Year: 1874

for he had not the assurance to think that
anything in his own form or features had
so moved her and yet her words were not
without turn to that effect nor could he
fail to see that in her eyes there shone a
light which must have emanated from some
other cause than that of mere wonder. Her
father Oliver Wimple, he had often seen,
and he knew him as one of the most wealthy
and influential men in the colony. 1t may
be that the hunter experienced a momen-
tary regret that the maiden was not poor
like himself but be that as it may, he soon
banished all thoughts to that effect and
resuming his wonted composure, he said ;


"You were venturesome to go SO far up
the river, lady"


"But thought not that the Islians
were SO near us, sir"


CO. yes, the red-skin ventures even
below here and if 1 mistake not, they
have lately paid your fathers plantation a
visit"


Yes sir, they have and he had some
of them, whom he caught, severely whip
ped, and think those who chased my
boat were the ones"


"No doubt of it, lady. The red man
has keen eyes, and if he has once seen your
fathers boat he will never forget it. If
they had cause of enmity against him, they
would venture far to be revenged and had
they overtaken you, you would doubtless
have been corpse ere this. Be more care
full in the future"


But come, you should be on your way
home for the day is far advanced, and your
parents will be anxious"


"And will you not go with me and re-
ceive the thanks Of my father?" asked the
girl, casting an earnest look on her COM
panion.


Only for moment the young man
hesitated, and then replied, "No cannot
CO."


"There is no danger for you on the river
below here, and your two remaining negroes
can easily row you down. There is one
not far from here whom must protect ard
comfort; but yet trust this will not be
our last meeting. Something tells me we
shall meet again"


"If we both live we shall, uttered Ada,
with more earnestness than she was aware
Of " But before go, would know the
name of him who saved me-"


"Orlando Chester is the name l bear
but few know it, however"


"There is one who knows it now, and
who will ever hold it in grateful remem-
brance," said the fair girl, and as she
spoke, she extended her hand. Orlando
took it, and raised it to his lips, and on
the next moment he assisted Ada into her
boat.


Until the departing boat was lost to his
sight did the young hunter stand upon the
rivers bank and gaze upon the form of its
fair occupant. His eyes were moistened
with new and strange emotion as the
frail bark disappeared, and after gazing a
moment upon the vacant spot where last he
had seen it, he threw his trusty rifle across
his shoulder, and whistling to his dogs, he
turned away and struck into narrow
path that led off through the deep forest


The hunters way lay towards the Chick.
ahominy branch, and at the end of nearly a
mile and half he came to a small clearing
in the centre of which stood we'll built
log-cabin. A single oaken door, formed Of
heavy plank securely pinned together, with
a small square window on each side, orna.
mented the front of the humble dwelling,
while the narrow walk which led to the en-
trance was fanked on either side by severa
flower beds, which beds betrayed taste and
refinement. Close by the cabin ran a mur
muring brook, upon the messy banks o.
which, unaided and uncultivated, grew 9
thousand wild flowers, and the waters O.
which lent soothing, cooling influence t.
the surrounding atmosphere.


The interior of this cabin presented th'
same peculiar tastes that were apparent
without. The walls were neatly plastereC
with cement made from the red clay tha
formed the lower stratum Of some of thu
uplands and all about, in strange, fantas
tic wreaths, were hung evergreens and wilc
flowers. The floor was white and clean
and every arrangement spoke of the strang,
genius that presided over the place.


The young hunter went to small shet
that extended from the backof the house
and having deposited deer he had shot
and cut off several slices Of the venison 70
the dogs, he turned towards the door,


81 have returned, my mother, AM
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