Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-05-31
CHAPTER TX.
pERNARDINE BREACHES.

After this scarcely n day passed but Der
nardine went to see Mr.. Reffold. The
most inexperienced eye could have known
that he was becoming rapidly worse. Ma
RE, the chambermnid, knew it and spoke
Of 1t frequently to Bernardine.
! 1.-THE poor lonely fellow!' she said time
after time.
Every one except Mrs. Reffold seemed to
recognize that Mr.. Rcffold's days were
numbered. Either she did not or would
not understand. Sho made no alteration
In the disposal Of her time Sledging par
ties and skating picnics were the order Of
, the day. She was thoroughly pleased with
herself and received the attentions of her
admirers as a matter of course. The Pc
tershof climate had got into her head, and
| 1t Is a wull known fact that this glorious
| air has TIN, effect on some people of Danish
ing from their minds all inconvenient no.
tions of duty and devotion and all men,
DRY Of the special object of their sojourn
in Pctcrshof. Tho GOODNESS and calmness
with which such people ignore their re-
sponsibilitics or allow strangers to as
sumo them would be an occasion for hui
NOR If 1t wore not an opportunity for in
dignation, though indeed it would take
q very exceptionally sober minded specta-
tor not to get some fun out of the blissful
self satisfaction and Inconsistencies which
characterize the most negligent of care
takers "
Mrs. Roffold was not the only sinner in
this respect. 1t would have been interest
ing to get together u tea party of invalids
alone and set the ball rolling about tho
respective bchaviors Of their respective
friends Not pleasing chronicle. Novery
| choice pages to add to the book of real life.
Still valuable items in their way, repre-
sentative of tho actual as opposed to the
| ideal. In most instances there would have
been ample testimony to that cruel mon
| ster known as neglect.
BcrnaMine spoke once to tho Disagree
able Man on this subject. She spoke with
/ Indignation, and hc answered with indif-
ference, Struggling his shoulders.
"Thcso things occur" he said. 1T is
not that they are worse here than every
where else. 1t is simply that they arc to-
gcther in an accumulated mass and as
such strike us with tremendous force. l
myself am accustomed to these exhibitions
of selfishncss and neglect. l should be as
tonishcd if they did not take place. Don't
mix yourself up with anything. If people
arc neglected, they aro neglected, and there
is the end Of it, 10 imagine that you or |
arc going to do any good by filling up the
breach is simply an insanity leading to I'M
necessarily disagreeablo consequences.
know you go to SEQ Mr.. Rctfold. Take
my advice and keep away"
You speak like q Calvinist," she an
swcrcd, rather rutllod, with the quintcs-
scncc of self protcctivcnoss, and l don't
| believe you mean word you say"
g. NV dom, - No Sai1 t1N~n
are not living III apoctry book bound with
gilt edges. We are living in paper
backed volume of prose. BE sensible. Don't
ruflle yourself on account of other people,
Don't oven trouble to critcise them. 1t
is only u nuisance to yourself. All this
simply points back to my first suggestion.
Fill up your timo with some hobby, cheese
mites or tho influenza bacillus and then
you will DO quite content to let people be
neglected, lonely and to die. You will look
upon it a' an ordinary and natural proc
cSS. y
She waved hcr hand as though to stop
him.
''Thoro arc days, +" she said, when I
can't bear 60 talk with you, and this Is
one of them"
81 am sorry, " he answered, quite gently
started for his usual lonely walk.
Bernaniino TUNED home, intending to
go to see Mr. Rcilold. He had become
quite attached to her and looked forward
eagerly to her visits. He said her voice
was gentlo and hcr manner quiet; there
was no bustllng vitality about her to irri-
tate his worn nerves. He was probably an
empty headed, stupid fellow, but it was
none the less sad to see him passing away.
He called her Little Brick. He said that
no other epithet suited her SO exactly. He
was quito satisfied now that she was not
paid for coming to see him. rs for the
reading, no ono could read The Sporting
and Dramatic News and The Era 50 well
rs Littlo Brick. Sometimes he spoke with
her about his wife, but only in general
terms Of bitterness and not always com
plainingly. She listened and said nothing.
I'm n chap that wants very little, " he
said once Those who want little get
nothing
That was all he said, but Bernardino
knew to whom he referred
Today ms Bernardine was on her way
back to the Kurhaus she was thinking
constantly Of Mrs. Rcffold and wondering
whether she ought to be made to realize
that her husband was becoming rapidly
worse. Whilc engrosScd with this thought
a long train OF sledges and tologgans pass
ed her. The sound of the bells and the
noisy merriment made her look up, and
she saw beautiful Mrs Rcffold among the
pleasure seekers ltsa 80
: II only dared tell her now, said Der
nardine to herself, ''loudly and before
I'll en all. 49, l aBujf II #s@
Then moro sensible mood came over
her
aAfter MI, IL Is not my affair, " sire
said
And the sledgcs passed away out Of
hearing.
When BornarSiine sat with Mr. Reffold