Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-04-17
"You snored awfully."

''Mr. Eckerson, remove your arm
from my waist
"Then put yours around my neck.
"Ineed I shall do no such thing"
"You will fall into the river if you
do not
Becky was silent for several mo-
ments, while their unwieldly y raft whirl
ed along in the current, rolling from
side to side and threatening every in
slant to turn completely over and tip
them off. AT Last she said
"What are we to do ?"
81 think, now that. | am started, |
shall go!on to New Orleans, ''he replied
"To New Orleans )" exclaimed
Becky ut is a hundred miles "
eyes and the chance of 4 free pas
age for such distance is not to be
neglected. You can go ashore if you
prefer"
She burst into tears.
"You are cruel" she said to treat
me so"
"Cruel y exclaimed Fred, drawing
: her closer to him, quickly,-"cruel to
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
dependent on man.
II want to 90 to New Orleans con-
tinued Fred, after pause, "because
there is young lady Of my acquant-
ance residing there, whom l have an
intention of inviting into this neigh
borhood," "
"O!"
of we don't 90 to New Orleans,
and if we get safe out Of this scrape, l
shall write for her to come any way
"Ah !"
Il shall obtain board for her in St.
Jean, which will be convenient for me
as long as l remain your fater's guest.
| can ride over after breakfast every
morning, you see"
"She is an intimate friend then, u
said Becky.
81 expect to marry her before long, y
he replied.
"Marry her ! 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 a
matter of some doubt whether, had
Fred at that moment, sitting astride
that cottonwood log with his feet in
the water and his arms around her
waist, proposed to her second time,
she would have accepted him or not.
To he sure, marvellous change had
come over Beckys feelings since her
tumble into the river She felt then
that one strong arm like that which
supported her was worth 4 thousand
old and decrepit planters, and she re-
cognized the fact that a man who
could talk so cooly and unconcerned-
" in situation of such extremepe
was one of no ordinary courage. But
she was not yet 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 floated on, now
root first, now sideways, and now halt
submerged beneath the boiling current.
Their precarious hold became more
uncertain as their frames became chill
ed by the cold water, and every plunge
of the log threatened to cast them
once more into the river. In vain
Fred endeavored to attract the atten-
ton of some one on the shore. The
cottonwood retained course nearly
in the middle of the stream, too far
from either bank to render their out
cries of much avail. AS it grew dark,
their situation seemed mole 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 daybreak,
Yet to die in this mans arms SEEM
ed not wholly a 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 with
in the valley ofthc shadow before she
could know her heart. Had she loved
him all along? While she was think
ino ohout II chilled hy the nj Uht air.