Year: 1871

nor, In spite OF violent geSticulatiOn, make
himself understood and so they passed
on. 1t was hardly two hours from sun
down, and th!y had not given murmur,
for these Western people have a way of
looking difficulties in the face; they do
not turn their backs on them. Aud Bessy,
be it known, had her strong points, as well
as her weak ones and disappointment did
not cloud her temper, and joltng over
corduroy or other roads failed to make
her nervous. But now they saw cabin
with genial smoke. They stopped before
the open door. The driver entered il and
asked the intelligent looking man, who sat
among the children while his wife prepared
supper, if he could tell him where he was
"Well, stranger, TO the best of my calcula-
tions you are standing in my cabin kitch-
en-. That is three miles from Sylvan Lake,
live from Cordovan, and eight from Water
nook" Getting the direction they started
on, glad of their nearness to the haven, yet
little doubtful of the gathering clouds.


But darkness came on before its time,
and the spot did not look familiar to Bessy.
To pass a rainy night without shelter, in
the woods, was not an agreeable prospect,
and when she saw man coming near with
rifle on his shoulder, she exclaimed for joy
and when she discovered it to be Mr. Spen-
ciere she was in moment at his side, and
in n few hurried words made him acquaint-
cd with their dilemma.


They were but few rods from the cabin,
into which he hurried them, for the rain
was beginning TO pour. There was no
help for it the storm was heavy, and they
must stay the night. So he gave thom
bread and dried venison for refroshment,
and cold water from a spring; and then he
made an easy resting place for Bcssy in his
rustic chair, and spent the night reading to
her or in conversation. In the character OF
host Charles Spenciere was hardly to be
improved; and Bessy, too, was by nature
genial and pleasant. After this night he
seemed to have dropped his reserve with
her, and even to seek her society at times.
And Sylvan Lake assumed new beauties
in the eyes of Bessy. The days no longer
dragged drearily, but she thought the huge
trees of the great woods magnificent, and
the birds (more numerous and of greater
variety than she had ever seen before)
seemed like wise and happy worshippers of
these temples.


One day Bessy met Mr.. Spenciere at one
of these concerts of the birds. He asked
her to sit by him on the messy log. promis-
ing TO watch for rattlesnakes, but fear he
forgot his promise, he became so earnest in
what he was saying, moment after He
told her that since she had given new at
mosphere to his little cabln-he had some
how become discontinued with his seclud-
ed life. And then he made known to her,
after the manner of lovers, that she was the
very woman who was all the world to him.
l do not think Bessy tainted. 1t would not
have been in keeping with the strong oaks,
or the grandeur Of the solitude around, nor
her own earnest and firm nature.


Bessy was deeply happy. Having no
wedding trosseau to look after, left her time
for real enjoyment. She was married in
simple white. A clear eye, and intelligent
brow made her in one sense beautiful
bride-"the lovelest bride groom over
had" Mr.. 5 enciere asserted, and Bessy
smiled happily, not because she believed it
to be true, but because she knew that the
fe cling that prompted the declaration was
genuine. And so these young people, who
might never have known each other inti-
mately had they met in society, under the
influence of solitary nature had seen each
other as they were,-and loved.


They made their residence at some dis
tance from Sylvan Lake, not so far, howev-
er, as to preclude the possibility of frequent
visits TO its shore.