Year: 1866

DeaUX tilan tne otner 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 life that with
out her life was naught to him that she
was the only living being who had ever
awakened real emotion in his breast, Sc,
&C. After that | said no more, but close
ly observed the lovers, and soon came to
the conclusion that Fred was by no means
disagreeable to her. Things went on in
this way without any definite results un-
til Fred received sudden summons home
on account ofhis mothers illnes S., When
he came back to renew his visit he insist
ed upon staying at the Oakville Hotel
rather than wear out his welcome at our
house, and finding remonstrances unavail-
ing, there he went. The Landlord honest
old Downsbury-I wonder if he yet lives)
gave Fred, at my suggestion, his best
bedroom, No 20'-I am particular in
mentioning the number lie shall have
No 20' said bloomsbury. Any friend of
yours, master Augustus, shall have the
best that | can give as longs Pm land
lord 1t was 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
go over to Fred's room and smoke my
cigar, while he, poor wretch, expatiatcd
on his sufferings, doubts AMI solicitudes
Did she love him that was the question
which disturbed every moment of his ex-
Istence, and to which, with the closest
reasoning, he could not bring himself a
satisfactory reply. Sometimes he thought
a word or sign settled the point be
yond doubt in his favor, and at others
he fancied he saw GOODNESS and indiffcr-
ence i'll her eyes. In this condition of un-
certainty he dared not press the question
lest hasty step might bring him to grief,


At Fred's earnest solicitation ] prom
ised to sound Belle as to her sentiments,
ifa favorable opportunity presented itself,
or at anyrate to let her know, in an indi-
rect 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 re-
QUESTION. Belle Bronson, because of the
sudden arrival at her house Of some coun-
try cousins, was obliged to give up her
room-and to occupy for a single night a
room at the hotel We would cheerful
ly have offered her guests accommoda-
tions at our house, but we were in the
same predicament. An agricultural fair
in the village had brought many stran-
gers to the place, and our 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 Iwent 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 the
trunk was gone, or suspect the fact,
which afterwards became apparent, that
'to oblige some lady friend for this night
only rs the landlord expressed it, Fred
had consented to give up No. 20, and oc
cupy small room in the rear of the
building, The gas being turned up,
took a book to await his return, and hear
ing at last what appeared to be steps ap-
preaching the room, and supposing it to
be Fred, in momentary impulse to play
a joke on him, slipped under the bed, a
large and high one, intending to initiate
a cat (of which animal l knew he had a
detcstation) as soon as he entered the
room, The door, opened, and was on
the point ofndulging in my ventriloquial
faculty by giving long drawn n,ieow,
when from my hiding-place beheld
Belle Bronson take quiet possession Of
| the apartment


My astonishment was so great, and
the sense of modification so intense, that
| did not, as should have done, make
myself Immediately known to her, Thus
the opportunity for discovery and explain
alton was lost. l dared not move hair,
but hoped sincerely that some excuse
might take her out of the room for a mo
ment, and so facilitate my escape She,
however, locked the door, removed the
key, and, as | knew by the sound, pre-
pared to retire. Finally she kneeled
down beside the bed, and clasping her
hands and bowing her head $50 fearfully
near to mine that | could hear the soft
words in my very ear), she offered up her
evening prayer in manner so full ofteel-
ing, and with such sweet accents of VIC
manly tenderness and devotion, that
felt as if she wos an angel bending over
the vilest of mortals That prayer went
to my heart; but Que portion went through
it and held it captive. Never shall | for
get my feelings of surprise and deep emo
ton, when heard her utter these words:
Bless my dear mother, sisters and friends;
bless all around me, and, o God, bless
him l love, Augustus Evergreen, and
shower down thy mercies over him. A
men, 'Ah, Augustus said my divinity
to herself, as she rose from her devotion
al attitude, if you but knew that / named
your very name in my prayers, you
would be less Indifferent to me-


If | breathed short before, after this
my breath seemed to desert me entirely,
and verify thought that the beating of
my heart would betray me. Belle, pure
as an angel to me then, and white as a
snowflake, proceeded to turn off the gas
and get into bed. l felt her soft pressure
over my head, and shrunk closer and
closer to the hard floor upon which | was
extended. What thoughts rushed through