The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-12-16

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?"
81 think, now that am started, shall
go on to New Orleans" he replied.
"To New Orleans P' exclaimed Becky.
at is hundred miles 70
eyes, and chance of free ride for a
long distance is not to be neglected. You
can go ashore ifyou prefer"
She burst into tears. s,,.
"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 it, and she again
relapsed into silence, quite content, ap-
parently, to remain in Fred's arms, and
evincing now no disposition to rebel. For
once in her life she was dependent on a
man.
~ want to go to New Orleans" con-
tinued Fred, after a pause, "because
there is a young lady of my acquaintance
residing there, whom have an intention
of inviting into this neighborhood.
"Ohr'
eff we don't go to New Orleans, and if
we get safe out of this scrape, shall write
for her to come anyway"
"Ah 70 Ha la nH u"
81 shall obtain board for her in St.
Jean, which will be convenient for me as
long as l remain your fathers guest.
can ride over after breakfast every morn
ing you see."
"She is an intimate friend, then," said
Becky.
81 expect to marry her before long"
he replied.
Marry her! Why you-you proposed
to me this morning" 'aH
eyes, but you refused me. told you
then you would never have another
chance"
Becky was silent again. 1t is matter
of some doubt whether, had Fred at that
moment, sitting astride that cottonwood
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 Becky's feelings since her
tumble in the river. She felt that one
strong arm, like that which supported her.
was worth thousand old and decrepit
planters, and she recognized the fact that
man who could talk so coolly and uncon-
cernedly in a situation of such extreme
peril, was of no ordinary courage. But
she was not yet quite pr epared 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 be-
lieve him.
Their clumsy vessel fioated on, now
root first, now sideways, and now half
submerged beneath the boiling current
Their precarious hold became more uncer-
tain as their frames became chilled 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 attention 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 more and more
hopeless, and to Becky there appeared to
be no escape from certain death, either
by drowning in the darkness, or by exhaus-
tion before daybreak.
Yet to die in this mans arms seemed
not wholly 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 need
be brought within the valley of the shad-
ow before she could know her own heart +?
Had she loved him all along? While she
was thinking about it, chilled by the
night air, she fell asleep. When she
awoke the stars were out, but she was
warm and comfortable Raising her
head, she found herself enyeloped in Fred's
coat taa fH
Erred !"
"Well I"
"You have robbed yourself to keep me
warm. You are freezing"
"No, ] amt l took it off because it
was so awful hot" and, taking out his
handkerchief with his disengaged hand
he made pretense of wiping the perspira-
tion from his brow.
"How long have been asleep9"
"About three hours. We are drifting
ashore now"
"Shall we be saved p,