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

mons home on account OF his mother s
illness. When he came back to renew
his visit, he insisted upon staying at YAK
vile Hotel, rather than wear out his wei
come at our house, and finding remon-
STRANGE unavailing, there he went: The
landlord (honest old Downsbury-l won
der if he yet lives) gave Fred: at my sug-
gestion, his best bedroom, ''No. 2O'-I
am particular in mentioning the number.
aHe shall have No. 20" said Downsbury.
aAny friend of yours, Master Augustus,
shall have the best I have to give as long
as I'm landlord" 1t was pleasant room,
looking out on the distant and the beau
tiful branch of the Black Water; but
what cared Fred for scenery? he was in
the hands of the blind god, and could not
see even as far as his nose, except in the
direction of Bellies cottage. / used to
90 over to Fred's room and smoke my
segar, while he, poor wretch, expatiated
on his sufferings, doubts and solicitude.
Did she love him that was the question
which disturbed every moment of his ex-
istence, and to which, with the closest
reasoning, he could not bring himself to
a satisfactory reply. Sometimes ne
thought word or sign settled thepoint
beyond doubt in his favor and at 9TH
ers he fancied he read GOODNESS and in
difference in her-cyes. In this condition
of uncertainty be dared not press the
question lest a hasty step might bring
him to grief
At-Fred's earnest solicitation prom
ised to sound Belle as to her sentiments,
if favorable opportunity presented it
self, 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 prolong-
ing his misery. Itso happened, however,
that my services were not called into re-
quisition Belle Bronson, because of the
sudden arrival at her house of some coun-
try cousins, was obliged to give up her
room-scr mothers cottage being small
one-and 10 occupy, for single night. o
room at the hotel. We would have
cheerfully offered her guests accommoda-
tions at our house, but we were in the
same predicament. An agricultural fair
in the village had brought many stran-
gers into the place, and our own guests
were so numerous that | had given up
nay room to two of them, and had inten-
ded asking Fred Evans TO let me pass the
night with him. a-
For this purpose went to the hotel at
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 afterwards became apparent that
ato oblige some lady guest for this night
only" as the landlord expressed it, Fred
had consented to give up "No. TO-" and
occupy small room in the rear of the
building The gas being turned up I
took book to wait his return, and hear
ing at last what appeared to be steps ap-
preaching the room, and supposing it to
be Fred, in momentary impulse to play
a joke on him, l slipped under bed, a
large and high one, intending to initiate
a cat, (of which animal knew he had a
detestation,) as soon as he entered the
room. The door opened, and I was on
the point of indulging in my ventriloqui-
al faculty by giving long drawn MEOW,
when: from my hiding place, beheld
Belle Bronson take quiet possession Of
the apartment
My astonishment was so great, and tho
sense of modification SO intense, that |
did not, as l. should have done, make my
self Immediately known to her. Thus
the opportunity for discovery and expla-
nation was lost dared not move q
hair, but hoped sincerely that some ex-
cuse might take her out of the room for
a moment, and so facilitate my escape.
She, however, locked the door, removed
the key, and, as 1 knew by the sound,
prepared to retire. Finally she kneeled
down beside the bed, and clasping her
hands and bowling her head, $50 feartully
near to mine that could hear the soft
words in my very ear,) she offered up her
evening prayer in a 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 very heart; but one portion went
through it and held it captive. Never
shall Icforget my feeling Of surprise and
deep emotion when I heard her utter
these words: "Bless my dear mother,
sisters and friends; bless all around me,
and, o God bless him 1 love, Augustus
Evergreen, and shower down thy mer-
cies over him. Amen" "Ah, Augustus"
said my divinity to herself, as she rose
from her devoted attitude, eff you but
knew that 1 named your very name in
my prayers, you would be less indifferent
to me!'
fl breathed short before, after this
nv breath seemed to desert me entirely,
and l verify thought that the beating OF
my heart would betray me. Belle, pure
as an angel to me then, and white as a
snowflake, proceeded to turn off the gas
and get into bed. l felt her soft pressure