Year: 1875

to bed. but did not Immediately get
in /; she stopped and lifted the cur
tains which hung around the bottom
and cautiously passed her arm under
and around m far as hor arm could
reach. I almost felt her finger Craze
my face rs I held myself fearfully
aud 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 aud counted her rcspi,ri
ton till she was lost in slumbcr.


As for myself, sleep WIS utterly
out of tho question I never was 50
wide awake in my life. How lay
upon that hard carpet and thought
Of myself. aud my love for hcr. Yes
| was convinced from that moment
that tho hand of destiny was in it,
and that benign and all wise pro-
vidence had seen fit in this extraor-
diuary way TO open my eyes to the
path Of happiness and peace.


With tho morning light fresh fears
came upon mo lest my unconscious
room mato might yet peer beneath
the bed for robbers before she left
the room but my fears were ground
less. She roso and dressed expedi-
tiously, for she was to join her cous-
ins Mt an early breakfast. and she
had oversight herself When ut last
she took the key. unlocked the door,
aud departed, 1 lost no time in slip
ping out of my shameful place OF
coucealmont and escaped from the
hotel. On tho stairs | mot Fred
coming out of his room, who OK.
claimed.


why, what's the matter with you
old follow. You look like tho last
days Of an ill-spont life. And your
coat, too--why it's all over feathers
and dust. Whore have you boon :"


"Why | slept our last night; that =
all. Our house is full, and 80 l had
to find quarters elsewhere. I'm just
going home to dress"


II should say 80, decidedly. l soc
1t all old fellow! You've been on u
lark, and had to be put in the watch.
house come now, own up aud toll
us all about it,


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


well, il not lark, what kind OF
u bird was it, From the looks Of
The feathers | should say it was II
goose


You're goose, Fred But, seri-
oIsly, I've word to say TO you VI =
most important nature. Be man,
Fred. and mako up your mind to
hear something excessively Disagree
able. 1t must be told you sooner or
latter and may as we'll tell it
now.


Good Heavens, Gusl how earn.
est you look at me; you don't mean
to say that anything has happened to
Belle Bronson =


"Don't mention her name again,
Fred, or think OF her any more, for
she'll never be anything to you l
have it from one who knows all about
it that she has long been attached
to somebody else and that somebody
else, means to marry her. There is
no mistake about it so bear up and
try your luck elsewhere.


But Fred Evans WAS not TO he
discouraged by mere heresay. That
very day he went to SEQ Belle, detor-
mined to know his fate from her own
lips. Soon after he left Oakville and
l did not see him again for several
years, when meeting him in town one
day, insisted on bringing him home
with mo and presenting him to his old
flame Belle Bronson-the present
Mrs. Evergreen.


"Ah, Gus !" said he after dinner,
when my wife and little Evergreen
had left us to ourselves Gus
you served me shabby trick when
you allowed me to loose my heart to
the girl you were all along intending
to marry yourself--a very shabby
trick, one OF which I never suspected
you!"


So I had to tell him Gn strict con fl.
dence Of course, as I tell you reader
all about tho bedroom affair at Oak.
vile Hotel, aud the love that grow out
of it.