Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-10-02
A LOOK UNDER TH BED.

wife. INDUCES. il indulgens i can BE-
called, in this peculiar prac1b. I have
often remarked to Mrs. Eves11een, when
l have seen her prying undr the bed.
that it was silly habit. and C the soon
er she gave it up the better. % this gen.
tie admonitiou my better - Invariably
rejoins: e
do? It's kind Of satisfsEe 10 know
that nobody is under there nnd then ]
don't think Of such . horribl ling after
I'm in bed"
Il think. my dear. yoa 90 inst !,
vel. pursue your Investigation further.
and look in the bureau drawers and the
clothes basket"
Evergreen" she will rejoin, "don',
mention the idea, or l shall certainly do
SO. Come to think oft. man could cas-
lily get into the clothcs-basket
Certainly be could. my dear, quite as
easily as Falstaft. You should certainly
include the clothes-basket, and by-and-by
there's the chimney-why not look up
that "a we'll :"
Now, Evergreen, you're laughing al
me. But | can't leave off the habit, and
| never will. It's a comfort for me to
know that there's nothing wrong abou. it.
and ! don't see why you should deprive
me Of it."
So under the bed goes the candle, and
no signs Of humanity being discover.
ed, Mrs. Evergreen il able to repose in
peace.
II it were not for increasing this men.
tai idiosyncrasy on the part Of Mrs. Ever
green. BY giving her some good reason
to apprehend danger. l should relate to
her what am about to lay before the
reader. In this narration, therefore,
ask the public most particularly to bear
in mind that Mrs. Evergreen is slightly
superstitious, aud that what have to say
must, under no circumstances, be impair.
ted to that lady. If for two-aud twenty
years (that is the period of our welded
life, and happy years have they been)-if,
| say. l have for this long period refraincd
from imparting the matter to The beloved
sharer of my joys and partaker Of my sor-
rows, surely the public will Keep the Sc
crct.
l was not bad looking when I was in
my twenties. / think l may 90 further,
aud confidently say that Gus Evergreen
was decided favorite among the girls of
Oakville. and I really believe could have
had any of them for the asking. As
before remarked, Mrs. Evergreen is not
present. and I indulge my thoughts come
what more freely than would otherwise be
the case.
Fred Evans, who had been my chum at
school, came to pay me visit at Oakville
for day or two, as he said when he came;
but he made week or two easily enough
after I'd taken him about little among
the young ladies. When that time had
expired. Fred said he really must 60, as
he didn't know what his father and moth
or would think of lis long absence; but it
ended in relieving their anxiety BY a let
ter. and sending for his trunks. l knew
how the matter was, perfectly we'll. and
that Belle Bronson had bewitched him out
Of bis senses. Fred tried to put it on to
the country air and the quiet which was
beneGting his health, etc but it was no
use trying to deceive me and l told him
SO. Then be owned up frankly, and
promised to help him all / could, if he re-
quired any help in the prosecution Of his
suit.
She had larger share Of beaux than
the other girls. but all their attention came
to nothing. feared it might be so with
Evans. and warned him accordingly; but
Fred said that "withoat her, life was
naught to him." Things went on in this
way without any definite result, until
Fred received = sudden summons home on
account Of his mothers illness. When
Ne came back to renew his visit, he insis-
ted upon staying at the Oakville Hotel.
rather than wear out his welcome at our
house. and finding remonstrances unavail-
ing, there he went. The landlord gave
Fred. at my suggestion, his best bedroom.
No. 20-l am particular in mentioning
the number. HE shall have No. 90"
said Downbury. "Auy friend of yours,
Master Augustus. shall have the best
room | have to give as long as I'm land
lord
Belle Bronson. because of the sudden
arrival ut her house Of some country cous-
ins. was obliged to give up her room-her
mothers cottage being small one-and
to occupy for a single night room at the
hotel. We would have offered her guests
accommodation at our house, but we were
in similar predicameut. An agricultu.
raj fair had brought many strangers into
the place, and our own guests were so nu-
merous 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 hotel a,
a late hour. and proceeded at once tC
Fred's room, but to my surprise found nj
one there. did not even notice that hi:
trunk was gone, or suspect the fact. which
afterwards became apparent, that to
ob!ige some lady guests for the nigh
only" as the landlord expressed j., Fred
consented to give up mo. 2O"aud occup,
small room in the rear Of the building
The gas being turned on, | took book I,
wait his return. aud hearing a, last wha
appeared to be steps approaching the roou
and suspecsing il 10 bs Fred. in momen
tary impulse 10 play joke upon him
slipped under The bed. large and higl
one intending 10 initiate eat As soon a
he entered the room. The door opened
, aud l was on the point Of ofiadalging in m,
4 i.s.lsx.~y s>~..lsv hv ~.x.u. L.