Year: 1874

Augustus" said my divinity to herself, as
she arose from her devotional attitude, elf
you but knew that 1 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 l
verify thought that the beating of my heart
would betray me, Belle, pure as an angel to
me then, and white as a snowflake, pro-
ceeded to turn off the gas and to get into
bed. felt her soft pressure over my head,
and shrunk closer and closer to the hard
floor upon which was extended. What
thoughts rushed through my brain Above
me lay young and unsophisticated girl
wholly unconscious that the one she loved
lay SO closely to her, and who had for the
first time been made aware of her interest
in him, by hearing words which she sup
posed went only to Heaven! / knew then
that the night must pass away, and the
morning come, and that Belle must first
leave the apartment before could venture
to change even my position.


Bell had lain perfectly motionless for sew
eral minutes and was, flattered myself,
losing herself in sleep, when suddenly she
exclaimed to herself "1here--I haven't
looked under the bed !" A horror ran
through me all is lost what shall doP
Bell rose and heard her feeling for the
matches. She struck one and was moving
toward the gas-light, when the lucifer went
out, leaving all darkness again. Blessed
relief; but how briefl Again heard her
feeling for the matches and trying to light
one after another, as they failed to ignite
then an "Oh dear, there are no more p
escaped from her lips. "Safe safe ~
whispered my soul to me, and / thanked
God in silence for my deliverance. Belle
groped back to bed, but did not immediate
ly get in; she stopped and lifted the cur
tains which hung around the bottom and
cautiously passed her arm under and
around as far as it could reach. l almost
felt her fingers Craze my face as l held
myself fearfully and silently back against
the wall, too far, just too far for her reach.
Apparently satisfied that no danger was
near her, she lay down in the bed again
and counted her respiration till she was
lost in slumber.


AS for myself, sleep was utterly out OF
the question. Inever was SO wide-awake
in my life. How lay upon that hard car
pet and thought the night out thought of
her and her love for me thought of my
self, and my love for her. Yes, was con-
vinced from that moment that the hand OF
destiny was in it, and that benign and all
wise Providence had seen fit in this ex.
tlaordinary way to open my eyes to the
path of happiness and peace.


With the morning light fresh fears came
upon me lest my unconscious roommate
might yet peer beneath the bed for robbers
before she left the room but my fears
were gronndless. She rose and dressed ex.
peditiously, for she was to join her cousins
at an early breakfast, and she had over
slept herself. When at last she took the
key, unlocked the door, and departed, ]
lost no time in slipping out of my shame
ful place of concealment and escaped from
the hotel. On the stairs l met Fred com.
ing out of his room, who exclaimed


"Why, what's the matter with you, old
fellow You look like the last days Of an
ill-spent life. And your coat, too--why,
it's all over feathers and dust. Where
have you beenP"


"Why, | slept-slept out last night
that's all. Our house is full, and so / had
to find quarters elsewhere. I'm just going
home to dress"


] should say so, decidedly. / see it all
old fellow You've been on q lark, and
had to put up in the watch house come
now, own up and tell us all about it,"


No lark at all, Fred; nothing of the
kind, assure you"


"Well, If not lark, what kind of a bird
was itP From the looks of the feathers /
should say it was goose"


"You're the goose, Fred But serious
ly I've a word to say to You of most inn
portant nature. BE man Fred and make
up your mind hear something excessively
disagreeable. 1t must be told you sooner
Or later, and may as well tell it now"


"Good Heavens, Gus how earnest you
look at me you don't mean to say that
that anything has happened to Belle Bron-
son?v


"Don't mention her nape again, Fred,
or think of her any more, for she'll never
be any thing to you. ! have it from one
who knows all about it, that she has long
been attached to somebody else, and that