The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-12-15


water plants shut IN the narrow water
path We were following. excluding
even the light of . crescent moon
rising overhead.
THAT must be the way. See how
much broader the canal Is. Turn
down to your right. Cousin Duncan"
urged Vera.
Striking few matches and holding
them aloft I saw that the way Vera
suggested did look more open.
I'VE are lost, anyhow, so we might
as well go at random" Vera declared,
laughing ,gaily. and without the slight
est appearance of anxiety.
I was struck dumb at realizing the
catastrophe and its possible Interior
results.
Nonsense, we'll just keep on pad
ding, and we will be sure to come out
somewhere" l remarked, as our light
pirogue slid rapidly over the surface
of the dark water.
mot SO sure at ALL" Vera an
swered, composedly. "This swamp
extends for so miles. Cousin Dun. We
may keep on trying to find our way
for a day or two. Fortunately
brought few little things in basket
for cid Mrs. Brown at the sawmill.
The next clearing we come to We will
stop and have supper"
GLOW beautiful this is. Just took
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 cotillion at Mrs. Perry Bark
more's with Ned Casterman. What do
you think about it?'
What did think? Ny heart ~as
torn with a wild unreasonable delight,
keen anxiety, and perplexity beyond
description.
For it was certainly true that this
gloomy and limitless cypriere covered
vast area of country, and God only
knew how far we had penetrated its
intricacies, or when we would emerge
from It. w..
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 extraordi-
nary plight. !
Reaching clearing after steadily
going forward into the unknown, I
steadied our frail craft by pushing it
among some dense MOSES and under
growth.
Vera produced her basket, and 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 as acute per-
ception Of our appalling position as I
had, but nothing in her sweet, con-
fident manner indicated that she was
distressed.
She followed my advice, declaring
she was to blame for our charming
adventure, and finally dropped off to
sleep.
padded on through the narrow
windings Of the swamp, my heart
filled with strange and unreasoning
joy, as great as my anxiety as to
the outcome.
Mamma won't worry" Vera said
drowsily. "She will believe I have
driven over to Aunt Clementine's to
spend the night"
But I knew my failure to appear
would cause search to be made, and
did not deceive myself that Vera's alb
sence would remain unnoticed.
The first pale streaks of dawn were
fltering through the trees when /
discovered where we were. Just a
few miles from the plantation canal,
and from where we started. 4, -
Leaving the cut to the sawmill, I
must have made 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, sent for Vera
She came looking lovely, for being
little wan, and coming towards me
she held out both hands smiling grave
ly up at me. s,s.s5-.
Vera, child, there is but one thing
to do. Wear this ring, and let me say
to the world you are my afianced
wife. Never fear, little one. It will
bind you to nothing. In years time
we will quarrel, and you will send me
of, and 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" answered.
'Then keep me. will wear your
ring, and we will not quarrel. Do
you not know ?"-N. O. Times
Il narNnNrof h. B..