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

arture and told her he had concluded he could not be spared for the trip, and so, when they re

trust him with Philip?" b

d the place. And if he wan't, I guess Moore could take c

, father? oh, do go, now

chaps full-grown and able to take care of themselves? They've the only sail-boat there is, besides-and I don't think I shall break my old arm

nd so much business pressed upon the owner, that he had been obliged to relinquish his journey. He had selected Ben as his substitute because he was his favorite among all his employees; trusty, quick, honest, would make a good selection of winter stores, and render a fair

ed as might be thought. He was a heathen; one of those white heathen, found plentifully in this Christi

ogether. From the day upon which he "hired out," a youth of eighteen, to Captain Wilde, and saw Alice Wilde, a child of twelve, looking shyly up at him through her golden curls, he had loved her. He had worked late and early, striven to please his employer, shown himself hardy, courageous, and trustworthy-had done extra jobs that he might accumulate a little sum to invest in property-all in the hope of some time daring to ask her to marry him. Her superior refinement, her innate delicacy, her sweet beauty were felt by him only to make him love her the more desperately. As the sun fills the ether

to be a murderer,-and during those hours the rash boy had changed into the desperate man. Whether he had suffered so awfully in conscienc

h full of jests and nonsense to a quiet, morose man, working more diligen

was a curious fatality which threw him again upon a temptati

and sleep forsook her; if she slept it was but to dream of a boat gliding down a river, of a strong man raising a weak one in his grasp and hurling him, wounded and helpless, into the wa

lately. I do hope she ain't goin' to be one of the screechin', faintin' kind of women folks. I detest sech. Her health can't b

to keep a bird alive. But it's her mind, masser-'pend on it, it's her mind. Dese young gentleum make

others of his class," mutt

darling. His going down the river without his expected company had cheated Philip out of the revelation he had desired to mak

hey had seen good reason for her apprehensions, they might have chased the matter down, at whatever trouble, and put her

little there had been was cut off. The lovely, lingering Indian-summer days, in the midst of which t

e heart of Alice, when her father entered th

letter? was there no

me message of good wishes and announcement of his safe journey-if she c

tter for you, I s'pose he'll tell you s

ing for me-any m

and it appeared to her as if the shadow which had lain upon him was lifted. He certainly looked more cheerful than he had done since the day of Philip's unexpected arrival

presents for you, and some for Pallas, too, from Mr. Moore. He told me to tel

es, and all those pretty trifles which grace the feminine toilet, a quantity of fine writing materials, paper-folder, gold-pen, some exquisite small engravings, and, in a tiny box, a ring set with a single pure pearl. That ring! was it indeed a betrothal ring, sent to her by her lover, which she should wear to kiss and pray over? or was it intended to help her into a bond with his murderer? Ea

elf upon her knees, "must I bear thi

ight of suspense was not to be lift

ld, and the winter throughou

ittle out of his perpetual laziness. If he would give due assistance in beating eggs and grinding spices, chopping suet and picking fowls, as well

midst of the bustle of preparation. "We've allers been Christian folks 'nuff to keep Chris'mas, even in de wilderness; but what's de

ff,-and I-I'se mighty hungry dese

d tink you was brought up in one de best families. If I could only ti

ome my woodchuck pie

h he usually reserved especially to himself, but he, too, felt as

tomach it. Dat's nigger's dish. I declar' our chile begins to look

rology. I got de rheumatiz bad myself dis week pa

ught our family wud ever come to sech an end? I remember when Mortimer Moore kep' up de plantation in gran' style 'fore he sol' ebery buddy but you and I, Saturn, and kep' us cause we wouldn't leab de family, and tuk us to New York. Mebbe it was wicked of me to take sides with my young missus, and help her to get married way she did, and run 'way

not bring herself to decorate the house with wreaths of evergreen, according to custom-it brought back hateful fears too vividly. T

xcuse to linger about where he could obtain glimpses of the face growing so sad and white. Mr. Wilde had always favored him as a work-hand, a

Mr. Wilde took Alice upon his knee, smoothing her hair

e. "Would you believe that any one had been thinking of my little

Ben, f

doubt you knew of it

ago, father. Didn'

N

ing I should marry

he best there is in these parts. He's better than a flattering, deceiving gentleman, Alice. I was fool enough once to imagine you'd never marry, but live your lifetime with yer old father; but I ought to have known better. 'Tain't the way of the world. 'Twasn't my way, nor you

e love each other." Her blushing cheek was

s he went on. "There! there! don't you feel hurt; I know all about him. Knew't he made fun of us, after all we'd done for him, in his store down to Center City, when he didn't know Ben was listenin'. Besides, he advised Ben to marry you, to ke

nfamous lie, father? No! no! Ben has murdered him, father-he has murdered my Philip, and has invented this lie

of the fate of her lover, she yielded for a time to the long-smothered agony wi

f now that Philip had been made away with. The raftsman himself was startled; and to quiet and encourage his child, he promised to set off, by to-morrow, upon the ice, and skate down to Center City, that her

l start the very first day it's possible. Likely in March the spring 'll open. You may go 'long with me, too, if you wish, so as to learn the new