Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-23


s'To think,'' said she, suddenly turning to
me with musical laugh, ssthat in all this
time you had not once mentioned the baby.''
knolc l gave violent start and | think
turned pale. After had run the gauntlet of
all these questions triumphantly, as Thought
this new danger stared me in the face How
was ever to describe baby, who had never
noticed one Ny courage sank below zero,
but in some proportion the blood rose to my
face, and think my teeth fairly chattered in
my head.
''Don't be afraid that shall not sympathize
IN your raptures,H continued my tormen01r,
as L almost considered her. 81 am quite pre-
pared to believe anything after Jennie's letter
you should see how she cares for him.
s'Him!'' Blessed goodness, then it must
be boy,
ssOf course,'' said 1, blushing and stammer-
ing, but feeling it imperative to say something,
''we consider him the finest fellow in the
world; but you might not agree with us, and
in order to leave your Judgment unbiased,
shall not describe him to you.''
s'Ahl but L know just how he looks. for
Jennie had such scruples-so you may
spare yourself the trouble or happiness, which,
ever it is-but tell me what you mean to call
him 20
''We have not yet decided upon a name,"
replied.
''Indeed L thought she meant to give him
yours2''
ssThe deuce she did," thought l. ssNo,'' |
remarked. some OF name is enough in fam
ily."
The demon of inquistiyeness that, to my
thinking, had inStigated my fair companion.
heretofore, now ceased to possess her, for we
talked of various Indifferent things, and / had
the relief of not being compelled to draw on
my imagination at the expense of my con
science, when l gave the particulars of my
cent journey from Boston. Yet, | was far
frnn linz for nd har
voice startled me with a dread of fresh ques-
tions, necessary, but impossible to be answer
ed, and | felt a guilty flush stealing up my
temples every time l met the look of those
beautiful blue eyes.
twas late when we stopped for supper. and
soon after saw the dark fringes of my fair
companions eyes droop long and often, and
began to realize that she ought to be asleep.
| knew perfectly well that it was my duty 10
offer her a resting place on my shoulder but |
hardly had courage to ask that innocent face
to lie on my arm, which was not as she tho't
1t, that of cousin and married man. Re-
collecting, however, that it was my duty 10
make her comfortable, and that L could scarce
ly deceive her more than had already done,
L proffercd the usual civility. She slightly
blushed, but thanked me, and accepted it by
leaning her head slightly against my shoul-
der, and looking up into my eyes with smile,
said, 'sAs you are my cousin" Soon after,
her eyes closed and she slept sweetly and
calmly, as if resting in security and peace. j
looked down at the beautiful face, slightly
paled with fatigue. that rested against me, and
felt like a villain. I dared not touch her with
my arm, although the bounding of the cars
jostled her very much. l sat remorselcsSly
until the sleeper settled the matter by slipping
forward and awakening. She opened her eyes
instantly, and smiled. ssIt is no use for me to
try to sleep with my bonnet on" she said;
ssior it is very much in the way for me, and [
am sure it troubles you.'' So she removed it,
giving me TIE pretty little toy, with its grace
ful ribbons and flowers, to put on the rack a
bove us. | preferred to hold il, telling her it
would be safer with me, and after few obIec-
tions she resigned it, being in truth too sleepy
to contest the point; then tying the blue silk
veil over her glossy hair, she leaned against
my shoulder and slept again. This time, when
the motion began to shake ard annoy her,
Stified the reproaches of MY consciecce, and
passing my arm lightly rouEd her slender
waist, drew her upon my breast, where she lay
all night. She slept the sleep of innocence,
serene and peaceful, but need not say that
could not close my eyes or case my conscience.
| could only gaze down on the beautiful, still
face, and imagine how il would confront me,
if she knew what was, and how bad deceiv-
ed her, or dreaming more wildly still, repro
ducc il in hundred scenes which had never
before paused to imagine as the face OF my
rife. l had never loved, unless the butterfly
loves of Saratoga and Newport might be so
dignified, and still less had / ever dreamed or
thought Of marrying, even as 4 possiOlilty ana
far-off contingency. Never before, solemn
ly aver, had l seen the woman whom wished
to make my Whenever before had so longed
to call anything my own, as l did that lovely
face lying on my heart No, it was impossi-
BILE for me to sleep.
In the morning we reached Buffalo, and spent
the day at Niagara. Ii had thought her love-
ly while sleeping, what was she when the hight
of feeling and expression played over her face,
as she eloqucntly admired the scene before us,
or was even more eloquent still. l do not
think looked at the Cataract as much as
looked at her, or thought the one creation
more beautiful than the other.
She was now quite familiar with me, in her
innocent way, calling me 'scousin Frank, ~ ana
seeming to take a certain pleasure in my socl-
ety and protection. 1t was delightful to be
greeted so gladly with her, when | entered the
hotel parlor, to have her come forward from
the lonely seat where she had been waiting,
not unobServed or unDoticed, to receive me-
to have her hang on my arm-look up into my
face-tell me all her little adventures alone, and
chide me for leaving her so long, chow long IL
seemed to me,) while every word, look, ana
smile, seemed doubly dear to me, because l
knew the precarious tenure by which held
nv right to them. She busted hersef, 100,
while | was gone out, with our joint baggage,
and rummaged all over her trunks to find
book which had expressed a desire to see
she mended my gloves, sewed the band on my
travelling cap, and found my segar case when
ever l had lost it, which was about twenty
times a dav. which she declared almost equal
led her own. Long ago she had given, over.
into nv possession her elegant port-n'snnaie,
"with ali her money in it, which she was sure
she would lose, as she could never,keep any
thing" and as she had ordered me to take out
what was wanted for her travelling expenses