The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-16

water plants sa.l ln The narrow water
path we wer following. excluding
essen fao .lcht ol a crescent moon
l.'ns overhead
"llat must be mo way. see how
inch broader the canal o. Turn
down 90 yorr rishf. Cousin Duncan"
urged Vera.
Striking a feW matches and holding
them aiCit saw that the way Vera
suggested did loot more open.
we are lost anyhow. so we might
as VOL 20 az random" Vera declared,
laughing gaily. and without the slight
est appearance Of anxiety.
was struck dumb at realizing thu
catastrophe and its possible ultorior
results.
Nonsense well Just keep on pad
ding. and we will be sure 20 come out
somewhere remarked. as our light
pirogue slid rapidly over the surface
OF the dark water.
Not so sure az all" Vera ar
swered. comTosedly. This swamp
extends for 30 miles. Cousin Dun. We
may leep on trying to find our way
for a day or two. Fortunately
brought a few little thinas IN basket
for old Mrs. Brown al the aawmll
The next clearing we come 10 we WIN
stop and have supper
How heauiif-l this IS Jest lclt
az those FIRE flies and the little moon
peeping at MS through the troes.
What a romantic adyenture,"
1T IS very much nicer. Cousin Dun
can. TO be wandering through this
lonesome swamp with you than dane
Ing a cotillion az Mrs Perry Bark
more's with Ned Casterman. What do
you think about it2"
What did / think? My heart was
torn with a wild unreasonable delight.
keen anxiety. and a perplexity beyond
description.
For IL was certainly true that this
gloomy and limitless cypriere covered
vast area of country, and God only
knew how far We had penetrated IFS
intricacics. or when we would emerge
from n.
For all Vera's gay. sweet. confden-
tial manner meant to relieve my anXi-
ETY.. and 10 cheer mel knew the
child must feel keealy our extraordi-
nary plight.
Reaching a clearing after steadily
going forward into the unknown.
sleadied our frail craft by pushing II
among some dense mosses and under
growth.
Vera produced her basket. and I in
sisted on her eating supper wrapping
her in a light covering. which had
been thrown over tie seat. for the
night had grown chilly.
And while we chatted my watch
showed me II was midnight.
Lie in the bottom and rest your
head on the cushion. and so to sleep
Vera. child we viii certainly come
10 some lCreer's hut. or we may on,
across into the Nalmont settlement
Vera perhaps had as acute per-
ceptlon Of our appalling position as
had. but nothing in her sweet. con-
fdent manner indicated that she was
distressed.
She followed my advice, declaring
a5ve,,nro Z" and SS,i fic- dT,on,ceaa OF "a
sleep.
. padded on through the narrow
+ windincs OF the swamp. my heart
2 filed with a strange and uureasonine
E JOY. as rreat as my anxiety as e
the outcome.
Mamma won't worry Vera said
] crowsily. She VIII believe hay'
, driven over to Aunt Clementine's tc
spend the night"
But I knew my failure 70 appeal
!. would cause search to be made and
e did No. deceive ny self that Vera's alb
= sence would remain unnoticed.
e The first pale stroaks Of dawn wer
2 altering through the trees when
n discovered whore we were. Just
$ few miles from the plantation canal
r and from where We started.
Leaving the cut TO the sawmill.
z must have made a wide detour 70 com
Il back 10 our starting point.
I The SIM was rising when fastenin
Ie The pirougue. we walked up from III
canal. reached the grounds and IN
j, house
m Later in the day. while pacing y
anu NW|Ha ANaN atfA OF . f' --H as
al She came looking lovely. for hein
a little wan. and coming towards m
e. she held out both hands smiling gray'
~ y ND az me.
Vera child there is but one thin
10 DO Wear this ring and lct me 81
lis 70 the world you are my Alliance
ne wife. Never fear. little one II wi
:" bind YOU to nothing. In a years tin
IN. we will quarrel. and you will send
H. of. and will go abroad
held her hands and looked dow
ok into her exquisite face, my soul In n
as ewes
ls' "Do-you care for me enough
ne that" she whispered.
more than for life. here and her
mo after There could be no heaven I
in me without YOU. Vera" answered.
"Tnen keep me. I will wear yo
nm ring. and we will not quarrel
nm you not know-?'-N. o. Time
of Democrat
gN..rs a