The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-03-31
fathers plantation, which, I fear, il
lost TO him forever"

| lO6t 10 MIN f0reYer.
| Becky wus silent. She was think.
ing, not Of the accident or the peril.
Gus position, but of her appearance
when she was lying asloop on the
igrIss.
! elbow long were you there before
this happened 2, she asked.
| GAS long as you we're. Twas up
in the tree when you came"
| "You had no right to be there,'
she said, oo!oriog,-"a spy upon my
movements"
| "Nonsensc !" he replied. "You
intruded on my privacy, and while
you slspt | watched over you, like
tue sweet little ohorub that sits up
aloft."
"Thank you for your services, I n,
sure." she said, bridling.
| "You snored awfully."
| "Mr. Eokerson, remove your arm
from my wsist.'
.'Then put yours around my
neck"
"Indeed I will do no such thing"
| "You will fall iuto tho river if You
do not"
Becky was silent for several mo-
ments, whilo their unwicldly Draft
whirled along the current, rolling
from side to sido and threatening
every instant to turn comnletely
over aud tip them off. At last she
said
| 10 i
81 think now that l am started.
l shall 90 oD to Now Orleans" he
replied.
"To New Orleans" exclaimed
Becky. sit isa hundred milos."
| eyes, au't the chance for q free
passage for such dst4nce is not TO
be- neglected. You can go ashore if
you pretee."
She burst into tears.
"You are cruel" she said, "to
treat the 3d."
"Cruel!" !" exclaimed Fred, draw.
ing her closer to him, quickly
"cruel TO you2"
There was ao help for it, and she
again relapsed into silence, quito
content, apparently, to remain ia
Feeds arms, aud evinoing now no
disposition to rebel. For ouce in
her life shc was dependent IN man. .
81 want to 60 to New Orlea~s,"
continued Fred, and, after pause ;
"beoause there is young lady of
my acquaintance residing there
whom l have on intention of inviting
inte this neighborheod,"
"Op'
eff we don't 60 to New Orleans,
and if we get out Of this scrape, !
shall write for her to come any
way"
"Ah"
"I shall obtain board for her in
ST. Jean, which will be convenient
for me as long l remain your faith.
cr's guest. l can ride over aftcr
breakfast every morning you see."
"She is an intimate friend, them"
said Becky.
! 1 expect to marry her before long,
he replied.
"Marry her ! Why you-you pro.
posed to ne this morning"
eyes but YOU refused me. I told
you then you would never have an
other chance"
Becky was silent again. It is a
M 'tter Of some doubt whether, had
Fred at that moment, sitting astride
that cotton wood log with his feet ia
the water and .hia arm around her
waist, proposed to her second time.
she would have accepted him or not.
To be sure marvellous change had
come over Becky's fe .liugs since her
tumble into the river She felt Just
then that one s'rons arm liko that
which supported her, was worth a
thousand old and dcorepit planters,
and she recognized the fact that u
man who could talk go coolIy and
unooucernedly in situation Of suoh
extreme peril, was one of no ordinary
courage. But she was not yet quite
prepared to give up her golden
dreams. Tho drosB was not quito
washed out of her soul, and she did
not yet know how much sh, loved
Fred Eckerson. Besides she did not
half believe him.
The clumsy vessel foated on, now
root first, now sideways, and now alf
submerged beneath the boiling cur
rept. Their precarious hold became
more uncertain 40 their frames be.
camo chilled by the cold water, aud
every plunge of the log threatened to
cast them once more into the river.
In vain Fred endeavored to attract
the attention Of some ono on the
shore. Tho cottonwood retained q
course nearly in the middle of the
stream. too far from either bank to
render their outcries Of much avail.
AS it grew dark, thoir situatiou grow
moro and more hopeless, aud to
Becky there appeared to be no esoap pc
I from death. either by drowning in
the darkness or by exhaustion before