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

to lay it to the country air and the
quiet which''was beneftting his health"
etc, but it was no use trying TO de-
ceive me, and I told him So Then
he owned up frankly, and I promised
to help him all could if he should
require any help in the prose
cution of his suit. I never thought
Bell flirt, or that she would willing
ly distress any human being; but she
had way of looking into ones eyes,
as if to captivate them for her mere
amusement.
At any rate she had a larger share
of beaux than the other girls but all
their attentions came to nothing.
feared itmight be so with Fred Evans,
and warned him accordingly; but
Fred said "he'd have her if be tried
all his life;" that without her life
was naught to him" that "she was
the only living being who had ever
awakened real emotion in his breast,
ETC., etc. After that / said no more,
but closely observed the lovers, and
soon came to the conclusion that Fred
was by no means disagreeable to her.
Things went on this way without any
definite results, until Fred received
sudden summons home on account
of bis mothers illness. When he
came to renew his visit he insisted
upon staying at the Oakville Hotel
rather than wear out his welcome at
our house, and, finding remonstrance
unavailiDg, there he went. The land
lordF( honest old Downsbury-.I Won
der if he yet lives) gave Fred, at my
suggestion, his best bedroom ''No.
20," said Downsbury 'Any friend
of yours, Augustus. shall have the
best have to give, so long as l am
landlord" It was q pleasant room,
looking out on the distant hills and
the beautiful winding branch of the
Blackwater, but what cared Fred for
scenery? he was in the hands of the
blind god, and could not see as far as
his nose, except in the direction of
Bells cottage. l used to go over to
Fred's room and smoke my cigar,
while he, poor wretch, expatiated on
| his sufferings, doubts, and solicitudes.
Did she love him That was the
question which disturbed every mo-
| ment of his existence, and to which,
with the closest reasoning he could
not bring q satisfactory answer. Some
| times he thought word or q sign
settled the point beyond a doubt in
his favor; at others he fancied he read
GOODNESS and Indifference 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 l
| a5E fn coun1 Ill fo Ior
| timents, if q favorable opportunity
presented itself, or, at any rate to let
her know in an indirect way, that
Fred was languishing 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
rcquisition Bell Bra son, because of
the sudden arrival at her house of
some country cousins, was obliged
to give up her room-her mothers
cottage being small one-and to oe-
cupy for single night room at the
hotel. We would have cheerfully of
/ fered her guests accommodation at
predicament. An agricultural fair III
the village had brought many stran-
gers into the place, and our own
guests were so numerous that had
given up my room to two of them,
and had intended asking Fred Evans
to let me pass the night with him.
For this purpose | went to the ho-
tel at a late hour, and proceeded at
once to Fred's room, but to my sur
prise, found no-one there. l did not
even notice that his trunk was gone
or suspect the fact, which afterwards
became apparent, that s'to oblige some
lady guest for the night only as toe
landlord expressed it. Fred had con
, sented to give up ''No. 2O," and oc
> cupy a small poom in the rear of The
I building. The gas being turned up
took book to await his return, an(
hearing at last what appeared to b.
steps approaching the room, and sup
: posing it to be Fred, in a momentary
: impulse to play joke upon him,
, slipped under the bed-a high one-in
t tending to initiate cat (of which ami
. NAL / knew he lad detestation) a!
soon as he entered the room. Th
! door opened, and l was on the pOin
: of indulging in my ventriloquial fac
= ulty by giving a long drawn MEOW
f when from my hiding place l behelt
e Bell Branson take quiet possession o
s the apartment.
g My astouishment was so great, ant
# the sense of my modification SO in
J. tense, that did not, as shonld hay
!, done, make myself Immediately know
p to her. Thus the opportunity 70
discovery and explanation was lost
e I dared not move hair, but hoped
x sincerely, that some excuse nigh
o take her out of the room tor mo
I ment, and so facilitate my escape. She
r however, locked the door, remove
J. the key, and as 1 knew by the sound
l. prepared to retire. Finally she kneule
o down beside the bed, and claspin
h her hands and bowing her head Is
e, fearfully near to mine that | coul
ID hear the soft words in my very ear,
lr she offerrd up her evening prayer in
manner so full of feeling, and wit
Is such sweet accents of womanly ter
% derness and devotion, that l felt as
S. she was an angel bending over til
te vilest of mortals. The prayer wei
E. to my heart; but one portion wei
m through it and held it captive. Neve
e, shall l forget my feelings OF surpris
l and deep emotion when / heard he
re utter these words: "Bless my de-
lie mother, sisters and friends; and.
r God! bless him l love, Augustr
IS, Evergreen, and shower down Thy me
~ cies over him, Amen" "Ah, Au,
ct ustus,'' said my divinity to herself, g