The daily gazette., 1877-03-24
Lost In Their Honey
moon.

Wucu lpcil hnu Were Htbt mefrleGy
we made up our minds to 20 into the
country for our honeymoon. We had
never been out Of town much, and
were not quite sure whether potatoes
and watermelons grew ON trees, or
which was the COW that gave butter
milk, but we thosght 1t would be ro-
mantle To spend that happiest time Of
our lives amongst green trees and
woodbine and all the rest of it. Con-
sequently we answerod.Mr Mildmay's
advertisement for boarders, and set
out one day for Mildmay farm.
II wasa very pretty place, with
more trees about It than are usual in
rural localities in America, where they
generally chop them do n as soon a.
possible. And there was river and
boat, in which / rowed Bell about
to the great content of the farmer who
hired 1t at fifty cents an hour.
We enjoyed ourselves very much
indeed but the Mildmays were little
In the way, and the younglings of the
flock in particular had a habit of stand
ing staring at us, with their mouths
wide open, which was not pleasant
to people who still liked to bill and
COO.
So when Bell one day suggested to
me that it would be nice to 60 alone
upon picnic, said that it would be,
and we doaxed Mrs. Mildmay to put
us some sandwiches and pie, and give
us tin kettle of milk, and away we
started together for the woods.
We spent delightful day, and
about sunset started to return; but We
were not used to the woods, and after
awhile we discovered that we came
to black walnut tree with an old scar
of lightning down its stem rather Of
ten, and then it dawned upon us that
we were going around in circle.
The sun was setting by this time,
and there was just red glare low
down u pom the horizon, as though
some one had built fire on the edge
of the woods. Pretty soon even this
though assured Bell that there were
no lions or bears in the woods, was
not quite certain in my own mind that
something quite as unpleasant might
not be prowling about. 1t was not
pleasant, kept my arms about Bell
and felt my way along for awhile,
and then stopped and listened, and
then crept along again. The briars
tore our flesh. the stones hurt our feet.
| We both bumped against trees. And
at last, as took hastier step than
usual, we both fell together, not flat
upon the ground, but into some sort
| Of hollow.
My first anxiety was lest Bell should
be hurt; but finding she was not, be-
gan to wonder where we were. No
longer in the woods-that was plain.
but there was no moon. and the night
was all dark. All that I could tell,
was, that we were up to the shoulders
in something-rushes or reeds, it
seemed to me. And having come to
this conclusion, was seized with a
rev terror. Where reeds and rushes
{ ow, water, or at least a marsh must
be near. IT we stirred we might sink
in mire, or even be drowned outright.
Our condition was pitiable. We dared
not move. Night was coming ON,
chill and damp. We were hungry and
tried. I did not care so much for my
self, but poor little Bell!
"Do you think IL is near the water.
Paul?" she said "Suppose it should
rise in the night? What would we
dor"
II suppose that would be the last of
u.s." I said. Let us try to get back. "
And we tried, but found ourselves
getting deeper into those awful
rushes.
cts no use, Bell" l said, ~ can do
nothing Oh, my darling, If l could but
save golg"
Il should not care to be saved with
out you. my DEAR" said Bell, "But,
oh! we are 80 happy. l do not want
to die"
"Oh, no; this is no time to leave the
world" / said. "Perhsps if l shout
help will come. The people Of the
neighborhood know these dangerous
spots, OF course. have courage,
dearest.
Then l lifted up my voice and
shouted:
"Hslp! Help! Helpl''
There was NO answer. Again
creamed
"Helpl Help! Help"
|. Then Bell said, rapturously:
II see a light! l see light"
1t ma be a will-o'-the-wisp," I
said.
"It may be some one In the water In
boat" said Bell.
Again l shouted. Thls Time some
one answered.
Hullo! What's the matter? Who
is that?"
"Strsngers," l answered. "Stran>
gers-lost in the marshes-down here,
amongst the Ieeds."
"WheTe's tbat" answered the voice.
"Marshesi reedsl guess you've gone
crazy. Amt that Nlr. Ooon, tnass
boarding with us?"
eyes yes," 1 cried, elf that's Mr..
lMildmay. You've come to look for
us. I suppose. Thank Heaven! Get
us out Of this horrible place, if you
lcan."
"Dunno where you kin be-, said
the voice. Don't get skeered, I'll be
There. I'll fetch a lantern. say
hill know where you are; slap dab in
the middle of my buck-wheat field.
And that was inst where we were.