The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-07-05

~ never saw him before Last nishA I"
aAid Bernardine.
''Is IL posslbles" said Mrs. RefioId In her
pleasantest voice "Then you have made
. triumph of the Dlsagreeable Man. He
very rarely deigns to talk with any Of us.
He does not oven aprear to soe US. He sits
quietly and reads 1t would be interesting
to hear what his conversation IL like. I
should be quite amused to know what you
dill talk about"
Il dare say you would" said Bernar-
dine quietly.
Then Mrs. Rcffold, wishing 10 screen
her inquisitivencss, plunged into a descrip-
tion of Petcrshof life, speaking enthusias-
tically about everything except the scenery,
which she did not mention. After a time
she ventured to begin once more taking
soundings But somehow or other those
bright eyes of Bernardinc, which looked at
her so scarchngly, made her little nerv-
Gus and perhaps little indiscrcct.
Your father will miss you" she said
tentatively.
II should think probably not" answer
ed Bcrnarline. Zone is not easily missed
you know" There was twinkle in Ber-
nardine's eye as she added, He is proba-
bly, occupied with other things"
what is your father?" asked Mrs. Ref
fold in her most coaxing tones.
Il don't know what he is now," an
swcred Bcrnardine placidly. But he was
genius. He is dead"
Mrs. Reffold gave slight start, for she
began to feel that this insignificant littlo
person was making fun of her. This
would never do and before witnesses too
So she gathered together her best resources
and said:
"Dear me, how very unfortunate! A
genius too! Death is indeed cruel And
here one sees so much of it that unless one
learns to steel ones heart one becomes
melancholy. All, it is indeed sad to see
all this sufferingl' (Mrs. Reffold herself
had quite succeeded in stecling her heart
against her own invalid husband) She
then gave an account of several bad cases of
consumption, not forgetting to mention
two instances of suicide which had lately
taken place in Petershof.
lone gentleman was Russian" she
said Fancy coming all the way from
Russia to this little out of the world place!
But people come from the uttermost ends
of the earth, though of course there are
many Londoners here. l suppose you are
from London?"
II am not living in London now, said
Bernardine cautiously.
but you nrow it without doubt, " con-
tipued Mrs. Reffold. There are several
Kensington people here You may meet
some friends--indeed in our hotel there
are two or three families from Lexham
Gardens
Bernardine smiled a little viciously,
looked first at Mrs. Reffold's two compan-
ions with an amused sort of indulgence
and then at the lady herself.
She paused moment and then said:
"Have you asked all the questions you
wish to ask? And if so, may ask one OF
your Where does one get the best tea?"
Mrs Retfold gave an inward gasp, but
pointed gracefully to small confection-
cry shop on the other side of the road.
Mrs. Reffold did everything gracefully.
Bernardine thanked her, crossed the
road and passed into the shop.
Now have taught her lesson not tc
interfere with me-" said Bernardine tc
herself How beautiful she is!''
Mrs Reffold and her two companions
went silentl on their way. At last the
silence was broken.
We'll, I'm blessed!" said the taller ol
the two, lighting cigar.
so am l." said the other, lighting hi
cigar too.
''Those arc precisely my own feelings, ,
remarked Mrs. Reffold.
But she had learned her lesson.