Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-06

ever known a finer fellow. He stap, /,
stalwart, with short, shaggy chestnut
hair, frank hazel eyes, full of honesty and
determination too, and is silent, hard
working and earnest. The most marked
trait in Harry Is cool independence. He
enters room with a firm, composed,
! and stalwart tread, looks everybody
straight in the eyes, smiles slightly, sits
Edown and opensa book, and all with an
air which like Aextremely,: the air OF a
nan who workshard, has come in to rest,
has nothing onhis sconsc;ence, IS pleased
in a quiet way with everything
would like to have his supper and go to
bed, Sometimes ! see Harry looking out
from beneath the wide strawShat which
covers his shaggy chestnut cIirls and sun
burned forehead at Fanny. But you read
little in his glance. / know him to be
in love with her, but he has never spoken
word of love to her, | am very sure.
A short walk brought us to the saw
mill, and the scene which met our view
was worth the walk.
All the preceding day and throughout
a small stream, which was damned up by
| u
power to turn the mill-wheel, was rush
ing on in the widest and most furious
manner that esn be imagined.
When we approached the spot where
half dozen Of the hired hands. were
working with.Harry TO save the lam, the
stream was roaring in hoarse and most
threatening style. Instead of decreasing,
the freshet seemed gathering greater
| strength with every passing moment. Enc
surges lashed the fabric at the dam, which
shook and seemed about to give way. At
| one point now, and then at another a part
was torn away; the waters gushed
through the gap, tearing it wider and
deeper, and it required the utmost exer-
tions of the men, laboring with pick and
ak, up to their waists in the water, to
hold the'torrent at bay and save the dam.
Harry was Sin command" of the squad,
and you could. easily see that it was his
natural place, and that the rough work.
men looked to him as the natural master.
His costume was not. of the drawing
room description. He was up to his mid.
die in the water, ak in hand, and had on
neither coat, waistcoat, nor hat. His
arms were naked to the shoulder, ana the
water had been dashed over him until his
face and hair were drenched. Tall, mus
cular, cool, directing everything, and fill
ing up .very breach in the dam as rapidly
as il was made, Harry was the genius OF
the scene, and the master of all around
him-to the very water, it seemed.
Twice he was swept from his feet and
disappeared beneath the current once a
timber struck him, and the lockers on ut
tered terrified scream. An hour passed
in this conflict, and then the dam was
saved. The water had begun to fall, and
the young man came out and walked
up the bank to the spot
where everybody was stan n1ing.
I glanced from the wet and dirty
youth to the elegant Tom Middleton.
The contrast was certainly striking. Har-
ry was a brawny athlete, sunburned, with
shaggy locks, coatless, bare-armed, his
pantaloons and boots full of water. Mr..
Middleton was irreproachably dressed
his boots shone, his shirt-bosom sparkled
with diamond, he wore kid gloves, and
his hat was smooth and glossy. Harry
came up, and as L was nearest, said:
"Well, cousin, the dam is all right"
He then looked about for his hat and
coat, put them on, and informing us that
he was going to get some dry clothes as
he was wet, walked toward the hOuse-s
tall young giant, moving with long
swinging stride.
Fanny had not said word to him. Die
he notice that fact or look at his rival, Mr.
Middleton? | do not know. But some
thing has followed this scene; and this
am about to relate.
Fanny and Mr.. Middleton walked oa
upon the lawn in the beautiful mOonligh
after tea, and the rest of the family sat or
: the porch conversing.
81 am going to Colorado" said Harry
who was smoking.
"To Coloradon' exclaimed.
, "Yes, cousin. | have position upol
new railroad offered me, and think
j shall accept it; in fact have made up m.
mind.n
This was said coolly, but there was tn
: least perceptible alteration in the youth
4 voice.
/ "The truth is, Pm rusting here doin
{ nothing. [ have no career, and canno
help ANYBODY. l shall be well paid o
the railroad. and can send home plenty Q
6 money, and live the life like besides"
n A step was heard on the grass, and
!. saw the white dress of Fanny in tn
e moonlight. | looked at her and saw ths
o she was blushing-as to Mr.. Middleton
he looked the picture of happiness.
81 don't believe word of it!' e1
claimed Fanny, with little tremor in ne
r. voice. "The idea of your going to Co
,, orado! | should like TO know what yo
e would do in Colorado?"
81 should be transit man on railroad,
Is said Harry with extreme cOmposure.
u Fanny tried to ladgh, but did not su
ceed.
v "You know nothing in the world abol
At railroads"
THAT is true" returned Harry wit
" his immovable GOODNESS; "but have I
n doubt shall soon learn"
I "And-apd-you really do think of g
O. ing SO far from-us all-and oy yourself
as This time Fanny was certainly move
h The small hand resting confidingly upt
Mr.. Middleton's arm was agitSted by
7 nervous tremor. The strangest smi
no came to Harry's face-a rather bitt
I smile-but his voice was perfectly col
at posed when he spoke.
" 81 ought TO be able to go by mys'
Nv and take care of myself; and intend
travel alone, unless | can get Mr.. Midd
II. ton to go with me-
is The elegant Ton Middleton smiled IL