The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-07-12

i, suit or apartments In tne moro luxurious
part of the Kurhaus. Bernariine knocked
ut the door, and the nurse came to open 1t.
MRS. Rcffold asks me TO visit Mr.. Ref
fold," Bernardinc said, and the nurse
showed her into the pleasant sitting room.
Mr.. Rcffold was lying on tho sofa. He
looked up as Bcrnardine came in, and q
| smile uf pleasure spread over his wan face.
II don't know whether intrude, " said
Bernardine, "but Mrs. Reffold said
| might come to see you. "
draw.
She had never before spoken to him.
| She had often seen him lying by himself
In the sunshine.
Arc you paid for coming to mcs" he
asked eagerly.
The words seemed rude enough, but
there was no rudeness in the manner.
mo, I am not paid" she said gently,
and then she took a chair and sat near
him.
'An, that's wclln' he said, with a sigh
of relief. ''I'm so tired of paid service.
| To know that things are done for me be-
| cause certain amount of francs are given
SO that those things may be done--well,
one gets weary of it; that's allr'
There was bitterness in every word he
spoke. Il lie here" he said, "and the lone
illness of 1.-THE loneliness of it!''
Shall read to your" she asked kindly.
She did not know what to say to him.
Il want to talk first" he replied II
want to talk first to some one who is not
paid for talking to me. l have often
watched ysl and wondered who you were
Why do you look so sad? No one is wait
ing for you to die"
"Don't talk like thatr' she said, and
she bent over him and arranged the cush
ions for him more comfortably. He look
ed just like great lank tired child
Are you one of my wife's friends?" he
asked.
Il don't suppose 1 am" she answered
gently, but like her, all the same. In
deed l like her very much. And 1 think
her beautiful"
''Ah, she is beautifulI' he said eagerly
doesn't she look splendid in her fursS
BY Jove, you are right! She is beauti-
full woman. am proud of her"
Then the smile faded from his face
Beautiful" he said half to himself
''but hard
Come, now," said Bernardine, "you
are surrounded with books and newspa-
pers. What shall read to youS'
mo one reads what want, he answer
tastes. don't suppose you would care to
read what want to hear.
'Well," she said cheerily, ''try me.
Make your choice
'Very well, The Sporting and DramaG-
ic, he said. Read every word of that
And about that theatrical divorce case
And every word of that too. Don't you
skip and cheat me-
She laughed and settled herself down to
amuse him. And he listened contentedly.
"That is something like literature" he
said once or twice. II can understand pa
pers of that sort going like wildfire."
When he was tired of being read to, she
talked to him in manner that woull
have astonished the Disagrceable MAN.
not of books nor learning but of people
she had met and of places she had set 4,
and there was fun in everything she said.
She knew London well, and she could tell
him about the Jewish and the Chinese
quarters and about her adventures in COM
pany with man who took her here, there
and everywhere.
She made him some tea, and she cheered
the poor follow as he had not been cheered
for months.
You're just little brickr' he said
when she was leaving Then once more
he added eagerly
And you re not to be paid, are your"
'Not single sou, )" she laughed What
q strange idea of yours!''
You are not offended" he said anx-
iously. But you can't think what diff
ference it makes to me. You are not Of
fendcd?'
Not in the least!' she answered. II
know quite well how you mean it. You
want "a little kindness with nothing at the
back of it. Now goodby''
He called her when she was outside the
door.
Il say, will you come again soon!"
YES, will come tomorrow
do you know you We been little brick.
I hope haven't tired you. You are only
a bit of thing yourself; but, by Jove,
you know how to put u fellow in a good
tempern'
When Mrs. Reffold went down to table
d'hote that night, she met Bernardine on
the stairs and stopped to speak with her
We've had II splendid afternoon" she
Said, ''and we've arranged to go again to-
morrow at the same time Such pity
you don't come! Oh, by the way, thank
you for going to see my husband. l hope
he did not tire you. He is a little queru-
lous think. He so enjoyed your visit.
Poor fellow! 1t is sad to see him so ill,
isn't it!'