Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-10-20

NHHSoN0 WCht O1A1 W
Heaven !
Belle laid perfectly motion
less for several minutes and was,
/ flattered myself, losing herself
in sleep, when suddenly she ex-
claimed to herself, sThere-I
haven't looked under the bed 2
A horror ran through me /; all
lis lost what should / do p
Belle rose and / heard her feel
ing for the matches. She struck
one and was moving toward
the gas-light, when the lucifer
went out, leaving all darkness
again. Blessed relief /; but how
bfiefl Again 1 heard her feel
ing for the matches and try to
light one after another, as they
failed to ignite then and oh
dear, there are no more I es-
capped her lips. Safe ! safe ?
whispered my soul to me-
Belle CROPPED back to the bed,
but did not Immediately get in;
she stopped and lifted the cur
tains which hung around the
the bottom and cautiously pass
ed her arm under and around as
far it could reach. / almost felt
her fingers Craze my face as I
held myself fearfully and silent
ly back against the wall, too far,
just too far for her reach. Ap-
parently satisfied that no dan
ger was near her, she lay down
in the bed again and / counted
her respiration till she was lost
in slumber.
As for myself sleep was utter
ly out Of the question /; I never
was so wide-awake in all my life.
How | lay on that hard carpet
and thought the night out |!
thought other, and her love for
me /; thought of myself, and my
love for her.
With the morning light fresh
fears came upon me lest my un-
conscious roommate might yet
peer beneath the bed for rob-
bers before she left the room; but
my fears were groundless. She
rose and dressed expeditiously,
for she was to join her cousins
at an early breakfast, and she
had oversight herself. When
at last she took the key, unlock
ed the door, and departed, /
lost no time in slipping out of
my shameful place of conceal
ing and escaping from the no
tel. 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 ill-spent
life. And your coat, too-why
it's all over feathers and dust.
Where have you been ?
why, / slept out last night !;
that's all. Our house is full,
and so 1 had to find quarters
elsewhere. I'm just going
home to dress
4 should say so decidedly.
I seeit all, old fellow ! You've
been on lark, and had to put
up in the watch-house ; come
now, own up, and tell us all
about it.
No lark at all, Fred ; moth
ing of the kind, | assure YOU
We'll, if not 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, seriously, I've a word to
say to you of a most important
nature. Be a man, Fred, and
make up your mind to hear
something excessively disa-'
greeable. 1t must be told you
sooner or later, and / may as
we'll tell it now.'
Good Heavens, Gus ! how
earnest you look at me; you
don't mean to say that-any-
thing has happened to Belle
Bronson p
Don't mention her name a
gain, Fred, or think of her any
more, for she'll never be any
thing to you. l have it from
one who knows all about it,
that she has long been attached
to somebody else, and that
somebody else means to marry
her, There's no mistake about
it +; so bear up and try your
luck elsewhere
But Fred Evans was not to
be discouraged by mere hear
say. That very day he went to
see Belle, determined to know
his fate from her own lips
Soon after he left Oakville and
l did not see him again for sew
eral years, when, meeting him
in town one. day, | insisted on