The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-04-25

hat, slipped out by the back door to
avoid Fred, and soon found herself at
the foot of huge cottonwood tree on
the bank below the house. Throw
ing herself upon the grass, and lulled
by the bubbling of the rapid flood be-
meath her, she soon fell fast asleep
Had she possessed any power of fore
seeing the future, it would have been
the last thing she would have done,
for although it was very pleasant
dropping asleep there in the shade,
with the soft sunlight tiltering through
the leaves overhead, the awakening
was not at all to her mind. A terri
BILE crash made chaos of her dreams; !;
the ground slipped from beneath her
the tall cottonwood toppled and fell !;
and Miss Becky Newton found her
self suddenly immersed in the cold
food, with her mouth full of muddy
water. In moment more, some
body's arm was around her and she
felt herself lifted up and placed some
where in the sunshine, though pre-
cisely where, she was as yet too be-
wildered to know. Getting her eyes
open at last. she found Fred Ecker
sons whiskers nearly brushing her
| face.
| "Wellr
"WeIim
"Where am II" asked Miss Becky,
shivering and looking around her
"You are in the middle of the Mis-
sissippi," replied Fred, "and You are
in the fork of tree. and you are voy.
aging toward the Gulf of Mexico Just
as fast rs this freshet can carry you" }"
"How came you here :"
ain the same conveyance with your
self, Miss Becky. In fact, you and |
and the tree all came together, TO say
nothing of portion of your fathers
plantation, which, fear, is lost to
him forever"
Becky was silent. She was think
ing. not of the accident or their peril
Gus position. but of her appearance
when she was lying asleep on the
grass.
"How long were You there before
this happened :" she asked.
"As long rs you we,e. | was up
in the tree when you came"
You had no right TO be there,' she
| said, coloring-"a spy upon my move
men;s.'
Nonsense :" he replied. "You in
truded on my privacy, and while yon
slept watched OYER you. ike the
sweet little chcrub that sits mp aloft. .
Thank YOU for the service, I'm
sure" she said, bridling.
"Iou snored awiully."
mir. Eckerson, remove your arm
from my waist"
"Therrput yours around my neck. >
Indeed | shall DO no sucR thing.
you will fall into the river if you
do not"
Becky was silent tor several mo-
men,s, while their unwieldy raft
whirled along III the current, rolling
from side To side and threatening
every instant to turn completely over
and tip them off At last she said
"What are We to do :"
Il think, now that | am started, /
shall 90 on 10 New Orleans" he re.
piled.
ITO New Orleans - exclaimed
Becky. 1T is hundred miles,"
Yes, and the chance of free pass.
age for such distance is not TO be
neglected. You can go ashore if you
prefer"
She burst into tears.
4 E.Nx. ~ - fl.u
me So"
Cruel" exclaimed Fred, drawing
her closer to him, quickly,-''cruel 10
You"
There was no help for it, and she
again relapsed into silence, quite con-
tent. apparently, to remain in Fred's
arms, and evincing now no disposition
to rebel. For once in her life she was
depenent on man.
Il want to go to New Orleans u
continued Fred, after a pause, "be
cause there is young lady of my ac
quaintance residing there, whom
have some intention OF inviting into
this neighborhood."
"Or'
"If we don't 60 to New Orleans
and if we get out of this scrape, shal
write for her to come anyway"
| "Ah"
II shall obtain board for her in St
Jean, which will be convenient for mt
as long as remain your father.
guest. / can ride over after breakfas
every morning, YOU see."
| "She is an intimate friend then,
said Becky.
Il expect to marry her before long,
he replied.
"Marry herl Why you-you pro
posed to me this morning"
"Yes, but you refused me. told
you then you would never have an
other chance"
Becky was silent again. 1t is /:
matter of some doubt whether, ha,
Fred at that moment, sitting astrid,
that cottonwood log with his feet il
the water and his arm around he
) waist, proposed to her second time
she would have accepted him or not
To be sure, marvellous change hat
come over Becky's feelings since he
tumble into the river. She felt thel
that one strong arm like that whicl
supported her was worth a Thousand
old and decrepet planters, and sh
recognized the fact that man wh'
could talk SO coolly and unconserned
ly in a situation OF such extreme peril
was one of no ordinary courage. Bu
she was not yet quite prepared t.
give up her golden dreams. Th
dross was not quite washed out of he
soul, and she did not know how mucl
she loved Fred Eckerson. Besides
| eha did not Lalf Iol.nuo Inn