Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-11-06

drag me down any to hear doc kicking
himself vigorously and the shoemakers
giving him 'Ha, ha'
Son the way to the camp meeting we
talked on all subjects, and l found the
girl uncommonly bright. I fell deeper
in love every minute and made up my
mind would marry her with or with
out the three rifle shoots of land. ]
was crazy mashed, tell you.
"We found the kunnel at the camp
meeting, looking hollow eyed and hag
gard. I guess never saw more affect
ing meeting than that between the old
backwoodsman and his lovely daughter.
As soon as she saw him she flew to him,
threw her arms around this neck and
kissed him till felt excessively envious
of the old cuss. He just stood and look
ed at her while the tears streamed out
of his eyes and murmured, Annie, my
little girl, come back to your pore ole
pap
"The sleepy enthusiasts at the camp
meeting crowded round and greeted the
girl joyously. Everybody was glad to
see her. Wegot away finally and started
back for the cabin, the old man and the
girl with hands clasped, walking side
by side and looking a world of. love at
each other. I trailed along like ca
boose, getting more in love every min
ute. Just before we reached the cabin
the old gentleman turned to me and put
out his left hand. I grasped it. In his
right hand he held the soft, brown hand
of Annie.
''I DESIRE said the kunnel impress
lively, that you will tell youah friends
that / apologize fob any seemin inhos-
pitality. was atonin fur great sin.'
81 understood him and answered by
a simple pressure of the strong palm.
''That night doc and the shoemakers
and slept in the fatboat, while the
old man and Annie inhabited the cabin.
The next morning we pitched camp on
a little knoll about quarter of a mile
above the cabin, and doc and I began
counting Annie. We distanced the shoe
pole, and then it was neck and neck be-
tween u.s. We used to shave every day,
and doc got out an old guitar, tuned it
up and began to practice serenades.
When doc wasn't with Annie, I was
with her, and she treated us both SO
doggone nice we couldn't figure out
which of us had the best of it. Doc was
smarter and better looking than was,
but stood in with the old man because
I took him off to one side the day after
Annie got back and informed him pri-
vately that I was and had always been
of the opinion that the earth was fiat
and solid rock clear through. This gave
me leverage, and I had another be-
cause was all expert rife shot and doc
couldn't hit an elevator with load of
slugs.
81 guess there never was hotter
courtship carried on in Arkansas than
doc and I negotiated for nearly six
weeks. Finally the thing got to be un-
bearable, and we held conference one
afternoon on the houseboat, with the
shoemakers as witnesses. 1t was agreed
between us that one of US was to pro-
pose, and if he was accepted the other
was to leave the country instanter. If
he was refused, the other was to be CIV
an chance. We cut the cards to see
who would get the first chance with a
proposal, and doc. who cut first, showed
up tray of diamonds I cut tray Of
spades. Then doc cut the king of spades,
and I, with beads of sweat standing on
my brow, cut an ace of clubs 1t was
agresd that was to propose to Annie
that evening.
"About one hour later one of the
worst storms that ever broke loose in
Arkansas came tearing down the White
river valley. 1t was regular cyclone,
and the rain fell in sheets, while the
thunder and lightning made a display
the like of which have never seen. We
were secure in. the houseboat and
smoked and played cards and listened to
the wind and rain. I noticed that the
boat was straining the lines that held
ner to the shore, but as we had them
lied to two giant trees we felt secure.
"About o'clock in the evening,
when it was as dark as midnight and
yhe storm was more severe than ever,
began to get ready for run to the Car
.er cabin to propose to Annie. 1t was
agreed that ! was to come back as soon
as possible to relieve docs suspense.
Well, bundled up to defy the elements,
I stepped out on the deck Of our little
boat to start Oh my mission. found the
river was rising rapidly and that the
wind was so powerful as to almost blow
me off my feet. Back in the forest,
above the roar of the tempest, could
hear trees and branches breaking off and
falling, snapped like pipe stems.
gathered myself for leap to the bank,
and then something: happened.
"The trees we were tied up to were
suddenly bent almost to the boat by
sudden gust of wind, and the ropes broke
with crash. The boat, free from her
moorings, was blown out in the river,
and down stream we started like the
wind that was blowing us along. I
crawied back in the boat, and all four
of us put out big oars to steer with, but
the effort was futile. The boat was alb
solutely unmanageable, and the best we
could do was to drift with the wind and
current. About five miles below the
Carter cabin the craft was overturned,
and we had an awful experience all
night, clinging to the upturned hulk,
blown and tossed this way and that
The storm continued three days, but we
got to shore about 10 o'clock next morn
ing sick and bruised. We found a settle
ment and went to bed, and then doc and
I both took sick, and the shoemakers
nursed u.s. 1t was three weeks before we
got out of bed
"As soon as we could we hastened
back to the Carter cabin. The cabin was
empty, and there was a new grave in
the little cemetery on the hill. We
learned that the old gentleman, on his
way to our camp to see if we were safe
that awful night, was struck by fall
ing tree within 100 yards of his door
and fatally injured. Annie dragged him
to the house and attended to him, keep
ing him alive until the next morning.
Before he died he gave her the story of
his life and letters to her relatives in
the south, and after the funeral she
went away, broken hearted girl, leav-
ing no trace behind. 1t was generally
supposed that we were drowned, and