The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-19
MY FIRST Proposal.

IVORY. MY HTSL aAFtileHCc tHeie wa
pleasant may say quite pleasant.
may detail it for you, perhaps one OF
these days. 1t occurred in consequence
Of an advertisement for an editor for the
Alexandria Gazette, on the Red River,
stating, Us an inducement, Il at the sala
~ was large. pistols, ammunition and
bowie knives provided. aud emily six edi-
tors had been killed in the previous Eve
months
Whether I accepted the situation o.
not has. however, nothing to do with this
story. IL was only few weeks after
that advertisement met my eyes. that the
same eyes were blessed with first sight
at Clara Burton And as a first sight al
most always brings dead shot. so got
pIulpper right in my heart when l saw
her.
The glossicst of curls danced about the
rosiest of cheeks, and down upon the
shoulders as white az magnolia leaves ;
the most kisSabie Of rnbicnt lips opened
,c reveal the reariiest teeth-her eyes
tw;nkled like dew drops on sunny June
morning. while her voice sounded like the
cooling Of dove whcu it answers its mate;
her folm was plump, yet fairy Ike in lis
prupnrrions-iie dear little foot, enco>ed
| in "A gaiter boot was annexed :oa fanitles>
antie; IN short, ard IN brief. Clara was
beauty aud nothing slto'ter
She was the life of ball room, aud the
queen of tie parlor and ON horseback
why. Sir Walter SCOTS "U Vernon
wou!d have wilted before her, Fond ot
equestrian pleasure as | was. 1t Eeed not
be wondered at that often volunteered
TO accompany Miss Clara on her rides.
and, hunter born aud bred as am, II
need not be thought strange that | should
frequently take six shooting life along.
the moro especially as cur rides were
Though ..ga,ne country in the literal
sense of tie word Many fat bnck and
many prime turkey fell before NY un
erring aim in these rides. even thuuEh
my hand trembled the more hat she was
by ny side, and many pretty doe bound
cd away 10 safety because Clara asked
for its life All! Clara . Clara. how
could YOU be 50 false to 0. e who loved
you SO?
One day. h.w we'll remember it, Clara
and m,>clT took long wild gallop away
up along the banks Of the Red River, and
only paused when we reached deep and
sluggish bayou which extended up from
the river some ways, aud here IN the
Shade of soue tall ma"nuiias we dlsmoun
;ed, 30 IS to TEST cur horses. which ha'.
come at full speed for miles. Like most
ut the b3vuus in that section, II was full
of aliIgatrrs. which lav SnGozing here and
there upon the water, some Of them half
out ON the oozy banks where they could
fnd IA sunny spot 10 LAY rff in, like Il
Wall street broker wat hing frr Il streak
of luck in the wake of crisis Acr.r>
this bayou TO the opposite shore a nl' ST
dangerous bridge extended, at least a per,
iluus one to an inexperienced foot, for it
was Il long and slender pine, nearly
branche>s, which had been topplcd over
by some hurricane.
"Whal'll YOU wager, Captain, that !
dare not cross on that pole = sald Cara,
as ehe glanced at the slender tree.
IN wager all that | possess that you
will not make the attcmpt in my pres
encc :" l replied 1T would BE- as foolish
as it is dauserou, y
Then the morc pleasure fo- me = she
cried, starting up from the mossy bank
whereon she reclined.
"Frr heavens sake. stop. stop, Miss
Clara ~ | cried, ..Just look at the ALI.
gators in the water!'
"Wouldu't | create a sensation among
them - she cried with silvcry laugh.
and before | could prevent it, she was on
/ the fallen tree and advancing.
NV heart was fairly in my mouth now.
! for | did not dare to speak to her-the
slightest nervousness or miss-step would
be sure TO have precirita.ed her down to
the dark waters where the great raven
Gus. fresh-water sharks lay, lm,kiLg at
her with eager eyes, pcrchanee fancying
what delicious morsel she would make
But graspirg my oIt.tried rifle IN NY
hand. advanced to the edge of the bank
and almost breathlessly watched her pro
cre>s. All went we'll her step as free
aud as firm as it had been upon the flow
ry sod, until she bad reached a point about
two.thirds the way ACROSS Then the
cracking of some Of the top branches on
the other shore caused the tree tn waver
and settle She became alarmed. lost her
self possession, and the next instant with
wild scream of terror, losing her balance
she fell into the water.
/ hud been scared before, had been some
rou0led when | was surrounded by over
twenty yelping Camanchcs, and had to
fight my way out alone. or die in my