The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-04-10


Fred Evans, who had been my chum
at school, came to make me visit at
Oakville for "a day or two," as he said,
when be came; but he made it a week or
two easily enough after I'd taken him
about little among the 'tyoung ladies. /"
When that time had expired Fred said
he really must go, as he didn't know what
his father and mother would think OF his
long absence; but it ended in his reliey-
ing their anxiety by a letter and sending
for his trunks. I knew how the matter
was perfectly well, and that Belle Bronson
had bewitched MIN ont Of his five senses.
Fred tries TO put it on to the country
air and the quiet which was benefiting
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 him all | could, if he required any
help in the prosecution of his suit. /
never thought Belle a firt, or that she
would willingly distress any human be-
ing; bat she had way of looking in
ones eyes as if to captivate them for her
mere personal amusement. 1t any rate,
she had a larger share Of beaux then the
other girls, but all their attentions came
to nothing. | feared it might be SO with
IL; but Fred said he'd have her if lie
tried all his life;" that ''without her life
was naught to him." that "she was the
only living being who had ever awakened
a real emotion in his breast, etc" After
that | said no more, but closely observed
the lovers, and soon came to tie conciu-
sion that Fred was by no means dis
agreeable to her. Things went on in this
way without any detnate result until
Fred received sudden summons home
on account of his mothers illness. When
he came back to renew his visit, he in
sisted upon staying at the Oakville Hotel
rather than wear out his welcome at our
house, and finding remonstrance uuavail
ing, there he went. The landlord (honest
old Downsbury-I wonder if he yet lives)
gave Fred, at my suggestion his best
bed room. ''No. 20" | am particular IL
mentioning the number. ''He shall have
No. 90" said Downsbury. "AnY friend
of yours, Master Augustus shall have the
best [ have to give as longs I'm land
DrI
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 II
the direction Of Bellies cottage. / used
to go over to Fred 5 room and smoke my
on his sufiarings, doubts and solicitudes.
Does she love me- was the question which
disturbed every moment of his existence,
and to which the closest reasoning, he
could not bring himself n satisfactory
reply. Sometimes he thought word or
sign settled the point beyond a doubt in
his favor: at others he fancied lie read
coolness and Indifference i'll her eyes. In
this condition OF uncertainty he dared
not press the question lest hasty step
might bring him to grief.
1t Fred's earnest solicitation | prom
ised to sound Belle as to her sentiments
if a favorable opportunity presented
itself, or at any rate to let her know, i'll
an indirect way, that Fred was languish
ing in distress on her account, and thus
give her no excuse for unnecessarily
prolonging his misery. 1t so happened,
however. that my services were not called
into requision. Belle Bronson, because
of the sudden arrival 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
single night room at the hotel. We
would cheerfully have offered her guests
accommodations at our house, but we
were in the same predicameut. Au ag-
ricultural fair in the village had brought
many strangers into the place, and my
own guests were SO numerous that L 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 I went to the hotel at
late hour, and proceeded at once to
Fred's room, but to my surprise found
no one there. | did not even notice that
bis trunk was gone, or suspect the fact
which afterward became apparent, that
''to oblige some lady guests for this
night only" as the landlady expressed
it, Fre1 had consented to give mp mo.
20,' and occupy small room in the rear
of the building. The gas being turned
up, took a book to await his retarn,
and, hearing at last what appeared to be
steps approaching the room, and, sup
posing it TO De fred, III a momentry
/ impulse TO play joke on him, / slipped
under the bed, a large and high one, in
/ tending TO initiate & cat lof which animal
L knew he had deteStalon) SO soon as
he entered the room. The door opened,
and | was on the point OF of indulging in
my ventriloqual faculty by giving a long
drawn aaie0,C, when from my hiding
place / beheld Belle Bronson take quite
/ possession of the apartment.
My astonishuent WIS so great and the
sense Of modification so intense, that I
/ did not, as l should have done, make
myself Immediately known TO her. Thus
the opportunity for discovery and ex-
/ planation was lost / dared not move a
hair, bat hoped sincerely that some ex-
cause might take her out of the room for
q moment. and so facilitate my escape.
She, however, locked the door, removed
3 : ord r tpn,-- oo-r.I