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


1t is the habit of many persons to take
lock under the bed before retiring for the
night Mrs Evergreen, my beloved wife,
indnlges-if indulgence il can be called
in this peculiar practice | did not object
to it in the least so long as she does not
enforce the performance upon myself; but
whea, as is sometimes the case, she forgets
it until she has put ont the light and en-
sconced herself under the comforter, then
il is hard that /, who am not troubled with
Dervous apprehensiyeness 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 q silly habit, and that the sooner
she gave 4 up the better. To this gentle
sdmonition nv better half invariably re-
piled
aLa, Evergreen what harm can It de ?
It's kind Of satisfaction to know that no.
body's under there, and then | don't think
Of such . horrible thiag when I'm in bed 2
i think, my dear, you might just as well
pursue your investigations further and look
into the bureau drawers. and the clothes
basket
Evergreen, she win rejoin. don't men
ton the idea or / shall certainly do 50.
Come to think Of it. man could very easily
get into the clothes basket
sCeftainly he could, my dear, quite as
easy as Sir John Falstaif You should GER
fainly include the clothes basket, and BY the
By, there's chimney why not look up that
As we'll
Now, Evergreen, y0u re laughingat me.
But can't leave off the habit, and never
viii. It's a comfort for me to kEs%E that
there's nothing wrong about II. and don't
see Why you should deprive me Of i.
So under the bed goes the candle, and
no sign Of humanity being present, Mrs.
Evergreen Is able to repose in peace.
But. ~ before observed, this prscaution-
ary act i sometimes forgotten, and am
myself obliged to rise. light the lamp and
report. I've done il rather more frequently
If late than i agreeable, and have intimated
As much to Mrs f. She says
Very wen. Evergreen, I'll Do il my
self
A4AA kttAr N4tflL4tt4S - s4AAAAto+ aE tf+tf AttA
she invariably lets the cold In On me beth
in getting out and getting in. If il were
nof for Increasing this mental idiosyncrasy
on the pan Of Mn Evergreen By giving
her some good reason to apprehend danger,
I should relate tozheT what am about TO
lay before file reader
In this narration, therefore, ask the
psblie most particularly to bcar in mind
fhat Mrs. Evergreen Is Of a sensitive nature
rather apprelaensive and slightly snpersti-
tious, and that what / have 20 say must
under no circumstances be impaired u that
lady. If for twenty two years (that Is the
period If our welded life. aud happy years
they have been), If, say, for this long
period have refrained from inparting the
matter to the beloved sharer Of my ioys and
partaker Of my SORROWS, srrely the public
(which, as We know, always does keep =
secret viii keep mine.
All young men, ! suppose. have love az
f6s before they eventually fix their aifec-
does ~ the one who Is to bless their l0a in
life / know that / had, and don't regret
it. Regret itg Far fromit. Mr. Ever
green Is not present, aud therefore l have
no iIesitatiou in saving that If had my life
TO live over again I'd like to 20 through
with the same sentimental experience, par
ticnIarly If it was to be succeeded By again
leading to the hymeneaI altar the present
Mrs. Evergreen.
was not bad looking xhen was in my
pweafies | think may 90 further, and
confidently say that SOUS Evergreen was
a decided fayorife among the girls Of Oak
vile, and | really believe that could have
had ans Of them for the asking. As I
before remarked. Mrs. Evergreen i not
present, and indulge lny thoughts more
freely than would otherwise be the case
4 don h think thar cared particularly for
any one Of the 0akyille girls, however, and
] might have kept my heart whole to this
day If i had not been for the circumstances
which I Iam about te relate.
Fred Evans. who had been my ehum at
school. came 10 make me 4 visit at 0akyille
IA day O. two. as he said when he came
but he made It week or two easily enough
after L d taken him about little among the
ssyoane ladies' When that time expired
Fred said he really must 20, as he ddn tl
know what his father and mother would
think of his long absence but it ended in
h;s relieving their anxiety By letter and
sending for his trunkg knew how the
matter was perfectly well and that Belle
Bronson had fairly bewitched him out Of
his five senses Fred tried 70 put il on the 4
sscoantry air and the quiet that was bene-
iitine 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 Esosecntion Of his suit / Inever
thought Belle fiu OF that she would vii
linglg distress any human being, but she 4
had way Of looking in one eyes 50 as TO !
captivate them, for 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 50 with Fred Evans,
and warned him accordingly but Fred said
he d s.have her if he tried all his life
that ashe was the onIy living being who
had ever awakened real emotion in his
breast. etc After that said no more,
but closely observed the lovers, and soon
came TO the conclusion that Fred was by no I
means disagreeable to her Things went
on this way without any definite result /
until Fred received e summons home on
of his mothers illness. When he
came back 70 renew his visit he insisted
upon staying at the OakyilIe hotel rather
than wear out his welcome at our house,
and finding renlonstrance unayailing, there
he went The landlord honest old Downs
bury-I wonder if he yet liyes) gave Fred, I