few remarks roughly made by the
Disagreeable Man had impressed her deep
ly.
You have come to a new world, " he
said, the world of suffering. You are in
fury because your career has been checked
and because you have been put ON the
shclf-you of all people Now you will
learn how many quite as able as yourself,
and abler have been put on the shelf, too,
and have to stay there. You are only
pupil in suffering. What about the pro-
fessors? If your wonderful wisdom has
left you with any sense at all, look about
you and learn"
So she was looking and thinking and
learning. And as the days went by per
haps softer light came into her eyes.
All her life long her standard of judging
people had been an intellectual standard
4 hat Il, 1,,,l
done with outward and visible signs, how
far they had contributed to thought, how
far they had influenced any great move
ment or originated it, how much of
benefit they had been to their century or
their country, how much social or polit-
ical activity, how much educational ener-
gy they had devoted to the pressing need
of the times
She was undoubtedly clever, cultured
young woman. The great work of her life
had been self culture To know and un-
derstand she had spared neither herself
nor any one else. To know and to use
her acquired knowledge intellectually as
teacher, perhaps, too, as writerHlad been
the great aim Of her life. Everything that
furthcrcd this aim won her instant atten-
ton. 1t never struck her that she was
selfish. One docs not think of that until
the great check comes One goes on and
would go on. But a barrier rises up,
Then, iinding one can advance no farther
one turns round, and what does one see:
Bernardlne saw that she had come long
Journey. she saw what the traveller saw.
Ihat was all she saw at llrSt. Then she
remembered that she had done the Journey
entirely for her own sake. Perhaps it
might not have looked SO drcary If it had
L
been undertaken for some one else.
one lad Claimed nothing OF any one; oh9
mad given nothing TO any one; she had
simply taken hcr lie IN her own hands
ana MADE what she could OF 1t. What had
She made OF 1t!
Many women asked Tor riches, for posi-
tloh' Tor influence and authority and adj
miratlon' She had only asked to be able
10 work IL seemed little enough to ask.
Ihat she asked SO little placed her SO she
Thought, apart from the common herd OF
eager askers 10 be cut on from active
me ana earnest work was possibility
whlch never occurred 10 her.
IL never crossed her lAlnd that i'll asking
Tor the one thlng for which she longcd she
was really asking Tor the greatest thing.