The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-01-03


haven't looked under the bed 7" A hor
ror ran through me; all is lost; what
should I do2 Belle rose, and 1 heard hel
feeling for the matches. She struck one
and was moving toward the gas light
when the lucifer went out, leaving al
darkness again. Blessed relief; but how
brief Again I heard her feeling for the
matches and trying to light one after an
other, as they failed to ignite; then an
"Oh, dear, there are no more" escaped
from her lips. "Safe! safe P" whispered
my soul to me, and I thanked God IN 81,
slence for my deliverance. Belle groped
back to the bed, but did not Immediately
get in; she stopped and lifted the cur,
tains which hung around the bottom and
cautiously passed her arm under and
around as far as it could reach. l almost
felt her fingers Craze my face as l held
myself fcarfully 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,
and I counted her respirations till she was
lost in slumber.
AS for myself, sleep was utterly out OF
the question. 1 never was 30 wide awake
in my life How 1 lay upon that hard
carpet and thought the night out !
thought of her, and her love for me,
thought of myself and my love for her.
Yes, / was convinced from that moment
that the hand of destiny was in it, and
that benign and all-wise Providence had
seen fit in this extraordinary way to open
my eyes to the path of happiness and
peace.
With the morning light fresh fears
came upon me lest my unconscious room
mate might yot peer beneath the bed for
robbers before she left the room; but my
fears were groundless. She arose and
dressed expeditiously, 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, l lost no time in slipping out of
nv shameful place of concealment and
escaping from the hotel On the stairs 1
met Fred coming out of his room, who
exclaimed:
"Why, what's the matter with you, old
felIow2 You look like the last days of
an ill-spent life. And your coat, too
why it's all over feathers and dust.
Where have you been? ?"
"Why, slept-slept out last night !;
that's all Our house is full, and SO Ihad
to find quarters elsewhere. Pm just go
ing home to dress"
II should say so decidedly. I SEQ 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."
aNo lark at all, Fred nothing of the
kind, assure you"
"Well, if not lark what kind of q bird
was it? From the looks of the feathers
should say it was goose"
"You're the goose, Fred. But seriously,
I've word to say to you OF most I'm,
portant nature. Be man, Fred, and
make up your mind to hear something
excessively y disagreeable. Itmust be told
you sooner or later, and 1 may as we'll
tell it now"
"Good Heavens, Gus! how earnest you
look at me; you don't mean to say that
any thing has happened to Belle Bron-
SOM"
"Dont mention her name again, Fred,
or think of her any more, for she'll never
be anything to you. l have it from one
who knows all about it, that she has long
been attached to somebody else, and that
somebody 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 hcarsay. That very day
he went to see Belle, determined to know
his fate from her own lips. Soon after ne
left Oakville and / did not see him again
for several years, when, meeting him in
town one day, I insisted on bringing him
home with me and presenting him to his
old fame, Belle Bronson-the present
Mrs Evergreen.
"Ah, Fred !" said he, after dinner, when
my wife and the little Evergreens had
left us to ourselves-"Ah, Fred, you serv.
ed me q shabby. trick when you allowed
me to lose my heart to the girl you wore
ali along intending to marry yourself
very shabby trick, one of which 1 never
suspected you!' -
So had to tell him Gin strict conf
dence, of course, as tell you, reader,
all about the bedroom affair at the Oak
vile Hotel, and the love that grew out o.
it.
AN UNFORTUNATE STRANGER. = Gear
you tell me-" said stranger to a gentle
man in ballroom, "who that lady is neal