Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-06-01
MONDAY MORNING, JUNE |, 1874

of her interest in him by hearing words she
supposed went only to Heavenl
! Belle had lain perfectly motionless fo sever.
al minutes, and was, flattered myself losing
herself 10 sleep-'' There haven't looked un-
der the bed?" A horror ran throu ia me-all is
lost What shall | do
Belle rose, and heard her feeling for match
es, and trying to light one after the oNher, as
they failed TO ignite, then au go, dear, there
are no more whispered my soul to ms, Belle
CROPPED back TO the bed, but did not inmedi-
ately get iu she stoogel and lifted the curtains
which hung around the bottom, cautiously
passing her arm around as far as she could
reach Apparently satisfied that no dang er was
near her, she lay down in the bed again and
counted her respiralions ill she was lost in
slumber.
As for myself, sleep was utterly out Of the
question. l never Was 80 wide awake In my
life. How lay upon that hard carpet and
thought the night out--thought Of her, aud her
love for me-lhought Of my self and my love for
her.
| With The morning light fresh fears came upon
| me, lest my unconscious room mate mGIht yet
| peer beneath the bed for robbers beidie she
left the room; bu. my fears were gronudless -
she arose and dressed expedi tiOusly, for she
was 70 join her cousins at an early breakfast
and she had oversight herself. When at IL st
she took the key, unlocked the door and de-
shameful place Of cIncealment and esaaping
from the hotel
On the stair met Fred coming out of his
room, who exclaimed
why, what's the matter with you, old \ How?
You look like tho last days of an ill-spsnt life.
And your coat, too-Why IT'S all feathers anc.
dust Where have you beenP
Why, | slept-slep. out last night, that's all
Our hous, is full, and so had to find quarters
elsewhere. am just going home to dress
should say so decidedly. see 1t all, old
llow; you've been on lark, and had to be
put In the watch house. Come now own up
andt us all about it.
"No lark at all, red; nothing OF the kind,
a. sure you."
"Well, If not lark, what kind OF a bird was
iif From the looks of the feaihes III tay ii
was g o,e.''
You're the goose, Fred. But, seriously, I've
word to say To you of most important ma
ture. Be man, Fred, and make up your mind
to hear something excessively disagreeable 1t
must be told to you sooner or later, and may
as well tell 1t nowl
"Good heavens, Gus how earnestly you
look al me. You don't mean to say that--that
anything has happened to Belle Bronson?
Don't mention her name again, Fred, Or think
OF her any more, for she II never be anything
to you. l have it from one who knows all
about it that she has been attached to aomebody
else, and that somebody else means to marry
her. There's no mistake about it, so bear up
and try your luck elsewhere"
BueFred. Evans was not to be- discouraged
by mere hearsay. That very day he went tb see
Belle, determined to know his fate from her
own lips. Soon after he left Oakville, and I
did not see him again for several years, when,
meeting him in town one day, | insisted on
bringing him home with me and presenting him
to his Old hame, Belle Brobson-the present Mrs.
Evergreen,
"Ah, Gus, said he, after dnrer, wien my
wife and the little EvergTeens hal Jeff Us to
ourselves -"ah, Gus, you serYed me shabby
trick when you allowed me to lose my heart 10
a girl you were all along intending to marry
yourself-a very shabby trick, one Of which
never suspected you.
SO had to tell him Gin strict confidence, of
course, as tell you, reader) all about the bed
room affair at the oakvilIe Hotel, aud the love
that grew out of it,