Year: 1873

lOHS DIS Ill lalIulO1u.


Bell 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
have offered her guests accommodation
at our house, but we were in similar
predicament. An agricultural fair had
brought many strangers into the place,
and our own 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 I went to the ho-
tel at late hour, and proceeded at
once to Fred's room, but to my sur
prise. found no one there. I did not
even notice that his trunk was gone,
or suspected the fact, which afterwards
became apparent, that "to oblige some
lady gusts for this night only" as the
landlord expressed it, Fred consented
to give up "No. 20" and occupy small
room in the rear of the building. The
gas being turned on, l took book to
wait his return, and hearing at last
what appeared to be steps approaching
the room, and suspecting it to be Fred,
in momentary impulse to play joke
on him I slipped under the bed, a large
and high one, intending to initiate a
cat as soon as he entered the room.-
The door opened, and I was on the
point of indulging in my ventriloquial
faculty by giving long-drawn meow,
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
made myselfimmediately known to her
Thus the opportunity for discovery
and explanation was lost. dared not
move hair, but hoped sincerely that
some excuse might take her out of the
room for moment, and so facilitate
my escape. She, however, locked the
door, removed the key, and, knew by
the sound, prepared to retire. Final
! ly, she kneeled down beside the bed,
and clasping her hands and bowling
her head $50 fearfully near to mine
that | could hear the soft words Ill my
very ear she offered up her evening
prayer in a manner full of feeling and
with such sweet accents of womanly
tenderness and devotion, that [ felt as
if she was an angel bending over the
vilest of mortals. That prayer went
to my heart; but one portion Of it went
through it, and held it captive. Nev-
er shall [ forget my feeling of surprise
and my deep emotions when [ heard
her utter these words: "Bless my dear
mother, sisters and friends; bless all
around me, and, O God! bless him |
love, Augustus Evergreen, and shower
down Thy mercies over him."


If [ breathed short before, after this
my breath seemed to desert me entire
ly, and 1 verify thought that the beat
ing of my heart would betray me-
Belle, pure as an angel to me then,
and white as snowflake, proceeded
to turn off the gas and get into bed.
What thoughts rushed through my
brain! Above me lay young and un-
sophisticated 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 supposed
went only to Heaven!


Belle had lain perfectly motionless
for several minutes, and was, [ fatter-
ed myself, losing herselfin sleep, when
suddenly she exclaimed to herself
''There, I haven't looked under the
bed p, "A horror ran through me-all is
lost What shall | do? Belle rose, and
heard her feeling for the matches, and
try to light one after the other, as they
failed to ignite; then an 30, dear, there
are no morew whispered my soul to
me. Belle groped back to the bed,
but did not Immediately get in; she
stopped and lifted the curtain which
hung around the bottom, cautiously
passing her arm around the bottom,
as far as it could roach. | almost felt
her fingers Craze my face, as [ held
myself fearfully and silently back a.
gainst the wall too far, just too far for
her to reach. Apparently satisfied
that no danger was near her, she lay
down in the bed again, and | counted
her respirations till she was lost in
slumber.