Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-01-18

OF her interest IN him, DY nearing
words which she supposed went only to
heaven knew then that the night
must pass away, and the morning
come, and that Belle must first leave
the apartment before | could venture
to change even my position.
Belle had lain perfectly motionless
for several minutes and Twas flattering
myself, losing herself in sleep, when
suddenly she exclaimed to herself,
"There-I haven't looked under the
bed p A horror ran through me; all
is lost; what should [? Belle rose
and | heard her feeling for the matches.
She struck one and was moving to-
ward the gas-light when the lucifer
went out, leaving all darkness again.
Blessed relief; but how brief! Again
| heard her feeling for the matches
and try to light one after another. as
they failed TO ignite; and then an
"Oh, dear there are no more! !! es-
capped from her lips. "Safe safe p
whispered my soul to me, and [ thank
ed God in silence for my deliverance.
Belle CROPPED back to the bed, but not
Immediately to get in she stopped and
lifted the curtains which were hung
around the bottom and cautiously
passed her hand under and around as
far as it could reach. Apparently
satisfied that no danger was near her.
she lay down in the bed again and |
counted her respirations till she
was lost in slumber.
As for myself, sleep was out Of the
question. | never was so wide awake
in my life. How lay on that hard
carpet and thought the night out !!
thought Of her. and her love for me
thought of myself. and my love for
her les, | was convinced from that
moment that the hand of destiny was
in it, and that a benign and aII-wise
Providence had seen fit il this ex-
traordinary way to open my eyes to
the path Of happiness and peace.
:ith the morning light, fresh fears
came upon me lest my unconscious
roommate might yet peer beneath the
bed for robbers before she left the
room; but my fears were groundless.
She rose and dressed expeditOuslv.
for she was to JOIN her cousins at all
early breakfast, and she had oversight
herself. When at last she took the
key, unlocked the door and departed.
| lost no time in slipping out Of my
shameful place OF conceaiment and es-
capiu. from the 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 iiI-spent life. And your
coat TOO, why its ali over feathers
and dust. Where have YOU been?"
Why, l alcpt-alept out last night :
that's ALL Our house is full. and so
| had to find quarters elsewhere, I'm
Just going home to dress.
Il should say 50 decidedly. | see
it all, Old fellow! You've been on a
lark, and had to put up in the lookup !;
come now. own up aud tell us all
about it.
No lark at all, Fred; nothing of
the kind, | assure YOU"
well, if not a lark what kind of
a bird was it? From the looks Of
the feathers l should say it was a
goose"
you're the goose, Fred. But, Sc
riousIy, I've a word to say to you of
most important nature. Be man,
Fred, and make up your mind to hear
something diSagreeable. 1t must be
told YOU sooner or later, and may
as well tell YOU now"
"Good Heavens, Gus how earnest
YOU look at me; you don't mean to
say that--that anything has happened
to Bell Bronson ?"
Don't mention her name again,
Fred or don't think Of her any more,
for she'll never be anything to you.
! have it from one who knows all
about it, that she has been attached
to somebody else, and that somebody
else means to marry her There 5
no mistake about it; so bear up and
try your luck elsewhere"
But Fred Evans was not to be dis
couraged by mere hearSay. That
very day he went to see Belle, deter
mined to know his fate from her Owl
lips. Soon alter he left Oakville anC
[ did not see him again for severa
years. when meeting him in towI
one day, insisted on bringing hin
home with me and presenting him t.
his old flame, Belle Bronson-th,
present Mrs. Evergreen.
"Ah, Gus Y said he, after dinner
when my wife and the little Ever
greens had left US to ourselves-"Ah
Gus, You served me a shabby tricl
when YOU allowed me to lose my hear
to the girl you were all along intend
ing to marry yourself-a very shabb
trick, one OF which | never suspects
! ! your
7 So had to tell him (in strict cor
fidence, of course, as | tell you reaC
! er,) all about the bedroom affair a
! the Oakville Hotel, and the love tina
grew out Of it.
A few Sabbaths since, in a town
/. the vicinity of Rochester, teacher (
/ a Sunday School was engaged in que
d tioning his pupils upon the subjec
II connected with their previous studio