Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-02-08

meant that Jacob should succeed him in
business in few months; and he thought
it would be an excellent thing to send him
up into the loggers' country for while, to
get him acquainted with the different
kinds Of lumber, and the processes OF cut
ting it and getting it to market. Father
thought it would be good thing for him
self to entertain him at the house while he
remained and 50, for the next five weeks
they were regularly at home morning and
night. sleeping in the houes, and spending
the day in the woods or on the river.
You'll want to know what kind of a man
young Cardle was. He was pale and slen-
der, handsome enough for those that liked
such beauty as that in men; and rather
foppish with his diamond ring and his
silky moustache. He was very polite, TOO;
but never thought there was much heart
or good feeling in anything he said or did
Yet he seemed to like me from the first :;
and poor father whispered to me ten times
if he did once. PLAY the cards shrewdiy'
Bessy, and thou'll catch him! He'll make
thee lady, girl, and a rich one ~
And stranger things have happened, |
know, than my marrying would have been;
surely affairs were drifting towards it; and
had almost succeeded IN crushing the
thought of Ben Sample out of my' heart,
and in playing the part that my father
wished me to play to young Mr.. Cardle'
flor never could have persuaded myself
to love him. when that Hateful 10th of
April came that brought my eighteenth
birthday and the great food together.
The river had been rising slowly for
week before it, and there had been much
rain withus. We heard reports Of tremen-
dous rains in the mountains two hundred
miles north of us, which lasted for days
and days and the river continued to rise
steadily and slowly, though up to that day
it was not over the stepping stones across
the neck. On the morning Of the 10th the
rain came down at first steadily, and Mr..
Cardle thought he would not leave the
house. Father went over to the camp af-
ter breakfast, saying that he would return
as usual. towards night and so W spent
the day alone together.
It was about the middle of the afternoon
when was wondering what I should do
next land thinking little of poor Ben
Sample, I believe that Mr.. Cardle turned
short around to me from the window and
said, very abruptly, 'I'm going back to the
city tomorrow, Bessy. want to know
if / can come back here in three months
that'll be the middle of July-and make
you my wife p
never thought Of myself or of my own
feelings; I put all thoughts of Ben out OF
my head, remembered my father, and said
eyes, nothing more.
don't know whether Mr.. Cardle would
have kissed me or not; he had no chance;
for ha;dly had spoken that word when
there was knock at the door, and open
ed it to admit-Ben Sample himself
We were all three of us rather ill at ease
for moment. Mr.. Cardle knew Ben, l
suppose, and must have heard something
about his old feeling for me, for he stepped
back toward the window and frowned'
never speaking or nodding to Ben. who
stood there with his hat twirling in his
hands, awkward and abashed. He only
found his tongue when asked him to sit
down, and then he. said, MAY, l can't
stop. only came to bring your fathers
message that he won't be home tonight.
The rise in the river has broken loose the
great raft up at Longan's Ford, that was
to have been floated down to morrow, and
he's gone up with all hands to moor it. He
can't be here tonight.
That was awkward news for me; but
just as I had question on my tongue,
Ben spoke again.
'sYou don't know how fast the river is
rising,'' he said. "Out on the stones the
water is almost up to the top of my boots,
and seems to he rising higher"
''Ben, Ben, what shall do?" Itook no
thought at all of Mr.. Cardle, and felt no
safety except from the presence Of Ben.
''Didn't father send any other word?"
"None at all"
"And won't you stay?"
''After what has happened, Bessy? l
shouldn't think you'd wish it," Then he
must have seen how grieved and sorry l
looked, and how alarmed felt, for he add
ed at once, eyes, Will stay, Bessy, if you
wish it, though 1 trust and believe there's
no danger
1 thanked him with look; and before l
could say anything more, Mr.. Cardle
spoke:
''Do you think there is any danger of the
river unsettling the house?" he asked.
ut surely will, if it rises high enough
Ben replied. SHARK hear that! The
water is within twenty feet of the door. l
don't suppose | could wade from here to
the bank. We must leave here at once,
and when you're safe I'll come back and
save some of the things. If the water gains
like this, all this floor will be under in an
hour"
He went out again knew what for.
The west foundation-wall of the house was
next to the river. and father always kept
skiG tied there. understood, from
what Ben said, that he meapt to take the
skiff round to the front and take us to the
shore. l was putting on my hood and
shawl when he came back. His face wa
as pale as ashes, and he never noticed me
at first, but looked all around the room
and into fathers chamber.
s'Where's that fellow Cardie?" he asked.
I had not noticed that he was gone; he