Alice Wilde: The Raftsman's Daughter. A Forest Romance

and trying to fish it, without getting himself too deep in the water. "Blast the thing! I can't tackle it no how;" and

His old felt-hat shadowed hair as black as an Indian's, and made the swarthy hue of his face still darker; his cheeks and lips were red, and his eyes blacker than his hair. The

ing up the creek threw him off his guard, or what it was, certain it is, that stretching forward after that treacherous log, he lost his balance and fell into the water. He did not care for the ducking; but he cared for the eyes which saw him

e'll get upsot!" he cried, glad of an excuse

ou see father's boat coming, anywhere in sight, Ben? He was to be

gest raft that ever floated on that river, I reckon. He mought not be home for two or three

bring me something p

stealing a sidelong, admiring glance

tended, it was not und

I've been out picking blackberries for supper-just look at my hands," and she held up two pretty, d

truth, for she had never been praised, flattered, nor pl

own the river a few miles, and if I

or a gal. I never seed no woman 't c

e, as she turned her little birchen skiff

of sight, heaving a sigh, as he turned again t

side, the young girl sang wild negro-melodies which she had learned of the two old colored people who formed her father's retinue of house-servan

he current. It held two persons-David Wilde, the owner and captain of the raft of which Ben had spoken, a rough, striking-looking man of middle age, attired in a pink cal

he latter, as the sweet vo

aftsman, listening; "she's comin' to

lf?'" queried the

r pocket and give her a tune, before she sees us

exultant upon the breeze; the voice ceased; he stopped playing; the voice began, and again he

inger, her bright hair flying, her cheeks redder than roses with the double exercise o

tiful echo?" she asked, her eyes all aglow with surprise and pleas

tleman," said David Wilde, smiling. "

anion, who never paid a more sincere tribute of admiration to any woman, however accompl

d run a race home with you," she sa

reeze is fair, and I guess we'll beat ye. Hope ye'll make good time,

you," returned

or two, I'd take those oars off yo

ling shy glances, as she passed, at the stranger who was watching her with mingled curiosity and admiration. So sweetly bashful, yet so arch and piquant-so rustic, yet so naturally graceful-so young, he could not tell w

ldren have yo

ow; when we've rounded that pint we shall heave in sight. Seems to me I smell supper. A cold snack

ored her craft to the foot of a huge elm, overhanging the gravelly shore from

have discovered the dwelling at first sight-a little one-story log-house, so completely covered with clambering vines that it l

, musquitoes, the river for a wash-basin, sand for soap, the sun for a towel, and the privilege of sharing the common bed. But upon entering the cabin, he found himself in a large room, with two smaller apartments partitioned from the side; the cooking seemed to be done

us, masser, you

appeared at the back door, crowned with a yellow turban, and bea

prepared, h

. But thar's two in de oven; for, to tell de trute, masser, I had a sense dat you war a

ught home com

she added, dropping a courtesy to the guest with as much importance as if she were mistress of the house-as, in fact, she had been,

ervice, and sat with an apron over his knees pareing potatoes, buoyed up by the promi

gh to melt buttah-jus' de smile what a sweet-mannered young gentleum ought to have. She

the end of his knife, and a look of hopeless darkness

I tuk up wid such an ole fool as you is, Saturn. If yer eyes were wurf half as much as d

wore-da

her rolling-pin threatingly at the bare thought. "If he war rich as gold, and lubbed her to distruction, 'twouldn't

eyes growing still bigger, and looking toward the door as if he thoug

'em 'taters in de pot, and mind yer own bisnes

alf save to obey, and he retreated to the wood-pile with alacrity. On going out he run agains

d-naturedly, not dreaming that he had

lde had any orders for the mill to-night. I see hi

a sudden sharp glance at

know. What bisness is i

t's anybody as expects to marry Miss Alice?" his voice tre

was to dar' to speak of such a thing. Humf! my pickaninny, indeed!" with an air of scorn and indignation deeply felt by the youth, whose face was flushing beneath the implied rebuke. "Ef you'll stop a few minutes, I'll give yer some of dese soda biscuits," she said, after a

king young man, who ought to have been hungry at that hour of the day. He turned away, and without even going t