The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-04-25
LOVE ON A LOG.
"Miss Becky Newton"
"Well sir"

MIR. Fred Eckerson drew away his
chair, and putting his feet upon the
piazza, uniolded newspaper, Miss
Becky Newton bit her lip and went
on with her sewing. She wondered
if that was going TO be the last of it..
She had felt this proposal coming for
month, but the scene she had autici-
pated was not at all like this. She
had intended TO refuse him, bnt it was
TO be done gracefully. She was
TO remain firm, notwithstanding his
most eager entreatics. She was to
have told him that though respect
ing his manly worth and upright char
acter, she could never be to him more
than an appreciative and earnest
friend. She had intended to shed a
few tears, perhaps, as he knelt writh-
ing in an agony of supplication at her
feet. But instead, he had asked her
the simple question, without any
rhetorical embellishments, and on be-
ing answered. had plunged at once in
to his newspaper, as though he had
merely inquired the time OF day. She
could have cried with vexation.
You will never have better
chance" he continued. after pause,
as he deliberately turned over the
sheet to find the latest telegraph re-
ports.
A better chance for what" she
asked, shortly.
"A better chance to marry young,
good-looking man, whose gallantry 10
the sex is only exceeded by his bravery
in their defence"
Fred was quoting from his news
paper, but Miss Newton did not know
IL.
"And whose egotism is only ex-
ceeded by impudence,' retorted the
lady, sarcastically.
Before long" continued Fred,
you'll be out of the market. Your
chances, you know are getting slim
mer every day"
Sir
at won't be great while before
you are ineligible. You will grow
old and wrinkied and
Such rudeness To a lady. sir, is
monstrous," exclaimed Miss Newton,
rising hastily, and flushing to the TEN
pies.
I'll give you final opportunity,
Miss Becky. Will you mar"
Not if you were the King of Eng.
land,7 interrupted Miss Newton,
throwing down her work. Il am not
accustomed to such insults, sir"
And SO saying, she passed into the
house and slammed the door behind
her
She is never so handsome as when
she is in a rage" thought Fred TO
himself, after she had gone, as he
slowly folded up his paper and re
placed it in his pocket. II was a fool
to goad her so. shall never win her
in that way. But I'll have her." hc
exclaimed, aloud. by Heaven, I'll
have her, cost what it may!"
Very different was the Fred Ecker.
son OF the present, pacing nervously
up and down the piazza, from the
Fred Eckerson OF few moments ago
receiving his dismissal from the wo-
man he loved, with such calm and i'm
perturabie exterior. For he loved
Becky Newton with all his heart
The real difficulty in the way, as he
more than half suspected, was not sc
much with himself as in his pocket
Becky Newton had an insuperable
objection to an empty wallet. The
daughter of wealthy Louisiana
planter, reared in luxury and the re
cipient of weekly allowance of pin.
money sufficient to pay Freds whole
bills for month, she mad DO immedi-
ate idea of changing her situation for
one of less comfort and independence
Besides, it had been intimated to bel
that neighboring planter of unusu
ally aristocratic lineage had looked
upon her with coyetous eyes. To be
sure, he was old and ugly, but ht
was rich, and in her mercenary state
of mind, Miss Becky Newton did no
desire to allow such chance of be
|, coming a wealthy widow to slip by
unimproved.
But alas for human nature
Becky was really SO Indifferent Il
Fred Eckerson, why did she run uT
stairs after that interview, and taxi
the starch all out of her nice clear
pillow-shams by crying herself into
i Mysteries on the bed? 1t was not al
wrath, not all vexation, not all pique
There was somewhere deep down il
: Becky Newton's heart a feeling yer,
: much akin to remorse. She was no
sure that she would not one day be
sorry for what she had done. Sh
had no doubt she could be very happ,
as Fred Eckerson's wife, after all.
"But then,' she cried, growing no
: with the recollection, ''he was so rude
: : and so insulting! never could liv
Q with such man-never !"
i When Fred Eckerson had wake,
). off some of his feelings on the piazza
he concluded to take a look at th,
river. The Mississippi, which fowe,
It within five hundred yards of tn
house, was that time nearly at tn
height Of its annual "spring rise.' 1t
! turbid waters, rushing swiftly toward
the sea, had nearly filled the bank
and in many places had broke
through the levees and flooded tn
low lands for many miles. A crevic
of this description had been made il
the farther bank, nearly opposite th
: house, and the windows Of the New
# ton mansion commanded view of
vast and glittering island sea, not lai
$ down on the maps. The main curren
e of the stream bore upon its coffee
colored bosom an enormous mass @
floating timber, which was dashe,
along the boiling food, renderin,
navigation wholly impossible. TIL
waters were still rising, and the fire