Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1872-11-14


so closely to her, and who had for
the first time been made aware of her
interest in him by words which she
supposed went only to Heaven
knew then taat the night must pass
away and the morning come, and that
Bell must first leave the apartment
before I could venture to change even
my position.
Bell had laid perfectly motionless
for several minutes and was, 1 fiat
tered myself, losing herself in sleep,
when she exclaimed to herself There
i haven't looked under the bed."-
A horror ran through me; all is lost;
what shall do Bell rose, and heard
her feeling for the matches. She struck
one and was moving toward the gas.
light, when the lucifer went out leav
ing all in darkness. Blessed, relief;
but how brief Again l heard her
feeling for the matches and trying to
light one after another as they failed
to ignite; then an "Oh dear, there are
no morc!' escaped from her lips
"Safe! safer' whispered my soul to
me, and 1 thanked God in silence for
NY AOIIN ldNII(O. OCl1 SAOPCNA baSh "
the bed, but did not Immediately get
in; she stopped and lifted the curtains
which hung around the bottom and
cautiously passed her arm under and
around as far as it could reach. l al
most felt her fingers Craze my face, as
I held myself feartully and silently
back against the wall, too far, just too
far for her TO reach. Apparently sat-
isied that no danger was near her, she
lay down in the bed again, and count
ed her respirations till she was lost in
slumber.
AS for myself, sleep WAS utterly out
of the question. never was so wide
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 fmyself and my love for
her. Yes, l was convinced from that
moment that the hand of destiny was
in it, and that benign and all-wise
Providence had seen fit in this extra
ordinary way to open my eyes to the
path of happiness and peace.
With the morning light, fresh
fears came upon me.lest my urcon
scious room mate might yet peer be-
meath the bed for robbers before she
left the room; but my fears were
groundless. She rose and dressed ex
peditiously, for she was to join her
cousin at an early breakfast, and she
had oversight herself. When at last
she took the key, unlocked the door
and departed, I lost no time in slip
ping out of my shameful place of con
cealment and escaping from the hotel
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 CO 1T,
too-why, it's all covered with feath-
ers and dust. Where have you been p
"Why, slept-slept out last night
that's all. Our house is full and so l
had to find quarters elsewhere. I'm
fjust going home to dress"
81 should say SO, decidedly. I see
it all, old fellow! You've been on a
lark, and had 10 put up in a watch
house; come now; own up and tell us
all about it.
''No lark, at all, Fred, nothing OF
the kind; I assure YOU
"Well, if not lark, what kind of 6
bird was it? From the looks of the
feathers, l should say it was a goose
You're the goose. Fred. But, ser
iously, I've word to s@y to you o.
the most important nature. Be man
Fred, and make up your mind to heal
something excessively disagreeable.-
It must be told you sooner or later
and Il may as wei tell it now
Good Heavens, Gus! how earnes
you look at me; you don't m can t.
say that-that anything has happened
J to Bell Branson ?''
: Don't mention her name again
: Fred, or think of her any more, 70
she'll never be anything to you.
have it from one who kno VS. all abou
2 it, that she has long been attached tc
somebody else who means to marry her
| There's no mistake about it; so beal
e up and try your luck elsewhere. "
But Fred Evans was not to be dis
' couraged by mere heresay. That very
[ day he went to see Belle, determines
to know his fate from her own lips
: Soon. after ne left Oakville and diC
s not see him again for several years
e when, meeting him in town one day
t l insisted on bringing him home witt
: me and presenting him to his olC
:, fame, Bell Bronson-the presen
d Mrs. Evergreen.
f 'sAh, Gus p said he, after dinner
when my wife and the little Ever
| greens had left US to ourselYes-'AL
: Gus, you served me a shabby trio
e when you allowed me to lose my hear
n to the girl you were all along intend
+ ing to marry her yourself-a yer
!. shabby trick, one OF which l neve
l. suspected you!"
It So had to tell him Tin strict cor
) fidence, of course, as i tell you dies
;, reader,) ali about the bedroom affa
d at the Oakville Hotel, and the low
|, that grew out of it.
? = Of the Presidets of the Unite
! States but seven have been re. electc
! namely. WASHINGTON IpffprsOn Ma,