The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-09-23

in her eyes. In this condition of uncer.
tainty he dared not press the question lest
hasty step might bring him to grief.
At Fred's earnest solicitation promised
to sound Belle as to her sentiments, if a
favorable opportunity presented itself, o,
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 mis-
cry. 1t SO happened, however, that my
services were not called into requisition.
Belle Bronson, because of the sudden ar
rival at her house of some country cousins,
was obliged to give up her room-her
mothers cottage being a small one-and to
occupy for a single night room at the
hotel. We would cheerfully have offered
her guests accommodation at our house,
but we were in the same predicament. An
agricultural fair in the village had brought
many strangers into the place, and our own
guests were so numerous that l had given
up my room to two of them, and had in
tended asking Fred Evans to let me pass
the night with him.
For this purpose 1 went to the hotel at a
late hour, and proceeded at once to Fred's
room, but to my surprise found no one
there. did not even notice that his trunk
was gone, or suspect the fact, which after
ward became apparent, that "to oblige
some lady guests for this night only" as
the landlord expressed it, Fred had con-
sented to give up "No. 20" and occupy a
small room in the rear of the building.
The gas being turned up l took book to
appeared to be steps approaching the room
and supposing it to be Fred, in moment
airy impulse to play joke upon him, l
slipped under the bed, large and high
one, intending to initiate cat (of which
animal l knew he had a detestation) so
soon as he entered the room. The door
opened, and l was on the point of indulg-
ing in my ventriloquial faculty by giving
long drawn mieow, when from my hiding
place I beheld Belle Bronson take quiet
possession of the apartment!
My establishment was so great, and the
sense of modification so intense, that did
not, as l should have done, make myself
Immediately known to her. Thus the op-
portunity for discovery and explanation
was lost. dared not move hair, but
hoped sincerely that some excuse might
take her out of the room for moment,
and SO facilitate my escape. She, however,
locked the door, removed the key, and, as
knew by the sound, prepared to retire.
Finally she kneeled down beside the bed,
and clasping her hands and bowling her
head $50 fearfully near to mine that could
hear the soft words in my very ear. she
offered up her evening prayer in a manner
so full of feeling, and with such sweet &C
cents of womanly tenderness and devotion,
over the vilest of mortals. That prayer
went to my heart; but one portion of it
went through it and held it captive. Never
shall forget my feelings of surprise and
my deep emotion when l heard her utter
these words: "Bless my dear mother, Sis
tiers, and friends; bless all around me, and,
o God! bless him l love, Augustus Ever
green, and shower down Thy mercies over
him. Amen" "Ah, Augustus, said my
divinity to herself, as she arose from her
devotional attitude, "if you but knew that
| named your very name in my prayers,
you would be less Indifferent to me!'
If breathed short before, after this my
breath seemed to desert me entirely, and
verify thought that the beating of my
heart would betray me. Belle, pure as an
angel to me then, and white as a snow
flake, proceeded to turn off the gas and to
get into bed. l felt her soft pressure over
my head, and shrunk closer and closer to
the hard floor upon which l was extended
What thoughts rushed through my brain!
Above me lay young and unsophisticated
girl wholly unconscious that the one she
loved lay so closely to her, and who had
for the first time been made aware of her
interest in him, by hearing words which
she supposed went only to Heaven! knew
then that the night must pass away, and
the morning come, and that Belle must first
leave the apartment before could venture
to change even my position.
Belle had lain perfectly motionless for
several minutes and was, tlattered myself,
losing herself in sleep, when suddenly she
exclaimed to herself, "There-I haven't
looked under the bed!" A horror ran
through me; all is lost; what should do ?
Belle rose and | heard her feeling for the
matches. She struck one and was moving
toward the gas light, when the lucifer went
out, leaving all darkness again. Blessed
relief; but how brief! Again l heard her
feeling for the matches and try to light one
after another, as they failed to ignite; then
an "Oh dear, there are no more!" escaped
from her lips. "Safe! safe!" whispered
my soul to me, and l thanked God in
silence for my deliverance. Belle CROPPED
back to the bed, but did not Immediately
get in; she stopped and lifted the curtains
which hung around the bottom and eau
tously passed her arm under and around
as far as it could reach. almost felt her
fingers Craze my face as held myself fear
fully and silently back against the wall,
too far, just too far for her reach. Appar-
emily satisfied 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 l 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. Yes, 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
extraordinary way to open my eyes to the
path of happiness and peace.
With the morning light fresh fears came
upon me lest my unconscious room mate
might yet peer beneath the bed for robbers
before she left the room; but my fears