The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-12-28

| TIC CoIne, NO tnaue " a week or TWO, easily
enough, after had taken him about lit
tie among the young ladies' When that
time had expired Fred said he really must
| go as he didn't know what his father aud
mother would think Of his long absence
but Il ended in his relieving their anxiety
by letter and sending for his trunks. |
knew how the matter was perfectly well,
and that Belle Bronson had bowitched him
out of his tivo senses. Fred tried to put it
on to tho country air and the quiet which
was benehting his health" etc, but it was
no use trying to deceive me, and told him
so. Then he owned up frankly, and prom.
iscd to help him oil | could, il he required
any help in the prosecution of his suit. |
never thought Belle a flirt, or that she
would willingly distress any human being,
but abe had a way OF looking in ones eyes
as if to capiivAte them, for her mere per.
sonal amusement. At any rate she had q
larger share of beaux than the other girls
but all their attentions came to nothing.
| feared it might be so with Fred Evans.
and warned him accordingly: but Fred said
"he'd have her, if he tried all his life "
that without her life was naught to him
that she was the only living being, who
had ever awakened real emotion in his
breast, etc. After that said no more, but
closely observed the lovers ana soon came
to the conclusion that Fred was by no
means disagreeable TO her. Things went
on in this way without any definite result,
until Fred received sudden summons
home on account of his mothers sudden
illness. When he came back to renew his
visit he insisted upon staying at the Oak
vile Hotel rather than wear cut his wei
come at our house, and finding remonstrance
unavailing, there he went The landlord
(honest old Downsbury | wonder if he yet
lives) gave Fred, at my suggestion, his best
bedroom. mo. col am particular in
mentioning the number" He shall have
No. 20" said Downsbury. ANY friend OF
yours. Master Augustus, shall have the
beat have to give AZ long as I'm landlord. y
II was pleasant room looking out on the
distant hills and the beautiful winding
branch of the Blackwater but what cared
Frod for scenery? ho was in the hands of
tho blind god, and could not see even as far
as his nose, except in the direction of Bellies
cottage. fused to go over to Fred's room
and smoke my cigar, while he, poor wretch
expiated on HE suffering, doubt and solici
tudes. Ibid she love him ?'-that was the
question which disturbed every moment of
his existence, and to which, with the
closest reasoning, lie could not bring him
self a satisfactory reply. Sometimes he
thought a word or sigu settled the point
beyond doubt in his favor; at others he
iancied he read GOODNESS and indifference
in her eyes. In this condition of uncertain
ty he dared not press the question lest q
hasty step might bring him to grief
At Fred's earnest solicitation promised
to sound Belle as to her sentiments, if ia
vorable opportunity presented ITSELF or at
any rate to let her know in an indirect
way that Fred was languishing in distress
on her account, and thus give her no Reuse
for prolouging his misery. 1t SO happened
however, that my services were not called
into iequsition. Belle Bronson, because
of the sudden arrival at her house of some
city cousins, was obliged to give up her
room-her mothers cottage being n small
One-and to occupy for a single night room
at the hotel. We would ci,eerfully have
offered her guests accommodation at our
house, but we were in the same predica.
ment. An agricultural fair in the village
had brought many strangers into the place,
and our own guests were 30 numerous that
had given mp my room to two of them,
and had intended asking Fred Evans to let
me pass the night with him.
For this purpose went to the hotel al
a late hour, and proceeded at once to Fred's
room, but to my surprise found no one
there. did not even notice that his trunk
was gone, or suspect the fact, which after
wards became apparent that "to obligc
some lady guests for this night only" as
the landlord expressed it, Fred had con-
sented to give up No. 20" and occupy
small room in the rear of the building. The
light being turned up, | took up book to
await his return, and hearing at last, what
appeared te be steps approaching the room
and supposing it to he Fred, in momenta
ry Impulse to play a joke upon him, slipped
under the bed, large and high one
intending to initiate cat (of which animal
knew he had detestation) SO soon as he
entered the room. The door opened, and
was on the point of indulging in my ven
triloquial faculty by giving long.drawn
" mei0W when from my hiding place be.
held Belle Bronson take quiet possession Of
the apartment.
My astonishment was so great, and the
sense of modification so intense, that did
not, as | should have done, make myself i'm.
mediately known to her. Thus the oppor.
tunity for discovery and explanation vas
lost. dared not move a hair, but hoped
sincerely that some excuse might take her
ont of the room for moment, aud so facili.
tate my escape. She, however, locked the
door, removed the key, and as knew by
the sound prepared to retire. Finally she
kneelod down beside the bed, and clasping
her hand aud bowing her head $50 fearfnlly
near to mine that could hear tho soft words
in my very car,) she offered up her evening
prayer in manner so full of feeling, and
with such sweet accents of womanly ten,
derness and devotion, that felt as if she
was an angel bending over the rilest of NOR
tails. That prayer went to my heart but
one portion of it went through it aud held
il captive. Never Rhall forget my feelings
of surprise and my deep emotion when
heard her utter these words: Bless my
dear mother, sisters and frends bless all |
aroudd me, and o God bless him love,
Augustus Evergreen, and shower down
Thy mereies over him. Amen" All Au
gustus said my divinity to herself as she |
lrose from her devotional attitude, :" if you
but know that named your very name in
my prayers, you would be less Indifferent |
10 me !"
If breathed short before, after this my |
breath seemed to desert me entirely, and |
verify thought the beating Of my heart
would betray me. Belle, pure as an angel |
10 me then, and white as a snow fake, pro-
,eeded to put out the light and get into
bed. felt her soft pressure over my head, |
Ind | shrnnk myself closer and closer TO |
he hard floor upon which / was extended |
What thoughts rushed through my brain
A AbOve inc lay yolng and unsophisticated |
girl, unconscious that the one she loved lay |
30 closely to her, and who had for the first |
ha..u ID nf In- ...to -.