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

ever awakened real emotion in his
breast etc.. etc. After that | said
no more. but closely observed the
lovers, and soon came to the conclu,
sion that Fred was by no means dis
agreeable to her. Things went on III
this way without any definite result
until Fred received a sudden summons
home on account of his mothers i'll
ness. When he came back to renew
his visit he insisted upon staying al
the OakyilIe hotel rather than wearing
out his welcome at our house, and
finding remOnstrance unavailing. there
he went. The landlord (honest old
Downsbury-l wonder if he yet lives
gave Fred, at my suggestion, his best
bedroom. "No. 20"-I am particular
in mentioning the number. ''He shall
have No 20" said DOwnsbury. "Any
friend of yours, Master Augustus,
shall have the best [ have to give as
longs I'm landlord" 1t was a pleas.
ant room, looking out on the distant
hills and the beautiful winding branch
OF the Blacllwater 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 tie 90 over to Fred's room and
smoke my cigar, while he, poor wretch,
eXpatiated on his suiferings, doubts,
and sOEcitudes. Did she love him
that was the question which disturbed
every minute Of his existence, and to
which with the closest reasoning, he
could not bring himself satisfactory
reply. sometimes he thought a word
or a sign settled the point beyond a
doubt in his favor; at others he fan
cied he read a GOODNESS and inditfer-
ence in her eyes In this condition OF
uncertainty he dared not press the
question lest a hasty step might bring
him to grief
At Fred's earnest solicitation
promised to sound Belle as to her
sentiments, if a favorable opportunity
presented itself, or at any rate 10 let
her know, in an indirect way, that
Fred was Ianguishine in distress on
her account, and thus give her no ex-
cuse for unnecessarily prolonging his
misery. 1t so happened, however.
that my services were not called into
requisition. Belle Bronson. because
Of the sudden arrival at her house Of
some country cousins, was obliged to
give up her room-her mothers cot
4 tage being Il small One-aud To occu-
! py for a single night d room az the
hotel. We would cheertully have
offered her guests accommodation at
our house, but we We're in the same
predicament. An agricultural fair al
our village had brought many stran-
( gers into our place, and our own guests
were so numerous that | had given up
my room to two Of them, and had in
tended asking Fred Evans to let me
pass the night with him.
For this purpose went to the hotel
at a late hour, and proceeded at once
to Fred room, but to my surprise
found no one there. | did not even
notice that his trunk was gone, OF
: suspect the fact, which atterward be
came apparent, that "that to obligt
, some lady guests for this night only,
5 as the landlord expressed it, Fred had
consented to give up NO. 20" and
: occupied small room in the rear oi
, the building. The gas being turned
} up took d book to await his return
and hearing at last what appeared tC
be steps approaching the room, anC
Supposing it to be Fred, in momen
= tary impulse to play joke upon hin
2 | slipped under the bed, large anC
} high one, intending to initiate a cat
! (of which animal | knew he had ;
D detestation) SO soon as he entered th'
e room, The door opened, and | wa
: on the point OF indulging in my ven
triloquial faculty by giving long
Y drawn mieoeo, when from my hidin;
:. place | beheld Belle Bronson TAX
: quiet possession Of the apartment!
Q My astonishment was so great an,
: the sense of modification so intense
# that | did not, as | 5nould have done
e make myself Immediately known t
t her Thus the opportunity for di>
5 covery and explanation was lost.
d dared not move hair, but hope
k sincerely that some excuse might tax
f her out Of the room for a momen
| and so facilitate my escape. Sht
o however, locked the door, remove
e the key, and as | knew by the soun(
= prepared to retire. Finally S h
kneeled down beside the bed, an
N claSped her hands and bowing he
it head so tearfully near to mine that
,e could hear the soft words i'll my ver
a ear,) she offered up her evening pra.
d er in a manner so full of feeling, al
le with such sweet accents of womanI
I'd tenderness and devotion, that | felt {
O. if she was an angel bending over IL
I'd viIeSt of mortals. That prayer wei
b. to my heart; but one portion wei
10 through it and held it captive, Ne
70 er shall | forget my feelings of su
IT. prise and deep emotion when | hear
le her utter these words: ''Bless n
lis dear mother, sisters and friends bic
Oh all around me, and O, God! BILE
let him l love, Augustus Evergreen, al
C., shower down thy mercies over hi
We Amen" "Ah, Augustus" said my
IN vinity, "if you but knew that | nam
lip your very name in my prayers, y
nv would be less Indifferent to mel
- III breathed short before, after Il
aat my breath seemed to desert me entil
hu- Iy and T verify thOuUht nv hes