The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1873-10-17


with his feet in the water, and his arm
around her waist proposed to her a sec
ond time. she would have accepted him or
not To be sure, a marvellous change had
come over Becky's feelings since her tum-
bic into the river She felt that one
strong arm like that which supported her
was worth thousand old and decrept
planters, and she recognized the fact that
man who could talk so coolly and un-
concernedly in situation OF such extreme
peril, was OF no ordinary courage But
she was not yet q lite prepared to give up
her golden dreams The dross was not
yet washed out OF her soul aud she did
not yet know how much she loved Fred
Eckerson. Besides, she did not half be-
lieve him
Their clumsy vessel hotted along, now
rool first, now sideways, and nowhalf SUBJ
merged beneath the boiling current. Their
precarious hold became more uncertain
~ their frames became chilled by the cold
water, and every plunge OF the log threat
eued to cast them once more into the river
la vain Fred endeavored to attract the at
tenton Of some one on the shore The
cottonwood retained course nearly in the
middle Of the stream, too far from either
bank to render calls Tor help OF much avail
is It grew dark their situation seemed
more "a nd move bonolas. 81 .. u II
there appeared to be no escape from Ger.
tain death, either by drowning in the dark
ness, or by exhaustion before daybreak.
Yet to die in this mans arms seemed
not wholly a terror. She could hardl,,
think, II death must come, OF any way in
which she would rather meet it W,s II
possible she loved HIM, and must needs he
brought within the valley Of the shadow
before she could know her own bear,y
Had she ioyed him all along2 While she
was thinking about it, chilled by the NIGHT
air, she fell asleep When she awoke the
stars we're out, but she was warm and
comfortable Raising b er head, she found
herself enyeloped in Freds coat
Fred"
"Weln"
You have robbed yourself to keep me
warm. You are freezing"
NO, amt took it off because #,
was so awful hot" and taking ont hi.
handkerchief with his disengagei hand
he made pretense OF wiping the perspar-
alton from his brow.
allow long have been a-leep?'
About three hours We are drifting
ashore now"
Shall We b. saved?'
y don't kno,s Pu, your arm around
my neck, for nm going to take mine
away"
becky Id this time as she wa. bid. She
net only threw her arms quickly around
his neck but laid her head upon his breast
without the slightest hesitation. In the
darkness Fred dii not know that She i'm
printed a Kiss upon his shirt bosom.
"lloh last, bool' he cried "Ilo'J On
tor dear life''
The log had been gradually nearing the
shore Tor some time, AID it now shot sud
denly under a large sycamore which over
hung the bank and trsiled its branches in
the brown flood. a harsh, grating sound
"a the branches Of the cotton wood INFER
locked with those OF the sycamore u
check IN the speed OF the lpa,r. tree Il
roar Of water renrirr up sgains, the side.
Of the log, aswing around in the current
\ wrench from its temporary as,enin,-.
and tie cottonwood was again in tb,.
stream on 'i- way toward the gnlf Br,
liz living burden was gone. most mi.
racu.ou- transfer had been pale-a sinner
human effort on th part Of FreI had AN
dei 10 safely among ihe uaier.-s eca.r,
branches OF uc sycamore
Alter recovering from tl.. recoJ of tb.
branches re-u.,.ns when ,ls cottonwood
tore Itself array. and which clmo near
ronsi 3 the yoyagers unto the .sah.n,
current F.ol, hl'f supporting. nu. drn
rns Becky, worked bis way t,trr tfun.
'f ''e -fe,mor' by sere. of gymnn.
ucs .l't eouid h.te dose uo I..c-ei, Cd.
H'o'i.n. s.l DO . moment more GOTH L.I
fclch-I to. ground i, safety
.IHf-a business w. sye veil ora, al.
be -aii. wien b. bad -..s.1,I A.. brss.
f...r -..-.. .... .- ~.