Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-04-07

y along without effort of her own.
The ride over the rushing water was so excit-
ing that she laughed and sang, and wondered
that any one could forego the delights of such
a morning, ana sit shrouded within four walls
how much time passed thus she could not
tell, when a call sounded from the shore, pro-
longed :" Who-.o--o.' the voice resting upon
the vowel notes in rich musical swell. She
swept the shore with her glance, but no one
was visible; the call was repeated, when,
placing her hand Is her mouth, she gave an
one. Then she perceived, gliding in
and out among the trees, IL figure moving rapid
ly up the shore. As he drew nearer, she per-
ceived that he was making violent gestures, evil
IDENTIFY directed toward herself. Supposng that
he wished her to set him over to the opposite
shore, she caught up the paddle in order to do
SO, when, to her alarm, she perceived that the
current was much stronger than at the mouth
of the stream, and she had no control over her
little bark In vain she exerted all her strength
to direct it toward the shore-onward, more
and more radidly, it was swept, and soon the
fearful sound Of the rapids fell upon her ear
She was approaching Salmon Rips, and had
been borne so swiftly along, as to be unconscious
of the distance which size had made.
The person upon the shore, whom she then
recognized as Indian Sam, had evidently seen
her danger, and attempted to warn her. She
gained hope from that, when, to her dismay, he
turned and rapidly retraced his steps but she
soon felt assured that he had formed some plan
for her assistance-for he almost flew over tho
rough ground, taking flying leaps over the fallen
trees, while his long locks streamed in the air
He reached the broken water, and the boat
nearly in the middle of the stream was rapidly
approaching it. Then he plunged in, half
swimming, half wading, contending with the
tumbling waves and with his pole springing
from rock to rock. He reached the channel,
and battled for one moment with the angry ele-
ment for foothold, then, when the boat ap-
preached, with one great leap, he was standing
in her PROV.
There was no time for words, and he did not
even look behind him; all his strength and
skill were required to guide the boat amid the
foanng breakers, to fend her with his pole
from the rough jutting rocks, and force her
into the safest channels. lie had often polcd
up and down those rapids, but never before
with pole SO short and untried, or with u
| freight so precious. How quick was his eye
how firm his muscle as he stretched sometimes
nearly half his length over the water, to guard
against some treacherous rock, and quick as
thought sprang to the opposite side, to ward of
danger there. Sometimes, when his pole Was
firmly settled for a moment, he would exchange
smile of encouragement with Kitty, then
again he would spring over her as if she were
a bale of chattels to guard the boat in the
rear. At length The rapids were safely passed
and the boat brought into the shore. The two
adventurcrs, wet and exhausted, but gratefu
and happy, sat down in the sunshine upon {
) fallen tree.
Kitty emotions took the womanly form o
tears, and it was with alternate smiles, sobs anC
broken words, that she expressed her thanks t.
the brave boy who had rsked his life for hel
own. She called him her best friend-he
brother.
; He took her hand which he pressed betweel
both his own, and while he looked earnestly il
her face, said slowly: " Sisters marry, ant
brothers live in friendship with their husbands
| could not look upon your husband, Kitty
r therefore am not your brother"
5 Her eyes fell beneath his gazc her cheek
flushed with surprise and embarrassment, ant
she made an effort to withdraw her hand.
The boy unclasped it instantly, and sat silent
b ly by her side
Pained with the thought of grieving him
!, she lifted her eyes, and met his own fixed, fu
d of sadness, upon her.
k Have | vexed you she whispered.
"Oh, no, no! he replied :" what MOI
4 could you do for poor Sam, for Indian San
than so pity him, than to endure him? Ho
4 should he dare love Kitty Hoffman, the prett
v girl the wise girl, who has more book learnn
n than all the men of the settlement? | will g
J.. away with Sackabason, who is kind to me-
r. will shut up my heart toward woman forever.
The youthful face of the speaker grew pa
Is with his stern purpose but his lips We're tren,
l. lous with another emotion. How unconsciol
l. he was Of all his splendid gifts, youth beaut
r and heroisrn In his own eyes, ne was but ii
,r poor and uulettered Indian boy. The sentimel
,e of caste rose as strong in that little village
rs in the circles of city lille. The Indians are a
d, ways regarded by the white settlers as an inf
ID rior race, and Sam shared in that opprobiur
of which he was fully conscious.
q. lie waited as if to hear from Kitty one mo
ed word, before he should leave her forever
r. struggle suggested by his words was going on
en- her mind, which he perceived by that pow
he which accompanies strong emotion. and viii
he reveals soul to soul more clearly than words C
ed ever do.
ng She did not speak, and shade of bittcrn
~. passed over his face. Then he said
IS. " The path Though the woods is long a
o. lonely, but Kitty IS forest maiden, and d.
eir not fear it. I will 60 now and he mo,
he away. But lew words from his compaui
he arrested him " Do not leave me.
lie turned Have you one word of he
en for me ?''
-er "lf there is hope in ths--that you are to
H. the nobest, the kindest, the most beautiful
ug human beings"