The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-03-31
81 .

,he found herself enveloped III Fred 3
cont.
"Frod ~
"Well ~
"You have robbed yourself to keep
mo warm. You are freezing."
"No l aiu't, | took it off because
it was so awful hot" and taking out
his handkerchief with his disengaged
hand he made pretonse Of wiping
the >pcrspiration from his brow. % .,n,
"lIow long have been asleep Z"
"About three hours. We arc DRIFT.
ing OH shore now"
"Shall We be saved :" .# p.
81 don't know. Put your arms
around my neck, for Pm going to
take mino oway." .... r,....s.
Becky did this time as she was
biddeu. She not ouly threw her arms
quickly around his neck, but she
laid ber head upon his breast, with
out tho slightest hesitation. La the
darkness, Fred did not know that
she imprinted kiss upon his shirt
bosom. %
''lIoll fast now I" he oried. "Hold
on, for your dear life ~ '.." g
! The log had been gradullly noar-
ing the shore for some time, and 1t
nov shot suddenly under u large syc-
more which overhung the bank
aud trai ed its branches in the brown
q Oh Quick as thought Fred seized
tho limb above his head, aud pulled
with all his might. Tie hcudlong
course of the cottonwood was. checked,
it p lunged heavily and partly lurne
over, its top bcca me entanglcd in tho
sycamore, and terrific cracking of
limbs ensucd. With a sudden spring
Fred gained tho projecting brauch,
dragging hia clinging burden after
him. In another Instant the cotton.
wood had broken away and contin-
ued its voyage down the river, while
the bent sycamore regained its shape
with such quick rebound that the
two travellers we're very nearly pre-.
cipitated into the stream again.
Fred, half supporting, half dragging
Becky, worked his way to the trunk
by a series efgymnastics that would
bayc done no dlscredit to Bondin,
! aud in q moment more both had
reached the ground in safety. !.
"That's busine. wc are we'll out
Of, he said, when he had reguined
his breath. "Now where arc we -
He looked about. y light was
glimm cring from behind them,
/ short distance from where they stood.
Becky could not walk without great
rain, aud Fred lifted her lightly iu
h.s arms and started for the house.
1t proved to DC the dwelling Of
small planter who was not lacking in
hospitality Here their wants welc
quickly attended to, and under the
cheering influence Of warmth and
shelter, Becky, was soon herself agar.
They drove home tie following
day, Fred having procured the loan
of the planters htrse and chaiso for
that purpose, promising TO return
them by Mr.. Newton's servant the
day after. The morning was bright
aud clear, and tho fragrance Of tho
orange groves was in the air. Becky,
who had maintained alnost utter
silence since their escape from the
cotton wood, was 10 less silent now.
Fred hiuself did not appear particu.
larly commu ,icutive, and many miles
, Of the long ride were taken without
al remark from either. 1t was Becky
who spoke first.
"Fred |" she said,
eyes,"
"You have saved my life, have you
not2'
"lIappy to do it any day." he said,
not knowing exactly what else 20
say.
81 thank you very much"
| "Quite welcome, am sure"
The was another long silence, bro
ken only by tho sound Of the horses
hoof upon the road. Fred himself
seemed to have lost some of his ha"
bitual ease, for lie kept his whip in
constant motion, and held the lcius
nervously.
"Frcd 3"
eyes"
care you going to w,lte to that
young lady in New Orleans p
81 s'pose So"
"Hadn't you-bettcr-;ry again--
before you--before you write 7"
Ho turned his eyes full upon her,
and opened them wide.
"Try again try what =
"l've been thinking through the
night" said Becky, bend rs low to
hide her face and carefully separating
the fringe of her mauti!la, "hat---
perhaps you asked me again the
same question that you lid yestcr.
day morning-I might answer little
--different.'
"B cky's head went against fred's
shoulder, and her face became i'm.
nsd:ate!y lost to view.
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