The Tupelo journal., 1904-12-16

brought a few little things in a basket
for old Mrs. Brown at the sawmill.
The next clearing we come to we will
stop and have supper"
How beautiful this is. Just look
at those fire flies and the little moon
peeping at us through the trees.
What a romantic adventure!"
1T is very much nicer, Cousin Dun
can, to be wandering through this
lonesome swamp with you than dane
ing a cotillion at Mrs. Perry Bark
more's with Ned Casterman. What do
you think about it,"
What did I think? My heart was
torn with a wild unreasonable delight,
keen anxiety, and a perplexity beyond
description.
For it was certainly true that THIS
gloomy and limitless cypriere covered
a vast area of country, and God only
knew bow far we had penetrated its
i~ntricacies, or when we would emerge
from It.
For all Vera's gay, sweet, confiden
tial manner-meant to relieve my anxi-
ETY., and to cheer mel knew the
child must feel keenly our e%Xtraordi-
nary plight.
Reaching a clearing after steadily
going forward into the unknown, l
%steadied our frail craft by pushing it
among some dense MOSES and under
growth.
Vera produced her basket, and l in
sisted on her eating supper, wrapping
her in a light covering, which had
been thrown over the seat, for the
night had grown chilly.
And while we chatted my watch
showed me it was midnight.
Lie in the bottom and rest your
head on the cushion, and go to sleep
Vera, child; we will certainly come
to some logger's hut, or we may cut
across into the Valmont settlement"
Vera perhaps had Is acute a per-
ception of our appalling position az l
had, but nothing in her sweet, con
fident manner indicated that she was
distressed.
RhC lCllCNCu hy ouNiSS,
she was to blame for our charming
adventure, and finally dropped of: to
sleep.
| padded on through the narrow
windings of the swamp, my heart
filed with a strange and u~nreason!ng
Joy, as great as my anxiety a to
the outcome.
Mamma won't worry" Vera said
drowsily. "She will believe l have
driven over to Aunt C~lementine's to
spend the night"
But l knew my failure to appear
did not deceive myself that Vera's alb
sence would remain unnoticed.
The first pale streaks of dawn were
filtering through the trees when l
discovered where We were. Just a
few miles from the plantation canal,
and from where we started.
Leaving the cut to the sawmill, I
must have made a wide detour to come
back to our starting point.
The sun was rising, when fastening
the %pirougue, we walked up from the
canal, reached the grounds and the
house.
Later in the day, while pacing up
and down the library, I sent for Vera.
She came looking lovely, for being
a little wan, and coming towards me
she held out both hands smiling grave
ly up at me.
Vera, child, there is but one thing
to do. Wear this ring, and let M say
to the world you are my afianced
wife. Never fear. little one. 1t will
bind you to nothing. In a years time
We will quarrel, and you will send me
off, and l will go abroad"
I held her hands and looked down
into her exquisite face, my soul in my
eyes.
"Do-you care for me enough-for
that?' she whispered.
more than for life. here and here
after. There could be no heaven for
me without you, Vera" I answered.
Then keep me. I will wear your
ring, and we will not quarrel. Do
you not know-?"-N. o. Times
Dan,oorof