Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-05-10
eyes open at last, she found Fred Ecker
sons whiskers nearly brushing her face.
,Well 4,

fork of a cottonwood tree, aud you ure voy-
aging toward the Gulf of Mexico just as
last as this freshet can carry you'
How came you here =
In the same conveyance with Yourself,
Miss Becky. In fact you and | and the
tree all came together. to say nothing of
portion of your fathers plantation, which,
l fear. is lost forever
Becky WAS silent. She was thinking,
not of the accident or their pcrlous posi-
ton, but Of her appearance when she was
lying asleep on the grass.
How long were yop there before this
happened p she asked.
AS long as you were. l was up in the
tree when you came.'
You had n right 20 bo up there she
said coloring-'a spy upon my movements
Nonsense J. he replied. you intruded
on my privacy, and while you slept
watched over you, like the swee. little che
rub that sits aloft.'
Thank you for the service, I'm surc,'
she said, bridling.
You snored awfully.'
'Mr. Eckcrson, remove your arm from
my wa!s.,'
Then put yosr arms around my neck.
Indeed, shall do no such thing
You Will fail into the river if you DON'T
Becky was silent for several moments,
while their unwieldy raft whirled along in
the current, rolling from side to side, and
threatening every instant to turn COM
pletely over and tip them of Z last glo
said
What arc we to do p
think, now that am started, I shall
go on to New Orleans he replied.
To New Orleans i exclaimed Becky. 1t
is hundred miles,
Yes and the chance of free passage
for such u distance is not to be neglected.
You caa go ashore, if you prefer
She burst into tears.
You are cruel she said, to treat me go
Cruel = exclaimed Fred, drawing her
closer to him, quickly 'crqel 70 you ?
There was no help for il, and shc again
relapsch into silence, quite content, qppa-
rently, to remain in Fred's arms, and
evincing now no disposition to rebel. For
once III her life she MAS dependent on y
man.
Il want to 90 to New Orleans contiuu-
ed Fred, after a pause, because there is II
young lady of my acquaintance residing
there, whom l have some intention OF
bringing into this uighborhood.'
or
IF we don't go to New Orleans, and if
we get safe out of this scraps, ! shall write
to her to come any way
Il shall obtain board COR her ia 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 p said
Becky.
! expect 70 marry her before long he
replied.
Marry her! Why, you-you proposed
to me this morning.
Yes, but you refused ME. l told you
then you would never have another
chance
Becky was silent again. 1t is Il matter
of some doubt whether, had Fred at thai
moment, sitting astridu that cottonwood
log, with his feet in the water and his arm
around her waist, proposed to her a Sc
eond time, she would have accepted him or
not. 10 be sure marvellous change had
come over Beeky's feelings since her tum-
bic into the river. She felt just then that
one strong arm like iha. which supported
her was worth a thousand cid and deere
pid planters and she recognized the fact
that a man who could talk so coolly aud
unconcelnedly in Il situation of sucl ex
treme peril was one Of no ordinary courage.
out ohC Nao uot yob Vullc licpdItu W plNt
up her golden dreams. The dross was not
quite washed out of her soul, and she did
n1s yet kpow bow much she loved Fred
Eckerson. Besides, she did No. half be-
lieve him.
Their clumsy vessel tloated on, now root
first, sideways, aud now half submerged
| by the boiling current. Their precarious
hold became more uncertain rs their frames
| became chilled by the cold water, and eve
ry plunge of the log thr1ateIed TO cast them
Guce more auto GGe river. IN vain Fred
endeavorcd to attract the attention of some
one on the shore. The cottonwood retain
ed Q course nearly in the middle of the
stream, too far from either hank to render
their outcries of much avail As it grew
dark their situation seemed more and more
helpless, and TO Becky there appeared to
be no escape from certain death, either BY
drowning in the darkness or by exhaustion
before day break.
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 needs be brought
within the valley of the shadQW before she
could know her heart 7 Had she l0yed
him all along While she WAS thinking
about IT chilled by the exposure aud night
air, she fell asleep. When she awoke the
stars were out, but she was warm and conf
Portable. Raising her head, she foune her.
self enyelo2ed in fred,e coat
Fred =
| We'll p
You have robbed yourself to keep me
warm. You are freezing
No, amt; | took it Off because il was
SO awful hot : apd taking out his hand
''kercRie: ,,SiIh his deengaged hapd, be
. made pretcGce Of wiping the perspiration
from his brow.
How long have been asleep?'
About three hours. We are drhing in-
shore now
Shall we be saved p
Il don't know. Put your arms around
my neck, for I'm 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 hesitation. In
the darkness, Fred did not know that she
Imprinted kiss pp9p his shirt. bosom.
,,llold fast now, he cried. Hold on, for
dear life.'
The log had been gradually nearing the
shore for some time, and now it shot SUD
denly pndeF allGrge sycamore which over
hunu n I'm nlys onI trnllaa ifa hro nchaS IA,