The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-11-16

tot AiCu "no tuukuisunB u uiodSco ou uS'
account, and thus give her no excuse foI
for unnecessarily prolonging his misery
Il SO happened, however, that my services
were not called into rcquisition. Belle
Bronson. because OF the sudden arrival ol
some country cousins at her house, wa
obliged to give up her rooin-her mother 8
cottage being small one-nnd to occupy
for single night room at the hotel. We
would cheerfully have offered her guests
accommodations at our house, but we were
in the same predicanIent. An agricultural
fair had brought many strangers into the
place, and our own guests were % numer-
o,is that ! had given up my room to two ol
them, and ha, Intended asking Fred Evans
TO let me pass the night with him.
For this purpose went to the hotel at q
late hour. and proceeded at once to Fred's
room. hut 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 oblige
some lady guest for this night only" ns
the landlord expressed Il, Fred had con.
sented to give up 1No. 20" and occupy a
small room in the rear Of the building. The
gas being turned up took book to await
his return, and hearing at last what ap-
peared to he steps approaching the room,
and supposing il to be Fred, In q momen.
tary impulse to play joke on him slip
ped under the he'd, large and high one,
Intending to initiate cat (of which animal
| knew he had detestation) as soon as he
entered the room. The door opened, and
was on the point Of indulging In my ven.
triloqnial faculty by long.drawn mieop,
when from my hiding.place l~held Belle
Bronson take quiet possession Of the ap-
partment
My astonishment was SO great, and the
sense of modification so intense, that
did not, as | should have done, make my
self Immediately known to her. Thus the
opportunity for discovery and explanation
was lost. ! dared not move hair, but
hoped sincerely that some excuse might
take her out Of tho room for moment, and
SO facilitate my escape. She, however,
locked the door, removed the key, and, as
knew by the sound, prepared to retire.
Finally she kneeled down beside the bed,
aud clasping her hands and bowling her
head ESQ fearfilly near to mine that
could hear the soft words in my very ear,)
she offered up her evening prayer in man.
ner so full Of feeling, aud with such sweet
accents of womunly tenderness aud devo-
tion, that felt rs IL she was us angel bend.
ing over the vilest Of MORALS. That prayer
went to my heart hut one portion Of il
went through it aud held it captive. Never
shall forget my feelings of surprise and
deep emotion when hcur,l her utter these
words: bless my dear mother. sisters, and
friends; bless all around me. aud, o God
bless him love, Augustus Evergreen, and
shower down Thy mercies over him.
Amen All, Augustus" said my di.
vinity to herself, rs she rose from her do
vo,ional attitude, ",if you but knew that
named your very name in my prayers, you
would be less Indifferent 10 me y
lf breathed short before, after this my
breath seemed to desert mo entirely, and ]
verify thought that the heating Of my heart
would betray me. Belle, pure as an angel
10 ine then, and white as q flake, prO-
cccdcd to turn off the gas and get into bed.
felt her soft pressure over my head, and
sl,r,ink closer and closer to the hard floor
upon which ! was extended. What
thoughts rushed through my brain above
the luy n young and unsophisticated girl
wholly unconscious that the one she loved
lay so closely to her, and who had for the
first time been made aware Of her interest
In him, by hearing words which she sup.
posed went only to Heaven! ! knew then
that the night must pass away, aud the
morning come, aud that Belle must first
leave the apartment before ] could ven.
ture ~ change even my position.
Belle had lain perfectly motionless for
several minutes and was flattered myself,
losing herself in sleep, when suddenly she
exclaimed to herself, There ! haven't
looked under tho bed!' A horror ran
through me oil is lost what should do :!
belle rose and hearl her feeling for the
matches She struck one and was moving
toward the gus light. when the lucifer went
out, leaving all darkness again. Blessed
relief; but how briei Again hearJi her
feeling for the matches and trying to light
one after another, as they failed TO ignite |;
then an " Oh dear, there are no more !"
escaped from her lips. 1Safe! safe I"
whispered my soul to me, and thanked
God in silence for my deliverance. Belle
groped back to the bed, but did not imne.
dialely get in she stopped and lifted the
curtains which hung around the bottom,
and cautiously passed her arm under and
around as far rs il could reach. ] almost
felt her fingers graze my face rs held my
self feariuIly aud silently hack against the
wall, too far, just too fnr for her reach. APP
parcntly satisfied that no danger was near
her. she lay down in her bed again, and
! counted her rcspirations ill she was lost
IN sluml'er.
As for myself sleep was utterly out Of
the question. never was 50 wide.awake
in my life. How lay upon that hard car.
pc, and though, the night OH, !-thouyh, of
her, and her love for me thought Of my
self and my love for her. Yes, was con.
vinced from that moment that the hand Of
destiny WINS in it. aud that benign aud all.
wise Providence had seen fit In this extra.
ordinary way TO open my eyes to the path
Of happiness and peace.
With the morning light fresh fears came
upon me lest my unconscious rO0m mnte
might yet peer beneath, the bed for robbers
before she left the room hut my fears were
Eroun'lless. She rose and dressed expe-
for she was to join her cousins
at an early breakfast and she had oversight
herself When at last she took the key.
unlocked the door, and departed, ! lost no
time in slipping out Of my shameful place
Of concenlment and escaping from the ho-
tel. On The stairs met Fred just coming
out of his room who exclaimed:
"Why, what's the matter with you, old
fellow7 You look like the last days Of an
ill.spent liz. And your coat, too-why, It's
oil over feathers and dust. Where haze You
ieen?"
Why, I slept slept out last night
that's all. Our house is full. and % ] had
to find quarters elsewhere. I'm just going
home to dress.
III should say 70 decidedly Isec Il Nh, old
fellow! You've been on lark, and hal
to put up In tho watcb.house; come now,
own up aud tell us al about IL"
"No lark ., all Fred nothing Of the
kind, assare you"
Well if not t@k what kind OF Q biri