Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-06-28

1 NAVY NNNll NNlilS llllS ailtCllNNls 1NI-
haps have been hard. ! ann such an ill
ness to myself that must be an illness to
Others too. And you weren't meant for
this sort Of thing, wcrc yous You arN
bright, beautiful creature, and am an
unfortunate dog not to have h>cn able 70
make you happier, know l am irrita-
bic. l can't help myself; indeed l can't
This great, long fellow was SO warming
for love and sympathy.
What would it not have been to him If
she had gathered him into her arms and
soothed all his irritability and suffering
with her love-
But she pressed his hand and kissed him
lightly on the cheek and told him that he
had been little sharp, but that she quite
understood, and that she was not hurt,
Her charm of manner gave him some salts
faction, and when Bcrnanlinc came in .
few minutes later she found Mr. Rctfold
looking happier and mon contcnted than
she had ever seen him Mrs. Reifold,
who was relieved ut the interruption, ~
ceivcd Bcrnardinc warmly, though there
was certain amount of shyness which
she had never been able to conquer in Der.
nardincS presence, There was something
in the younger woman which quclled Mrs.
Rctfold, 1t may have been some mental
quality, or 1t may have been her boots,
Little Brick, +" said Mr. Rcttold, isn't
It nice to have Winifrcd hcrcY And have
been SO disagrCcablo and snappish."
"Oh, we won't say anything about that
now, said Mrs. Rctfold, smiling swootly,
But I've said am sorry, =" he contin-
ucd And one can't do more. "
mo, said Bernardinc, who WAS amused
at the notion OF Mr., Rctrold apologizing
to Mrs. Rctold, and of Mrs, Rctfold posing
as the gracious forgiven, lone can't do
more" But she could not control her feel
ings, and she laughed.
You seem rather merry this afternoon,
Mr.. RcfIold said in Nproachful tone of
voice
YES, " she said. And she laughed again.
Mrs Rciiuld'S forgiving graCiouSness had
altogether upset her gravity.
You might at least tell us the joke"
Mrs Rrtfold said.
Bcrnardinc looked at her hopclessly and
laughed n gain.
Il have been developing photographs all
the afternoon" she said, land ! suppose
the closcnrSS of the air and the badness of
my negatives have been too much for me
Anyway know l must seem very rude. y
She recovered herself after that and tried
hard not to think of Mrs. Rcifold rs The
dispenser of forgiveness, although 1t was
some time before she could look at her
hostess without wishing To laugh. The
corners Of her mouth twitchcd, and her
brown eyes twinklcd mischCvously, and
she spoke very rapidly, making fun of her
first attempts at photography and Criti-
cising herself SO comically that both Mr.
and Mrs. Rrtfod wcro much amused.
All the same Bcrnardinc was relieved
when Mrs Rcffold went to fctch some
silksand left her with Mr. Rctfoll
II am very happy this afternoon, Little
Brick, he said to her MY wife has
been sitting with me, But instead of On
joying the pleasure rs | ought to have
done | began to find fault with her. j
don't know how long / should not have
gone on grumblng but that / suddenly
rccolcctcd what you taught mc-that we
were not to como down like slcd9c ham
mers on each others failings, When ]
remembered that, it was quite easy to for
give all the neglect and thoughtlcssncss.
Since you have talked to me, Little Brick,
everything has become easier to me.
1t is something in your own mind
which has worked this, she said, your
own kind, generous mind, and you put it
down to my words. y
But he shook his head
IF l knew of any poor unfortunate
devil that wanted to be caScd and com
forted he said II should tell him about
you, Little Brick You have been very
good to me. You may DC clover, but you
have never worried my stupid brain with
too much scholarship. I'm just an igno-
rant chap, and you We never let me feel it. "
He took her hand and raised ii Tpvcrcnt-
ly to his lips
II say, he continued, toll my wife it
made nae happy to have her with mo this
afternoon. Then perhaps she will stay In
another time. l should like her to know.
And she was sweet in her manner, wasn't
s. y And, by Jovc, She is beautiful! /
an glad you have seen her here today. 1t
must be dull for her with AN invalid like
me. And know am irritable, 90 and
tell her that she made me happy, will
you?"
The little bit of happiness at which the
poor fellow snatchcd seemed to make him
more pathetic than before Bcrnardinc
promised to tell his wife and went off to
find her, making as IN excuse n book
WHICH 4hTS' NtHbIu IliI bHhItu ~ ltIlu
her. Mrs. Rcffold was in her bedroom
She asked Bcrnardinc TO sit down while
she searched for the book. She had n very
gracious manner when she chose. You
are looking much better, Miss Holmc,"
she said kindly. II cannot help noticing
your face. 1t looks younger and brighter.
The bracing air has done you good .
Yes, | am better, Bernardinc said,
rather astonshed that Mrs Rcifold should
have noticed her at all. Mr. Allitscn in
forms me that / shall live, but never be
strong. He settles every question Of that
sort TO his own satisfaction, but not always
to the satisfaction Of ether pcoplcp'
He Is Il curious person" Mrs. Reffold
said, smiling, though | must say he is
hot quite as gruff as he used to be, You
seem to be good friends with him.
She would have liked to say more on
this subject but experience hid taught
her that Bcrnardinc was not 10 be trifled
with.
II don't know about being good
friends, Bernaidine said but have
great sympathy for him. ! know myself
what it is TO be cut off from work and nc.
tive life. l have been through misery.
But mine is nothing 10 his I"
She rose to 90 but Mrs Rcffuld detain-