Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-11-17

: promised to help him all could, if he r
quired any help in the prosecution of
suit. / never thought Belle flirt, or tn,
she would willingly distress any human b
ing but she had a way of looking in one
eyes as if to captivate him, for her mere pc
sonal amusement. At any rate she had
larger share of beaux than the other girl
but al! their attentions came to nothing.
feared it might be so with Fred Evens, an
warned him accordingly; but Fred sal
he'd shave her if he tried all bis life; !" tina
without her life was naught to him !" tina
"she was the only living being who ha
ever awakened real emotion in his breast,
ETC., etc. After that / said no more, bu
closely observed the lovers, and soon cam
to the conclusion that Fred was by no mean
disagreeable to her. Things went on in thi
way without any definite result until Free
received a sudden summons home on accoun
of his mothers Illness When he came bacl
to renew his visit he insisted upon staying
at the Oakville Hotel rather than wear ou
his welcome at our house, and finding re
monstrances unavailing, there he went. Tht
landlord (honest old Downsbury-I wonder
if he yet lives) gave Fred, at my suggestion
his best bedroom, "No. 20"-I am part;cu
lar in mentioning the number "He shall
have No. 90" said Downsbury. "Any friend
of yours, Augustus, shall have the best ]
have to give as longs I'm landlord" 1t was
pleasant room, looking out on the distant
hills and the beautiful winding branch of
the Blackwa.er; but what cared Fred for
| scenery he was in the blind god, and could
not see even as far as his nose, except in the
direction of Bellies cottage. / used to go
over to Fred's room and smoke my cigar,
while he, poor wretch, expatiated on his
sufferings, doubts, and solic::ndes. Did she
love him that was the question which dis.
turbed every moment of his existence, and
to which, with the closest reasoning, he
could not bring himself satisfactory reply.
Sometimes he thought word or q sign set
tied the point beyond doubt in his favor /;
at others he fanced he read GOODNESS and
OF uncertainty he dared not press the ques-
tion lest hasty step might bring him to
grief.
At Fred's earnest solicitation promised
to sound Belle as to her sentiments, if fa-
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 excuse
for unnecessarily prolonging his misery. 1t
so happened, however, that my services
were not called into requisition. Belle Bron-
son, because of the sudden arrival at her
house OF some country cousins, was obliged
to give up her room-her mothers cottage
being small one-and to occupy for sim
gle night room at the Motel. We would
checrfully have offered her guests accommo-
dation at our house, but we were in the
same predicament. An agricultural fair in
the village had brought many strangers into
the place, and our own guests were so nu-
merous that had given up NY 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 at 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 afterward
became apparent, tina: "to o5lige some lady
guests for this night only,"as the landlord ex-
mo. 20" and occupy small room in the
rear of the building. The gas being turned
up | took book to await his return, and
hearing at last what appeared to be steps
approaching the room, and supposing it to
oe Fred, in momentary impulse to play
joke upon him / slipped under the bed, a
large and high one, intending to initiate
cat (of which animal knew he had q de.
testation) so soon as he entered the ROOM
The door opened, and was on the point of
indulging in my ventriloquial faculty by
giving long drawn mieo,o, when from my hi
ding place beheld Belle Bronson take quiet
possession of the apartment!
My astonishment was so great, and the
sense of modification so intense, that did
not, as l should have done, make myself i'm
mcdiately known to her. Thus the oppor-
tunity for discovery and explanation was
lost / dared not move hair, but hoped
sincerely that some excuse might take her
out of the room for a moment, and SO facili-
tate 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, and clasping
her hands and bowing her head ESQ fearful!y
near to mine that l could hear the sof:
words in my very ear), she offered up her
evening prayer in manner so full Of feeling,
and with such sweet accents of womanly
tenderness and devotion, that felt as If she
was an angel bending over the vilest of
mortals. That prayer went to my heart ;
but one portion of it went through and held
of surprise and my deep emotion when
heard her utter these words:
"Bless my dear mother, sisters, and friends;
bless all around me, and, o God bless him
l love, Augustus Evergreen, and shower
down thy mercies over him. Ameu." "Ah
Augustus" said my divinity to herself, as
she arose from her devotional attitude, 'ii
you but new that named your very name
in my prayers, you would be less indifferent
to me |"
If breathed short before, after this my
breath seemed to deser. me entirely, and
verify thought that the beating of my hear
would betray me. Belle, pure as an ange
to me then, and white as a snowflake, pro
ceeded to turn off the gas and to get intt
bed. l felt her soft pressure over my head
and shrunk closer and closer to the hare
floor upon which was extended. Wha
thoughts rushed through my brain! Abov
me lay young and unsophisticated gir
wholly unconscious that the one she lovet
lay so closely to her, and who had for tn
first time been made aware Of her interest il
him, by hearing words which she suppose'
went only to Heaveni l knew then tina
the night must pass away, and the mornin
come, and that Belle must first leave tn
/ apartment before could venture to chang
! even my position. aa
J Belle had lain perfectly motioLless fo
: several minutes and was, fattered mysei
! losing herself in sleep, when suddenly sn
: exclaimed to herself "fhere-l maven