Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-09-08


too bewildered " know. Getting her eyes open
at last, she found Fred Eckerson's wlskers near
ly brushing her face.
"Well!'
iWelI"
"Where am II" asked Becky, shivering and
looking around her
"You are In the middle OF tho Mississippi"
replied Fred, and you are in fork Of cotton-
wood tree, and you are yoyaging toward tie
Gulf OF Mexico just as fast as this freshet can
carry your
"How came you here!"
"ln the same conveyance with yourself, Miss
Becky. In fact you and and the tree came to-
gether, to say nothing of portion Of your faith
ers plantation, which, fear, is lost to him for
ever."
Becky was silent. She was thinking, not
Of the accident or their perilous position, but Of
her appearance when she was lying asleep on
the grass:
allow long were You there before this hap
psncd?' she asked.
"As long as you were. was up in the tree
when you came"
"You had no right TO be up there, " she said
coloring
"Nonsense!" he replied, "you intruded on my
privacy, and while you slept watched over you
like the sweet little cherub that sits up aloft."
aThank you for the service, I'm sure" she
said, bridling.
"You snored awfulIy."
"Mr. Eckerson remove your arm from my
waist"
"rhen put yours around my neck"
"Indeed shall do nothing Of the kind"
"You will fall into the river II you do not"
Becky was silent for several moments, while
their unwieldy raft whrled along in the cur.
rent, rolling from side to side, and threatening
every instant to turn completely over and tip
them of. At last she said:
"Wbat are we to db?"
81 think now, that am started l shall go on
down TO New Orleans"
"To New Orleans" exclaimed Becky. "It's
hundred miles,"
eyes; and the chance OF free passage for
such distance Is not to be rejected. You can
go ashore If you prefer"
She burst into tears.
"You are cruel" she said, "to treat me In
this way"
"Cruel !" exclaimed Fred, drawing her closer
to him, quickly; "cruel tu your"
There was no help for it, and she again re-
lapsed into silence, quite conten., apparen ty A.,
TO remain In Fred's arms, and evlnclng no dis
position to rebel. For once In her life she was
dependent OH q man.
"lf we don't 60 to New Orleans, and If we
get safe out Of this scrape, shall write for her
TO come away"
"Ahl"
81 shall obtain obtain board for her In st..
Jean, which will be convenient for me as long
as remain your fathers guest. can ride ov-
er right after breakfast every morning you see. !"
"Shes an intim ,te friend, thenf" said Miss
Becky.
81 expect to marry her before long," he re-
piled.
this morning."
eyes, but you refused me. told you then
you would never have another chance"
Becky was silent again. 1t Is a mattar Of
some doubt whether, had Fred at that moment
sitting astride that cottonwood log, with his
ieet IN the " ater and his arm around her waist
proposed TO her second time, she would have
accepted him or not. To be sure great change
had come over Becky's feelings since she tum-
bled into the river.
She felt Just then that one strong arm like
that which supported her was worth thousand
Old and decrepid planters; and she recognized
the fact that man who could talk so coolly
and unconcernedly In a situation of such ex-
treme peril was one Of no ordinary courage. But
| she was not quite prepared 10 give up her gold
ell dreams. Tho dross was not quito washed
out Of her soul, aud she did not yet know how
much she loved Fred Eckerson. Besides she
| did not believe him.
The cottonwood retained course nearly In
the middle OF the stream, too far from either
l
| As II giew dark their situation seemed more
and more helpless, and to Becky there appear
I ed to be no escape from csrtain death, eitheI
by drowning in the darkness or by exhaustion BY
daybreak.
| Yet TO die In this mans arms seemed mo-
wholly terror. She could hardly think, Il
death must come, ofany way she would rathel
meet 1t.
I Was 1t possibl, she loved him, and needs b,
brought within the valley of the shadow before
she could know her heart: Had she loved him
all alongs While she WAS thinking about 1t
chilled by the exposure and the might air, sh'
fell asleep.
When she awoke the stars were out, but sh,
was warm and comfortable. Raising hersel
she found herself enveloped in Fred's owe
coat.
"Fred,n
"Well?"
"You have robbed yourself to keep me warm
You are freezing"
"No amt; took 1t off because 1t was so aw
full ho.;" and taking out his handkerchief witt
his disengaged hand, lie made pretence Of wip
ing the perspiration from his brow.
.sHow long have l been asleep?"
"Atout three hours. We are drifting in-shon
now"
"Shall we be saved ?"
al don't know. Put your arms around my
neck, for l am going TO take mine away"
Becky did this time as she was bid. She no
only threw her arms quickly around his neck
but she laid her head upon his breast without tn
slightest hesitation. In the darkness Fred dl
not know that she imprinted kiss upon hi
shirt bosoui.
"Hold fast, n.w," he cried. "Hold on 70
your dear iife."
The log had been gradually nearing the shor
for some tim,, and now it shot suddenly unde
, large sycamore which overhung Its banks ali,
trailed Its branches In thebrown flood. Quick 4
thought, Fred seized the limb above his head
! pulled with all his might.
The headlong course OF the cottonwood wa
checked; 1t plunged heavily, and partly turne
over, Its top became entangled In the sycamore
and terrible cracking Of limbs ensued. Wit
, a sudden spring Fred gained the projectin
branch, dragging his clnging burden after him
In another instant the cottonwood had broke
T away and continued its voyage down the rivel
, when the bent sycamore regained its shape viii
, such quick rebound that the two traveller
were very nearly preclpitated into the streau
again. Fred, half supporting, half-draggine
J Becky, worked his way to the trunk by seris
/. Of gymnastics that wonld have done credit :
/ Blondln, and in a moment more both ha
: reached the ground In safety.
/ THAT'S business we arS we'll out off, b
l--f a q n n a "a