The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-07-03

gone upward, when Dora and Grace, at
tended by Mr.. Horton and Ned Schenck,
a cousin of Dora's, began the climb.
Both gentlemen had been sufficiently &C
customed to forest paths to make the
matter easy as far as they were con-
cerned, but to feet used only to the pave
of the city or the smooth turf of the cro-
quet ground, this rough yet slippery
ascent looked fearful enough; nor were
delicate kid boots the best preparation
for sharp rocks and moss strewn with
pine needles. 1t seemed all but impos
sible for Dora to attempt such task,
bat her pride forbade retreat, while
Grace in despair suffered herself to be
half carried up the steepest pitches by
Ned Schenck, and lifted bodily over
stones and logs that she declared her
self altogether unable to surmount.
Fortunately for her protector, she was
slight, and not tall; he could easily
spare all the strength necessary. But
Dora would not allow herself to be more
than guided, though the guidance was
peremptory.
"Put your foot here, Miss Schenck
now the other on that stone. Give me
your left hand, and take firm hold of
that bough to the right
Dora obeyed with the most child like
confidence, for the abyss below her and
the height above were alike terrible;
but she had that best of courage which
will not turn back, though trembling
with terror.
Grace, from below, helpless burden,
saw with sort of pique how well Dora
endured the march, and caught Mr..
Horizons admiring glances at the 1.-THE
figure that was at once so brave and so
docile. To tell the truth, Grace had in
tended the handsome young clergyman
should be her own escort, and was not
at all satisfied at being relegated to
Ned Schenck's care, who Was strong
and good-tempered, no doubt, but
neither good-looking nor rich. 1t was
not from pure desire to tease that Grace
called out, in her soft drawing tones:
"Doll, You are really miracle. Inev-
er expected to see you mind man so
implicitly"
Dora was indignant. She knew very
well that Grace could be spiteful; but
the spite did not hurt her as much as
the answering consciousness that, in
spite of her fine theories, she had been
most implicitly submissive to Mr.. Hor-
toms escort. The girlish silly pride
that was her great fault rose in
arms; she did not answer Grace, but,
with resolute look on her flushed face,
sprang onward after her own fashion,
stumbling and clinging as well as she
could, every moment expecting Mr..
Horton to advise or demonstrate, but
bent on needing his voice no more
She expected in vain. He said moth
ing, and the smile on bis face would
not have pleased her; he only followed
fast behind her till they came to a little
grassy platform at the bend of the
stream, where the rocks retreated and
the trees had been swept away directly
in front of the last and highest fall,
which desce nded here at right angles
with the rest of the stream, behind q
cliff that hid it entirely from the lower
pool.
Grace had stopped far below; she
was heated and tired, and angry, too.
Ned Schenck did not mind her petu-
lance, for he did not care for her; so
| he sat down on the other end of the log
where she had seated herself, and pro-
famed the delicate forest odors with a
cigar. Dora stopped a moment to take
breath and admire the beautiful fall be-
fore them, which dashed its white wa.
ter down the sheer black rock, and
sprinkled with bright dew the luxuriant
ferns and vines that fringed the bank
on either side. Then she turned to fol-
low the very slight indication of a path
upward. Mr.. Horton was ready to
follow; but the moment she set her
foot on the rock which was her first
step, and extended her hand to grasp a
ledge above, which must be climbed. he
cried out in loud, imperative voice,
"Dora, stop!"
The voice was so decisive, so power.
full, so full of that command which is
the counterpart of obedience, that with
out thought of rebellion Dora stood
like a statue. In an instant Mr.. Hor.
ton put his arm about her, swung her
back, and began to strike rapidly and
tiercely at something on the crest of the
ledge; and in another minute he lifted
dead rattlesnake on his cane and flung
1t far into the stream. Dora turned
sick, and sat down on stone, shudder-
ing and pale. Mr.. Horton only said,
"Excuse me, Miss Scherck; the dan
ger was too near for me to be less i'm
perative."
Dora -shivered. elf you had not, 1
should be dead now"
"Not at ALL" laughed Mr.. Horton.
know these woods too we'll to be
ever without the proper alleviatons for
q snake. bite, but never yet used them,
though l have met and killed good
many. Rattlesnakes are dull creatures
unless they coil to spring, and one blow
with heavy stick will kill them. Very
few people die of their bites. I have
only heard of one case in these regions,
and that was child who had strayed
alone in the woods.'
He purposely heightened his explana-
ton, that Dora might calm herself he