The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-01-31

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L shall obtain board for her in St.
Jean, which will be convenient for me as
long as | remain your fathers guest. I
can ride over after breakfast every morn.
ing yon see.p
She is an intimate friend then" said
Becky.
l expect to marry her before long"
he replied.
Marry herl Why you-you proposed
to me this morning"
Yes, 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
log, with his feet in the water and his arm
around her waist, proposed to her second
time, she would have accepted him or not.
To be sure marvellous change had come
over Beckys feelings since her tumble
into 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 a man
who could talk so coolly and unconcernedly
in situation of such extreme peril, was
of no ordinary courage. But she was not
yet quite prepared 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. Be-
sides she did not half believe him.
Their clumsy vessel foated on, now
root first, now sideways, and now half
submerged beneath the boiling current.
Their precarious hold became more un-
certain 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 endeayored
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
outcries Of much avail As il grew dark
their positions 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-
ton 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 need be
brought within the valley of the shadow
before she could know her 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 enveloped in Fred's coat
FredW
"Wellp
"You have robbed yourself to keep me
warm. You are freezing"
"No, | aint. took it of because il
was SO awful hot" and taking out his
handkerchief with his disengaged hand
he made pretensc of wiping the perspi-
ration from his brow.
"How long have l been asleep?"
"About three hours, We are drifting
ashore now"
"Shall we be saved 2"
"I don't know. Put your arms around
my neck, for / am going to take mine
away" t
Becky did this time us she was bid.
She did not only throw her arms quickly
around his neck, but laid her head upon
his breast without the slightest hesitation.
In the darkness Fred did not know that
she imprinted kiss upon his shirt bosom.
"Hold fast, now y he cried. "Hold on
for dear lifep
The log had been gradually nearing the
shore for some time, and it now shot sud-
denly under large sycamore which over
hung the bank and trailed its branches in
the brown food. Quick as thought Fred
seized the limb above his head and pulled
with all his might. The headlong course
Of the cottonwood was checked; ii plunged
heavily and partly turned over its top
became entangled in the sycamore and a
terrific cracking of limbs ensued. With
a sudden spring Fred gained the project.
ing branch, dragging his clinging burden
after him. In another instant the cotton.
wood had broken away and continued its
voyage down the river, while the bent
sycamore regaiued Its shape with such q
quick bound that the two travellers were
very near precipitated into the stream
again. Fred, half supporting, half drag
gipg Becky, worked his way to the trunk
by series Of gymnastics that would hav,
done credit to Blondin, and in moment
more both had reached the ground il