Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-02-26

Fed said he really must go, as he didn't
know what his father and mother
would think of his long absence, but il
ended IN his relieving their anxiety by
a letter and sending fer his trunks. /
know how the matter was perfectly
well, and that Belle Bronson had be.
witched him out of his five senses.
Fred tried to put il on to the Country
AIR and the quiet which was beneftting
his health, etc, but it was no use try
ing to deceive me, aud | told him so.
Then he owned up frankly and | prom
lsed to help him all could, if he re-
qulred any help in the prosecution of
his suit. | never thought, Belle hirt,
or that she would willingly distress any
human being; but she had way of
looking in ones eyes as if to captivate
them, for her more personal amuse-
ment. At any rate, she HAD a 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
! lile;" that without her life was naught
to him. that she was the only living
being VINO had ever awakened IL real
emotion III his breast" etc, etc. After
that | said no more, but closely observed
the lovers, and soon came to the con-
clusion that Fred was by no means dis
agreeable to her. Things went on in
this way without any definite result UNI
til Fred received sudden summons
home on account of his mothers illness.
When he came back to renew his visit,
he insisted upon staying at the Oakville
Hotel rather than wear out his welcome
ut our house, and finding remonstrauce
unavailing, there he went. The land
lord (honest old Downsbury-I wonder
if he yet lives) gave Fred, at my sugges-
his best bedroom, "No. COL am par
ticular in mentioning The number.
"He shall have No. 90" said Downs
bury. "Any friend of yours, Master
Augustus, shall have the best
II have TO give as longs
Pm landlord" 1t was a pleasant room,
looking out on the distant hills and the
beautiful winding 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. | used to 90 over to Fred's
room and smoke my cigar, while he,
poor wretch, eXpatiated on his suffer
ings, doubts and so)icitudes. Did she
love him that was the question which
disturbed every moment ofhis existence,
and to which, with the closest reasoning,
he could not bring himself satisfac-
tory reply. Sometimes he thought a
word or sign settled the point beyond
a doubt in his favor; at others he
fancied he read a GOODNESS and indiiler-
uncertainty he dared not press the
question lest q hasty step might bring
him to grief.
At Fred's earnest solicitation | prom
ised to sound Belle as 10 her senti-
ments, if favorable opportunity pre-
scented itself, or 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 excuse for unne-
cessarily prolonging his misery. 1t SO
happened however, that my services
were not called into requisition. Belle
Bronson, because of the sudden arrival
was obliged to give up her room--her
mothers cottage being small one-and
to occupy for 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 in
to the place, and our own guests were
so numerous 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 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 afterward became apparent, that
"to oblige some lady guests for this
night only" as the landlord expressed
it, Fred had consented to give up "No.
2O' and occupy small room in the
rear of the building. The gas being
turned up, | took book to await his
retur", and, hearing at last what app ear
ed to be steps approaching the room,
and, supposing it to be Fred, in mo-
mentary impulse to play joke upon
him. slipped under the bed, large
and high one, intending to initiate a cat
(of which animal l knew he had de-
testation) so soon as he entered the
room. The door opened, and l was on
the point of indulging i'll my ventrilo
quail faculty by giving long-drawn
mieow, when from my hiding-plaoe | be-
held Belle Bronson take quiet possession
of the apartment!
Ny astonish ment was so great, and the
sense of modification so intense, that !