The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-02-15

luclfcr went out, ledFiuS XII ut'i ~
ness again. Blessed relief; but
how brief! Again I heard her
feeling for the matches and try to
light one after another, is they
failed to ignite; then and "Oh
dear, there are no morc!" escaped
from her lips. "Safc safel" whis-
pcred my soul to me, Belle
gropcd back to the bed, but did
not Immediately get in; she stop
ned and lifted :hc curtains which
hung around the bottom and eau
tious1y passed her arm under and
around as far as it could reach. |
almost felt her fingers Craze my
face as I held myself fearfully and
silently back against the wall, TOO
far, just too far for her reach. Ap-
parently satisfied that no danger
was near her, she lay down in the
bed again and counted her rcspl-
rations till she was lost IN slum-
Der.
AS for myself, sleep was utterly
ont of the question. | never was
so widc-awake in my life. How |
lay upon that hard carpet and
thought the night out! thought OF
her, 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 robbers
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 sac took
the key, unlocked the door, and
departed, l lost no time in slipping
out Of my shameful! place OF con-
ccalmcnt and escaping from the
hotel. On the stairs l me- Fred
coming out his room, who exclaim'
ed:
"Wby, what's the matter with
you, old fcllo y! You look like the
last days Of an ill-spcnt life. And
your coat, too-why it's all over
feathers and dust. Where have
you been p
"Why, I slcpt-slept out last
night; that's all. Cur house is
full, and so 1 had to find quarters
elsewhere. I'm just going home
to dress"
I should say so decidedly. ]
sec it all, old fellow! You've been
on a lark, and had to put up in tho
watch-housc; come now, own ur
and tell us all about it,"
No lark at all, Fred; nothing
of the kind, assure YOU"
"WelI, if not a lark what kind
of a bird was it? From the looks
of thc feathers | should say it vas
a goose"
"You'rc the goose, Fred. But
seriously, I've q word to say to
you Of q most important nature
Be q man, Fred, and make NJ
yoar mind to hear something cS'
ccssively disagreeablc. 1t must
be told you sooner or later, and !
may as we'll tell it now"
"Good Heavens, Gus! how earn
est you .~ok at me; you don't
mean to say that-that anything
has happened to Belle Bronson p
"Don't mention her name again,
Fred, or think of her any more,
for she'll never be anything to
YOU. | havcit from one who knows
all about it, that she has long been
attached to somebody else, and
that somebody else means to mar
ry her. There's no mistake about
it: 50 bear up and try YOU luck
elsewhere"
But Fred Evans was not to be
discouraged by mere hearsay.-
That very day he went to sec
Belle, determined to know his fate
from her own lips. Soon after he
left Oakvillc and did not see him
again for several years, when,
meeting him in town one day,
insisted on bringing him home
with me ard presenting him 10
his old flame, Belle Bronson-the
present Mrs. Evergreen.
"-Ah, GUS said he, after dinner:
when my wife and the little Ever
Greens had left US to ourselves
aAb. Gus YOU served me a shabby