Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1867-03-07

pared to retire. Finally she kneeled
dowd by the side of the bed and clasping
her bands andgboWiDg ber head (so fear
fully near to mine that ! could hearth
sOA words in my very ear, she offered
up herevening prayerin manner 30
full Of feeling, and with such sweet ae-
cent? Of womSnly tenderness and devos
ton, that / felt as If she was On angel
bendingover thaRilest Of morta,s. That
prayer went to my heart; but1 one poy.
tion went through il and held it captive.
Mover shalloL forget my feelings Of .sarr
prise and deep emotion when /, heard
her utter these ,RSrds Bless my dear
mother, sisters and friends; bless all
around me, and, OGOd bless him
love, Augustus Evergreen, and shower
down thy mercieS over him, Amen,'-
'Ah, Augustus said my divinity to her.
self, asshe rose from the devotional at-
titude, If you but knew that | named
your very Dame in my prayers, you would
be less Indifferent tOmel aaagGf 8,s
fl breathed short before, after this
my breath seemed to desert me entirely,
and I Verilythought that the beating Of
my heart would betray me. Bslles pure.
asan angel to me them and white as a
snow. fake, proceeded to turu off the gas
and get intO bed, i felt her soft press
ure over my head, and shrunk Clogsr the
hard floor upon which Twas extended
What thoughts rushed through my brAinl
above me laying q young and unsophis.
ticatcd girl wholly unconscious that the
one she loved lay so closely to her, and
WHO had for the frst time been made
aware of her interest 10 him, by hearing
words which she supposed went only to
Heaven! I knew then that the plight
must pass away, and the morning, come
and that Bell must first leave the apart
ment before ! could venture to change
even my position,
Belle had lain perfectly motionless for
several minutes and was, 4 iattered my
self, losing heraelfj.inrleep, when and
denly sho exclaimed to herself, There
| haven't looked under the bed 7 *
horror ran throush ma; all is lost
what should I do2 Belltose and heard
her feeling for the matches. She struck
one andWas moving the gas5light, whom
the lucifer went nut leaving all darkness
again. Blessed relief; but how briefi
Again, I heard her feeling for the match
cd and trying to light one after aEOther,
as they failed to ignite then an SOh
dear, there ore nomore 4 escaped from
her lips Safe safol whispered my
soul to me, and l thanked God in silence
for my deliverancc. Belle grOped back
to the bed, but did not Immediately get
iu she stopped and lifted The curtains
which hung around the bottom and cau-
tiously passed her arm under and around
as far as It could reach. / almost felt
her fingers Craze my face as I held my
self fearfulIy and silently back against
the wall, too far just too far for her
reach, Apparently satisfied that no
danger was near her, she lay down in the
bed again, ! counted her respirations till
she was lost in slumber, iiges 70 l9c
AS for myself, sleep was utterly out of
the question. ! never was so wide' awake
in my life. How lay upon that hard
carpet and thought the night out i
thought Of her, and her love for me
Of myself and my love for her.
Yes. l was convinced from that moment
tIIato, the hand OF destiny was in it, and
that d benign and all.wise Providence
had seen fit in this extraordinary way to
open my eyes to the path of happiness
and peace. 4, 80 tI1 3g s3ab 3aea3q
8 With the morning light fresh fears
came upon me lest my unconscious
room-mate might yet peer beneath the
bed for robbers before she left the room
but my fears were groundless, She rose
and dressed expeditiously, for shO was to
Join her cousins at an early breakfast,
and she had over slept herself. When
at last the took stheakey, unlocked the
door, and departed, / lost no time in
slipping out of my shameful place of
,onceslmentan and escaping from the hotel.
On the stsirs / met Fred coming out Of
bis room, who exclaimedca a5nszsStgo 1
why, what's the matter with you, old
ellowl You look like the last days Of
in ill,spent life. And your coat, too
Why, Its aIfover feathers and DUST
Where haze you been9' q y. arl
SWhy, / slopt--slept ont last night
hats all. Our house is full, and so /
lad to find quarters elsewhere. I'm just
,oing home to dress. i'& 3a
Il should say so. decidedly / see it
II, old fellowl You've been on q lark,
nd had to put up in the watch house;
ONE now, own up and tell as all about
H.
sNolark at all, Fred; nothing Of the
ind, / assure you 8 .s9 i1ii lRsb
We'll, IL not a lark what kind Of .
ird was it2 From the looks Of the
sathers l should say It was agoose.'
Y 'Yoa're the goose, Fred. Y But, ucri-
usly, I've q word to say to yon Of a
nost impOrtantnature. Be man, Fred,
ind make up your mind to hear some-
itN4 A.lf ~ 1u4Aapt4t 81 ~ f-.g talA7,t fti