Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-01-02

and was on the point OF indulgln9
in my ventriloquial faculty by giving
long drawn MEOW, when from my
hiding place 1 beheld Belle Bronson
take quiet possession of the apart.
ment!
My astonishment was so great, and
the sense OF modification SO intense
that I did not, as I should have
done, make myself Immediately
knownst to her. Thus the opportun
ity for !. discovery and explanation
was lost. / dared not move hair,
but hoped sincerely that some ex'
cuse might take her out of the room
for moment, and thus facilitate my
escape. She, however, locked the
door. removed the K ey, and as ]
knew by the sound prepared to re-
tire. Finally she kneeled down be-
side the bed, and clasping her hands
and bowling her bed $50 fearfully,
near to mine that could hear the
soft words iu my very ear), she Of
fered up her evening prayer in q
manner SO full of feeling, and with
such sweet accents OF womanly ten
derncss and devotion, that 1 felt as
if she was an angel bending over
the vilest of mortals. That prayer
went to my heart; but one portion
of it went through it and held it
captive. I shall never forget my
feelings of surprise and my deep
emotion when l heard her utter
these words: Bless me dear moth
er, sisters and friends; bless all
around me, and 0 God! bless him
I love, Augustus Evergreen, and
shower down thy mercies over him,
Amen" "Ah. Augustus" said
my divinity to herself, as she arose
from her devotional attitude, elf
you but knew that l named your
very name in my prayers you would
be less indifferent to me!'
Ii :. breathed short before, after
this ny breath seemed to desert me
entirely, and l verify thought that
the beating OF my heart would be-
tray me. Belle, pure as an angel to
me then, and white as & snowflake,
proceeded to turn off the gas and
gesinta. bed. 1 felt her soft pres
sure over my head, and shrunk clos
er ANA closer to the hard floor upon
which | was extended. What
thoughts rushed through my brain
Above me lay u young and nnsophis-
ticated girl, wholly unconscious that
the one she loved lay closely to her,
and who had for the first time been
made aware of her interest in him
by hearing w,rls, which, she sup
posed, want only to heaven. L knew
then that night must pass away and
the morning come, and that Belle
must frs. leave the apartment be-
fore [ could venture to change even
my position.
Belle had lain perfectly motlonless
for several minutes, and was, l Hat
tered myself, losing herself in sleep,
when suddenly she exclaimed to
herself: There! l haven't looked
under the bed!' \ horror ran
through me. Allis lost; what should
/ do? Belle rose, and l heard hei
feeling for the matches. She struck
one, and was moving towards the
saslight, when the lucfer went out
leaving ali in darkness again. Bless
ed relief, but how brief. Agait
| heard her feeling for the matches
and try to light one after another
rs they failed to ignite; then Al
Oh. dear, there are no more es
capped from her lips. Safe, safe !!
whispered my soul to me, and
thanked God in silence for my de
Hveiencs.
Belle groped back to bed, but dix
not immediately get into 1T; she
s,oopeu and lifted the curtains whIcl
hung around the bottom, and eau
tiously passed her arm under anl
around as far as it could reach.
almost felt her fingers Craze my fac
rs | held myself fearfully and silent
ly back against the wall, too far, JUS
too far for her reach. Apparentl,
satisfied that no danger was nea
her, she lay down in the bed again
and l counted her respiratlons til
she was lost in slumber,
AS for myself, sleep was out OF th'
question. l never was so Wild
awake in my life, How | lay upoI
that hard carpet and thought thu
night out-thought of her and he
love for me; thought of myself an'
my love for her. Yes, l was con
vinced from that moment that tn
hand of destiny was in it, and tina
benign and all-wise Providence
had seen fit in this extraordinar.
way to open my eyes to the path @
happiness and peace.
With the morning light, fresl
fears came upon me lest my uncon
scious room mate might yet peer be
meath the bed for robbers before sh
left the room, but my fears wer
groundless. She rose and dresses
expeditiously, for she was to join he
cousins at an early breakfast, AM
she had OVERSIGHT herself. Whel