The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-02-27

tree when you came
"9ou had no right to be up there" she
said, coloring-''a spy upon my move
ments.''
"Nonsense !" he replied. You intrud-
ed on my privacy, and while you slept I
watched over you, like the sweet little
cherub that sits up aloft."
Thank you for the service, I'm sure, ;"
she said, briding.
''You snored awiutiy."
"Mr. Eckerson. remove your arm from
my waist
"Then put yours around my neck"
''Indeed shall do no such thing"
"You will fall into the river if you do
not"
Becky was silent for several moments,
while their unweldy raft whirled along
in the current, rolling from side to side
and threatening every instant to turn COM
pletely over and tip them off At last she
said
"What are we to do ?"
II think, now that am started, I shall
go on to New Orleans" he replied.
"To New Orleans" exclaimed Becky.
at is hundred milesr'
Eyes and the chance OF free passage
for such a distance is not to be neglected
You can 90 ashore if you prefer"
She burst into tears.
You are cruel" she said to treat me
so"
"Cruel - exclaimed Fred. drawing her
closer to HIM, quickly, ''cruel TO you"
There was no help for ii, and she again
relapsed into silence, quite content, ap-
parently. to remain in Fred's arms, and
evlncing now no disposition to rebel For
once in her life she was dependent on a
man.
81 want to 90 to New Orleans" con
tinued Fred, after pause, "because there
is a young lady of my acquaintance re-
siding there, whom | have an intention of
inviting into this ncighborhood -
"Om
eff we don't go to New Orleans, and if
we get safe ont Of this scrape, I shall
write for her TO come any way"
"Ah." :"
81 shall obtain board for her in ST. JEAN
which will be convenient for me rs long
as | remain your fathers guest. | can
ride over after breakfast every morning
you see"
"She is an intimate friend then,' said
Becky.
Il expect to marry her before long"
he replied.
Marry her Why you-you proposed
to me this morning"
"Yes, but You refused me. | told You
then You would never have another
chance"
Becky was silent again IT is a matter
of some doubt whether, had Fred at that
sitting Astrde that cottonwood
log with his feet in the water and his arm
around her waist, proposed to her a
second time, she would have accepted him
or not To be sure. a marvellous change
had come over Bpckv's feelings since her
tumble into the river She felt then that
one strong arm like that which supported
her was worth thousand old and decrppit
planters, and she recognized the fact that
a man who could talk so coollv and un-
in "A situation of such extreme
peril, was one of no ordinary courage
But she was not vet quite prepared to give
up her golden dreams. The dross was
not quite washed out of her soul, and she
did not yet know how much she loved
Fred Eckerson. Besides, she did not half
believe him.
Their clumsy vessel tloated on, now
root first, now sideways, and now half
submerged beneath the boiling current.
Their precarious hold became more un-
certain as their frames became chilled by
the cold water, and every plunge of the
log threatened to east them once more
into the river. In vain Fred endeavored
to attract the attention OF some one on the
shore. The cottonwood retained a course
nearly in the middle of the stream, too
tar from either bank to render their out
cries Of much avail. As it grew dark,
their situation seemed more and more
hopeless, and to Becky there appeared to
be no escape from certain death, either by
drowning in the darkness or by exhaustion
before darbreak.
Yet to die in this mans arms seemed
rot wholly u terror. She could hardly
think, if death must come, of any way in
which she would rather meet it. Was it
possible she loved him, and must needs
be brought within the valley of the shadow
before she could know her heart Had
she loved him all along? While she was
thinking about 1t, chilled by the night air.
she fell asleep. When she awoke the
stars were out, but she was warm and
Raising her head, she found
herself enveloped in Fred's coat.
Fred ~
"Well 90
lyon have robbed yourself to keep me
warm. You are treezing''
'No | aint. took it off because it was
so awful hot" and taking out his handker-
chief with his disengaged hand, he made
a pretense of wiping the prespration
from his brow.
'How long have been asleep?@'
"About three hours. We are drifting
in shore now"
''Shall we be saved %
81 don't know. Put your arms around
my neck for Pm going to take mine
away"
Becky did this time as she was bid
She not only threw her arms quickly
around his neck but she laid her head
upon his breast without the slightest hes-
tation. In the darkness Fred did not
know that she imprinted kiss upon his
"Hold fast now ~ he cried "Hol1 on
for your dear lifer'
The log had been gradually nearing the
shore for some time, and it now shot sud
ienly under a large sycamore which over
hung the bank and trailea its branches in
he brown flood. Quick as thought Fred
seized the limb above his head, and pulled
with all his might. The headlong course
ot the cottonwood was checked; it plum ged
heavily and partly turned over, its top be-
came entangled in the sycamore and
errific cracking of limbs ensued. With
sudden spring Fred gained the project
ng branch, dragging his clinging burden
after him. In another instant the cotton
wood had broken away and continued its
7oyage down the river, while the bent
sycamore regained its shape with such a
quick rebound that the two travellers were
very nearly precipitated into the stream
again. Fred half supporting, half drag
ying Becky, worked his way to the trunk
~ series of gymnastics that would have
lone no discredit to BloEdin, and in
moment more both had reached the ground
n safety.
''That's a business we are we'll out Of"
le said when he had regained his breath.
Now where are we ?"
He looked about. A light was glimmer-
ng from habitation behind them, a short
distance from where they stood. Becky
.Ould nOt walk w;thout rroot ,,o;n and