Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-22
LOOKING UNDER THE BED.

the night. Mrs. Evergreen. my be-
ioved wife. indulges, it indulgence it
can be called. in tins peculiar practice.
II do not object to it in the least so long
as she does not enforce the performance
upon myself; but When, as is sometimes
the case, she forgets it until she has put
out the light. and ensconced herself un-
der the comforter. then it is hard that I,
who am not troubled with nervous APP
prehenslveness. should have to get out
in the cold and do it for her. | have
often remarked to Mrs. Evergreen. when
| have seen her prying under the bed,
that it was a silly habit. and the sooner
she gave it up the better. To this gen.
tie admoniti0n my letter half repl es:
La. Evergreen! what harm does it do?
It's a kind of satisfaction to know that
noboGy's under there, and then ! don't
think of such horrible things alter am
In bed.
81 think. my dear, you might just as
we'll pursue your invesrgatlons further.
and look into the bureau drawers and
clothes-basket.', .-....
,,, Evergreen she will rejoin. don't
mention the idea. o: shall certainly do
so. Come 10 think of 1T, man could
very easily get into the clothes basket
Certainly he could-qnite as easily as
tFAlstaf. ~ You should certainly include
the clothes basket. and by the by. there's
the chimney why not look in nsthal2'
Now. Evergreen, you're laughing at
me. But can never leave off tue habit
It's a comfort Tor me to know that there
is rothing wrong about it, and / don't
see why you shou deprive me al il.
So under the oed goes the candle, and,
no signs Of humanity being discovered,
Mrs. Evergreen is able to repose in
peace. But. as already observed, this
precautionary act is sometimes forgot.
ten. and am obliged to rise. light the
lamp and report. I've done it more fire.
quently OF late than is agreeable, and
intimated as much to Mrs. E."
Very well. Evergreen. I'll do it my
self. -
But this procedure is almost as bad,
for she invariably lets the cold in on me
both IN getting out and In. 1t it we're
not tor increasing this mental idlosyn-
Grassy on the part of Mrs. Evergreen, by
giving her good reason to apprehend
danger, i 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. Evere reen is of sensitive nature,
rather apprehensive and slightly SUPER
stitous, and that what have to say must
under no circumstances be impaired to
that lady. 1t Tor two.and-twenly years
Chat is the period Of our welded lite.
and happy years they've been.) If. say.
l have tor this long period reiralned
from impar,ing the matter to the below
ed .sharer oi my joys and partaker of my
sorrows. surely the public (Which, AS
we know. always does keep u sccret.)
will keep mine.
Ali young men. suppose, have love
affairs before they eventually fix their
affections on the one who is to bless their
lot in life. know / had. and 1 don't
regret,t. Regret it? Far from it. Mrs.
Evergreen is not present, and therefore
l have no hesitation IN saying that if
had my life. to live over again, I'd 90
through with the same sentimental ex-
perience. particularly if it was to be
succeeded BY again lending to the hy-
meneal altar the present Mrs E.
was not bad looking when was in
my tweniies. ! think l may go further.
and confidently say Gus Evergreen
was decided tavorite among the girls
of Oakville. and really be ieve that
could have had any OF them 'for the ask
ing As l.betore remarked. Mrs. Ev.
ergreeu is not present, and indulge my
thoughts somewhat more freely than
would otherwise be the case. don't
think that | cared particularly for any
one OF the Oakville girls. however. and
might have Kept my b.art whole to this
day 1t 1t had not been for the circum STAN
ces which am about to relate.
Fred Evans. who had been my chum
at school. came to make me visit ut
Oakvil.e for "a day or lwo.' rs he sail
when he came; but he made it week
or two easily enough after Id taken him
about among the young ladies' When
that time had expired Fred said he real
ly must go. as he said he didn't know
what his iather and mother would think
OF his long absence, but it ended in his
relieving their anxiety by letter and
sending for his trunks. knew how the
matter was perfectly we'll, and that Belle
Bronson hsd bewitched him out of his
five senses. Fred tried to put it on to
the country air and the quiet which was
benehting his health, etc. but it was
no use trying to deceive me, and told
him so. Then he owned up frankly, and
promised to help all could, If he re-
quired any help iu the prosecution of his
suit. l never thought Belle a tlirt. or
that she would willingly distress any
human being. but she had way of
looking In ones eyes as II to captlvate
them, for her mere personal amuse-
ment. At any rate she had larger
share OF beaux than the other girls. but
all their attentions came to nothing.
feared it might be SO with Fred Evans.
and warned him accordingly; but Fred
said he'd have her if he tried all his
life > that without her life was nauuht
to him. that she was the only living
beng who had ever awakened q real
emotion in his breast etc..
Alter that said no more. but closely
observed the lovers, aud soon came to
The conclusion that Fred was by no
means dlsagreeable TO her. Things went
on III this way without any definite re-
suit until Fred received sudden sum-
mons home on account OF his mothers
illness. When he came back to renew
his visit. he insisted upon sla,iny at the
Oakville hotel rather than wear nu, his
welcome at our house, aud finding re-
monstrance unavailing. there he went.
The landlord (henest o.d Duwnbury-I
wonder il he yet lives) gave Fred at NV
suggestion. his best bedroom. No. 20
II am particular in mentioning the
number. He shall have No. ~ said
Downsbury. Any friend ot yours. Mas
ter Augustus. shall have the best / have
to give AS long rs M landlord 1t was
pleasant room. looking out on the dis
tunt hills and the beautiful wind,ny
branch Of the Black water; but what
cared Fred for scenery? He was in the
hands OF the blind god. and could not
see even as far as his nose, except in the
direction OF Bellies cottage. i used to
20 over to Fred's room and smoke nv
cigar. while he. poor wretch expa,ia,ei
on his sutferings. doubts and solicitudes
Did she love him ? that was the question
which disturbed every moment OF his
existence, aud TO which, with the closest
reasoning, he could not bring himself a
satisfactory reply. Sometimes he thought
word or sign settled the point be-
bond a doubt in his favor; at others he
fancled he read Il coldness and indiffer-
ence In her eyes In this c,n,,;,; r