American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1867-01-12

girl, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that the one
she loved lay 50 closely to her, and
who had for the first time been made
aware Of her interest in him, by hear
ing 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 !
yCutWl 10 change even my position
/ Be'lr had lain perfectly mOtiOnless
for setGa' minutes. and was, | fiat
tered myself, losing herself in sleep.
when suddenly she exclaimed to her
self, " There haven't looked under
the bed :" \ horror ran through me:
all is lost: what shall [ do, Belle
rose. and / heard her feeling for the
matches. She struck one and was
moving toward the gasiight, when
/ the luCitc" went out, leaving all III
darkness again. Blessed relief: but
how brief? Again | heard her feel
ing for tie matches and try 70 light
one after another. as they failed to
ignite; then an "Oh, dear, there are
mo more. .' escaped from her lips.
" Safe. safe" whispered my soul to
me, and | thanked God in silence for
my deliverance. Bell groped back
to the bed but did not Immediately
get in; she stopped and lifted the
curtains which hung around the bot
tOm and cautiously passed her arm
under and around as far as it could
reach, ! almostfelt her fingers Craze
my face as / held myself fearfuuy
and silently back against the wall,
too far, just too far Tor her reach.
Apparently s3t.led that no danger
was near her, she lay down in the
bed again, and I counted her rcspira-
lions till she was lost in alumber,
rs for myself sleep was utterly
.oUJ of the question. ! never was 50
wide-awake in my life. How ! lay
upon that hard carpet and thought
the night t.-thought OF her and
my love for her. Yes, | was con
yjnced llom that moment that the
hand Of destiny was in it, and that
benign and all-vise Providence had
seen 1T in this extraordinary way to
open ny eyes to the path OF h&pp!-
ness and peace.
With the morning light fresh fears
came upon me lest my unconscious
room-mate might yet peer beneath
the bed for robbers before she LETT
.theroo but my fears were ground
less. She rose aad dressed eNpoal-
tiousll, Tor She was 20 Join her cou-
5 rs at an early breakfast and She
had ovgrs!cp, herself. When at last
she TOOK llle "rN' lilI"cAeu '!ic uGoi 10.
ana departed. lo'. no 'Ine ~ s''I'
ping uat OIL III! sit'HieL'4 nav "a
.cohcedIAlsiI ana t'."i.',.- - '''I r,I Wy
hotel On 'Ao stairs Hyl / ~"
coming out Oh 'at I'JiA' N"o ga
claimed: .,.
" ny, "A,'t ID. ll'l,gI way" ) '"'
Old ie-lo" Aou Ie.h IKE ',it l',.
days ct al A.->leht Me -AhH Il, y c'.l ,.,
coat, tuo-Why II Is all over Nl'l i'"-
theirs and dust W mere nave s'"
been ..,.
W ny Ia.ti J--'tel'' o'-' 4"s' =, !" Is ''
that's all. ON house Is ;" l"lI, anu ...
50 ! hae 10 lhg quarters els. W A-,. ''
I'm .'o.. gong L"..'' ~ a. = ru
- should So. @o- osoiog,HlS. see
it all old .y.s". ts., We uyeH On i,
. lark, 21a-.r -t '."- up IN 'He Ni','.'. !. n
house: com. now own up ana y'-'
us al a.'G' o., ~, .-.-.:-a %.
tLe nl-u' / "'7''-' u 7.;.,l ,.
" tl+' Il Heo Il t'.-A ma Nii''' - - ~.
. Il U.iu vas II LII o1'i '., ,a(- - a,,s a.
the lti,,LS-S s'-o'-''' say IL '''-