Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-22
were in the same predicament.


many strangers into the place, and our
own guests We're SO numerous that
had gwen up my room to two of them
and had intended asking Fred Evans to
let me pass the night with him.
For this purpose l went to the hotel
at II late hour. and proceeded ut once to
Fred's room, but 10 my surprise found
no one there. did not even notice
that his trunk was gone. or suspect the
fact. which aItcrward became apparent,
that to oblige some lady guests TOR this
night only as the landlord expressed
it, Fred bad consented to give up No.
90 and occupy u small room IN the rear
OF the building The gas being turned
up. took book to await his return,
and. heard at last what appeared to he
steps approaching the room, and, sup
posing it to be Fred. in u momentary
impulse to pay joke upon him, l
Slipped under the bed. Il large and high
one. intending to initiate cat (of which
animal knew he had Il deteSiatiun) SO
soon as he entered the room. I he door
opened, and l was on the point of in-
dulging in my ventrlloqnial faculty by
giving long drawn mieoW. when from
my hidiDgplace l beheld Belle Bronson
take quiet possession of the apartment!
My astonishment was so great, and
the sense of modification so intense,
that l did not, rs should have done,
make myself Immediately known to
her. Thus the opportunity for discovery
anu explanation was lost. 1 dared not
move u hair, but hoped sincerely tn It
some excuse might take her out of the
room for moment. and SD facilitate my
escape. She, however. locked the door,
removed the key. and. knew by the
sound. prepared to retire. Finally she
kneeled down beside the bed clasping
her hands and bowing her head $50 fear
fully near to mine that l could hear the
soft words in my very ear) She offered
up her evening prayer in y manner So
full OF feeling. and with such sweet ac-
cents Oi womanly tenderness and devo-
ton. that l ielt as ii she was an ange
bending 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 1 forget my
feelings OF surprise anu my deep emo
tion when heard her utter these words:
Bless my dear mother, sister and
friends; bless all around me. and. .
God! bless him that l owe. Augustus
Evergreen, ana shower down thy mer-
cies over him. Amen.' .Ah. Augustu >
said my divinity to herself, as she arose
from her devotional attitude, Ill you
knew that | named your very name in
my prayers, you would be less indi fer
eht to ME!
II had brcathed short before. alter
this my breath >ermed to desert 'ue ell
tirely. and thought the beating of my
heart would betray me Belle. pure ,.s
off the gas and get into bed. irlt her
solt pressure over my head. AMI shrunk
closer to the hard flor. What Thoughts
rushed through III, brain! Above me
lay the unsophlsticate,l girl. wholly un
conscious that the one she loved lay so
close to her. and who had for the first
time been made aware oil her interest in
him by hearing words which she sup
posed went only to heaven. l knew that
the night must pass away .and the morn
ing come, and That Belle must first leave
the apartment before l could venture to
even change my position.
Belle had lain perfectly motinnless for
several moments. and was. fattered
myself. loosing herself in sleep. when
suddenly she exclaiined:
'There-I haven't looked under the
bed.'
A horror ran through me; uil is lost
what shall do? Belle rose, and heard
her feeling for the matches. She struck
one, and was moving toward the gas
light. when the luc,fer went out. leaving
all darkness again. Blessed relief, but
how brief. Again l heard her feel Tor
the matches and tried to light one after
another, but they fail. d to ignite; then
an oh. dear. there are no more.' es-
capped from her lips, and thanked God
i'll silence iOr my dcliverance. Belle
CROPPED back to the bed, but did not i'm
mediately get in; she stopped and lifted
the curtains which hung around the bot
tom OF the bed, and cautiously passed
her arm under and around as FAR rs it
could reach. | almost felt her fingers
Craze my face as crowded against the
wall. Apparently satisfied that no dan
ger was near her. she lay down in the
bed again, and counted her resplrations
till she was lost in slumber.
As for myself. sleep was out of the
question. l never was so wide-awake in
my lite. How lay upon the floor and
thought the night out-thought OF her
and her love tor me; thought of my
self. and my love Tor her. Yes. was
convinced from that moment that the
hand OF destiny was In it, and that an
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 rob.
bers before she lett the room; but my
fears were groundless She rose and
dressed herself expeditlously. for she
was to join her cousins at an early break
fast. and she had oversight herself.
When at last she took the key. unlocked
the door and departed. lost no time in
slipping out OF my place of concea ment
and escaping from the hotel. On the
stairs l 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 lite. Aud your coat, too
why. it's all over feathers and dust
Where have you been?'
why, slept out last night; that's
all. Our house ls iull, and sn had to
find quarters elsewhere. I'm going
home to dress!''
i should say so. decidedly. | see it
all, old fellow You've Leen on !. lark,
and had to put up in the watclhouse;
come now. own up, and teal US all ubou,
it,
AS left Fred. my sudden Joy caused
by the sweet confession 10 which | had
listened. was somewhat dampened when
thought OF the terrible disappuint-
ment In store tor the poor fellow, and |
wondered 10 myself how the announce
ment would affect HIM.
Resolving to leave the matter in the
hands of Fred and fate. and feeling AS
happy as secure in the possession OF the
dear secret l had SO strangely yet limo.
Gently obtained. went about outwar,lly
Indifferent. but within my bosom | ieit
u strange emotion awakened, and Belle
Bronson became the idoliZed divinity of
my heart. What wonder. then, was if
that when l met her that my manner
betrayed me 10 the ever Sensitive her
ceptlonate heart? a look OF glad sur
prise. ! iancied. crept into the tender
eyes of Belle, und Iaint flush. like the
delicate bloom upon the opening rose
mantled her checks at my approach.