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

the matches. She struck one aud was mov-
ing toward the gaslight, when the luclfor
went out, leaving all darkness again.
Blessed relief; but how briofl Again
heard her feeling for tho matches and try
to light one after another, as they failed to
lguite then an "0h, dear there arc nv
moro ! escaped from her lips. Safe Safe !"
whispered my soul to me, and l thanked
God in silence for my delvorance. Belle
gropod back to the bed but did not imme.
diately get in; she stopped and lifted the
curtains which hung around the bottom
and cautiously passed her arm under and
around as far as she could reach. almost
felt her hand Craze my face as held my.
self fear(ulIy aud silently back against the
wall, too far, just too far, for her to reach
Apparently satisfied that no danger was
near her. she hy down in the bed again
aud counted her resprations till she was
lost IN slumber
As for myself sleep was utterly out Of
the question. | never was so wide awake
in my life. How lay upon that hard car
pet and thought the night out thought
of her and her love for me thought OF my
self and my love for her. Yes, was con.
WINGED from that moment that the hand Of
destiny was in it, and that benign and
allwise Providence had seen At in this ex
traordinary way to open my eyes to tbs
path of happiness and peace.
With the morning light fresh fears came
upon me lest my unconscious roommate
nigh yet peer beneath the bed for robbers
before she left the room but my fears were
groundless, She rose and dressed expedi.
tiously, for she was to Join her cousins at
an early breakfast, and had oversight her.
self. Wheu at last she took tho key, un.
locked the door aud departed, lost no
time in slipping out of my shameful place
of oonealment aud escaping frsm tho hotel
On the stairs | met Fred coming out of his
room who exclaimed:
"Why. what's the matter with you, old
fellow! You look like the last days of an
ill-speut life. And your coat, too-why,
it's all feathers ami dust. Where hare you
been ;"
"Why slept --slept ow last night that's
all. Our house is full, so | had to find
quarters elsewhere. I'm just going home
to drcss.'
"T should say 80 decidedly. see ,it all,
old fellow You've been on lark, and had
to put up in the watch.house, come now,
own up, and tell us all about it,"
mo lark at all, Fred nothing of the kind
| assure you"
"Well, if not lark what kind of bird
was it? From the looks of tho feathers
should say it was goose.
You're the goose. Fred, but seriously,
I've word to say to you of most impor.
tant nature. Bo man, Fred, aud make up
your miud to hear something excessively
disagrceable. 1t must be told you sooner
or later, and may as well tell it now."
"Good Heaven, Gus. how earnest you
look at me you don't mean to saw that
anything has happened to Belle Bronson !"
Don't mention her name again, Fred, or
think of her any more, for she'll never be
anything to you. Ihave it from one that
knows all about it, that she has long been
attached to somebody else, aud that some.
body else means to marry her. There's no
mistake about it; so bear up and try your
luck elsewhere"
But Fred Evans was not to be discour-
aged by mere hearsay. That very day he
went to see Be le, determined to know his
fate from her own lips. Soon after he left
Oalvile and did not see him again fer
several years, when, meeting him in town
one day, insisted on bringing him homo
with me and presenting him to his old fame,
Belle Bronson--the present Mrs. Evergreen.
All, Gus said he, after dinner, when
my wife aud the Evergreens had left us to
ourselves" All, Gus, you served me a
shabby trick when you allowed me to lose
my heart to the girl you were oil along in
tending to marry yourself-a very shabby
trick one which | never suspected you"
So had to tell (n strict confidence, of
course, az tell you reader) all about the
bedroom affair at the 0akville Hotel, and
the love that grew out of it.