Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-01-18

/ Black water; but what did Fred care 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 l
used to GO over TO Freds room and smoke nv
| cigar, while he poor wretch, expatiated on his
sutfcrings, doubts, and solicitudes Did she
I love him? that was the question which dis
turbed every moment of Ills existence, and to
| which, with the closest reasoning, he could
not bring a satisfactory reply Sometimes he
! thought word Or sign settled the point be-
yond doubt in his favor, and at others he
! fancied he read a coolness aud Indifference in
her eyes. In this condition of uncertainty Lc
dared not press the question lest a hasty stop
might bring him to griet.
AT Fretl's earnest solicitation promised tc
sound Belle as TO her sentiments, If favor
able arpostunity presented itself, Or at any
rate TO let her know, il an indirect way, tha
I Fred was languishing in distress on ber ac
count, and thus give her no excuse for unnec
essariiy prolongins his misery. /. so hap
penea, however, that my services was no
called into requisiton Belle Bronson, be-
some country cousins, was obliged to give up
] her icom-and TO occupy for single night a
( room at the hotel We would cheerfully have
! offered her guests accommodations at our
house hut We were in the same predicamcnt.
An agricultural fair in the village had brought
| many strangers to the place. and our guests
were so numerous that l had given up my
ioom TO two of il.en, and had intended asking
Fred Evans TO let me pass the night with
him.
For this rarposc went 10 the hotel Mt late
hour, and proceeded at once 10 Treas ROOM but
TO nay surprise found no one there | did not
even notice that the trunk was g,ne, or sus
pcct the fact, which afterwards became appa-
rent. that ''to obligc some lady CUES, for this
night only,: as the lanilord expressed it,
Fred had consented to give up No. 20 and
occupy small room in Tire rear of the build
ing. The gas being turned up, l took book
to await his return, and nearing at las: what
appeared TO be steps approaching the room,
and surposing il TO be Fred, in momentary
impulse 10 play joke on him. slipped under
the bed, large and high one. intending to
initiate cat (of which auimal knew lie had
a dctestaton) IS soon as lie entered Tic room.
The door olenel, and was on The point of
indulging in my ventri!oq uial faculty by Civ
'-ing long-drawn nlieom, when from my hid.
ing place, behed Belle Bronson take quiet
possession Of the apartment
Ny asionishment WAS so great, and the
sense OF modification so tense, that did not
as should have done, make myself immcli-
| ately known 20 her. Thus the opportunity ios
discovery and explanation was lost, dared
rot move hair but hoped sincerely that
some excuse might take her out Of Tic loom
for a moment, and so facilitate my escape
She however, locked the door, removed the
key and, as knew by the sound, prepared to
retire. Finally she kneeled down beside the
bed, and clasping her hands an' bowing her
head $50 fcarfully near to mine that l could
hear the soft words in my very carr she Of
fercd up her evening prayer in q manner so
full of feeling and with such xeet accents
o. womanly tenderness and devotion that
fel, as if she was an angel bending over the
silest Of mortals. That PRAYER went 10 my
heart; but one portion went through it and
held it captive. Never shallI fergct my feel
ings Of surprise and deep emotion when
In, ,,4J bo, ~
mother, sisters, and friends bless all around
me, and, 0 God bless lin l love, Augustus
Evergreen, and shower down thy mercies over
lin, Amen," "Ah, Augustus said my di-
vinty to herself, as she rose from her dcyo-
tional attitude '.if you but knew that named
your very name in my prayers, You would be
less Indifferent 10 met
If | breathcd short before, after this my
breath seemed to dcserte me entirely. aud
verify thought that the beating Of my heart
would hetray me. Belle, pure as an angel to
me then, and white as snow flake, proceeded
to turn off the gas aud get into bed. fel,
her soft pressure my head, and shrunk
closer and closer to the hard floor upon which
was extended Wha, thoughts rushed
through my brain! above me lay young un-
sophisticated girl wholly unconscious that the
one she loved lay SO closely to her, and who
had for the frsttime been made aware OF her
interest in him. by hearing words which she
supposed went only to Heaven! knew then
that the night must pass away, aud the morn
ing must come, and That Belle must first leave
the apartment before could venture even to
change my position.
Belle had lam perfectly motionlcss for
short time and was, l fattered myself, losing
herself fast in Sleep when suddenly she ex>
claimed to herself. "There-l haynt looked
under the bed 4 horror ran through me
all IS lost; what should do 2 Belle rose aud
! heard her feeling for the matches. She
struck one and was moving toward the gas
light, when the lucifcr went OUT, leaving all
darkness again. Blessed relief but how
brief! Again | heard her feeling for the
matches and trying to lgh. one after another,
as they failed 10 ignite; and then an ..Oh
dear, there are no morc!" escaped from her
lips. ''Safe! safev' whispered my soul to
me, and thanked God in silence for my de
liverancc. Belle groped back 10 Tie bed, but
did not Immediately get in: she stopped and
l;fto ~ thu curtains which hrur cr,,,nJ 49,