The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-07-22

Augustus, shall have the best [ have t
give as long as I'm landlord = 1t was ;
pleasant room, looking out on the distant
hills and the beautiful winding branch Cd
the Blackwater; but what cared Fred fol
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 60 over to Fred room
to smoke my cigar, while he, poor wretch
expatiated on his suferings, doubts and
solicitudes. Did she love him was the
question which disturbed every moment Of
his existence, and to which. with the closest
reasoning, he could not bring himself a
satisfactory reply Sometimes he thought
word or sign settled the point beyond
doubt in his favor, at others he fancied
he read a coolness aud indifference in her
eyes In this condition of uncertainty he
dared not press the question lest hasty
step might bring him to grief.
At Fred's earnest solicitation | promised
to sound Belle, as to her sentiments, if a
favorable opportunity presented 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 unnecessarily prolonging his misery.
1t so happened, however, that my services
were not called into requisition. 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 cheerfnlly have offered her
guests accommodation at our house, but we
were in the same predicament An agri-
cultural fair in the village had brought
many strangers into the place, and our own
guests were 80 numerous that had given
up my room TO two of them, and had In
tended 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 10 Fred 5
room. but to my surprise found no one
there. l did not even potice thst his trunk
was gone, or suspect the fact, which after
ward became apparent, that 70 Oblige some
lady guests for this night only, as the
landlord expressed It, Fred had consented
to give up NO. 20r and occupy small
room ia the rear Of the building. The gas
being turned up took book 10 await his
return, and, hearing at last what appeared
70 be steps approaching the room, and sup
posing it to be Fred, in momentary inn
pulse TO play a joke upon him, slipped
under the bed, large and high one, in
tending 10 initiate cat (of which animal
he had deteztation) 80 soon - he entered
the room The door opened and | was on
the point Of indulging in my vensriloquial
faculty BY giving long drawn meow,
when from nv hiding. place / behcld Belle
Bronson take quiet possession Of the apart
ment
Ny astonishmenS was 80 great, and the
the sense Of morti6cafion 70 intense, that
did not, A. should have done, make my
self immediately known 70 her. Tins the
for discovery and explanation
was lost / dared not move = hair, but
hoped sincerely that some excuse might
take her out Of the room fora moment, snd
thus facilitate nly escape. She. however.
locked the door, removed the key. and, a.
I knew BY the sound, prepared 70 retire
Finally she kIeeled down beside the bed,
and clasping her hands and bowing her head
lso fearinlly near to mine that I could hear
the soft words in nv very esfl, she offered
up her evening prayer in nAnncr 20 fall
Of seeling, and with such swcss accents of
womanly tenderness and devotion, that /
felt as II sac was an angel bending over the
vilest Of mortals That prayer went 70 my
heart: but one portion went through il and
held It captive. | shall never forget nv
feelings Of surprise and my deep emotion
when | heard her utter these words -
Bless my dear mother, sisters and friends.
bless al around me, and o God bless him
/ love, Augustus Evergreea, and shower
down Thy mercies over him Amen
All, augustus, said my divinity to her
self, as she arose from Der devotional atti
tude, ''if you but knew that named your
name IN my prayers you would - les IN.
different Ia me
If l breathed short before, aller thiie nv
breath seemed 70 desert me entirely, and |
verify thought that the heasins of my heart
would hesray me Besle, pure - an angel
to ME then, and white - a snowflake, pro
ceeded % turn of the gas and get into bed.
| felt her soft pressure over my head, and
shrunk closer and closer to the hard foar
upon which | was extended. What
thoughts rushed through my brain Above
me lay a young and unsophislicated girl
wholly unconscious that the one she loved
lay closely 10 her, ana who had far the iirsa
time been made aware Of her interezt ia
him By hearing woEds which she supposed
went onlysto heaven. knew then that
night must pass away and the morning come.
and that Belle must first leave the apars-
ment before / eonid venture 10 change even
my position.
Belle had lain pcrfeetly motionless for
several minutes, and was. Astfered my
set, losing herself in sleep, when suldeniy
she exclaimed 10 herself, There. / haven't
looked under the bed z
A horror ran through me. All Is lost;
what should / do ? Belle rose ard / heard
her feel for the matches She struck one
and was moving towards the gasligllt, when
the lHeifer went out, leaving al In darkness
again. Blessed relief, but how brief !
4 gain heard her FEEDING for the matches
and Try to light one after another, a. they /
failed to ignite then an .-Oh, dear, there /
are no more escaped her lips. Safe.
safe 4 whispered my soul to me, and | 1
thanked God in silence for my deliverance.
Belle groped back toi bed, bat did iot
get in it; she stopped and !
lifted the curtains wksch hung around the
sottom, and cautiously passed her arm under
md around as far as il could reach. al /
most felt her fingers Craze my face as / held
myself fearfully and silently back against
he wal, too far, just too far, for her to reach.
Apparently satisfied that 20 danger was |
lear her, she lay down in bed again and l |
counted her respirations till she was lost in !
Ilumber
As for myself, sleep was cut Of the ques- |
ion. never was so wide awake in my
ife. How / lay upon the hard carpet and
hought the night out--theughta af her and
ler love for me thought Of myself and
ny love for her Yes, + was convinced I
rom that moment that the hand Of destiny /
vas in it, and that benign and all-wise !
Providence had seen fit in this extraorii-
nary way to open my eyes to the path of |
happiness and peace.