“I don’t want any thing, Willie; but will you be sure to return to-night?  I never sleep well when you are away.  Aunt and I are going on Tuesday to C——­; wait and we will stay all night then.”

“Oh, no,” said William, “I must go; but you may depend upon my being back:  I always keep my promises.  So good-by.”

Ellen leaned from the window, watching her handsome brother as he rode down the avenue leading into the road He turned in his saddle, and bowed to her, just before he passed from her sight.

“Oh, mammy,” she said to her attendant, for she had always thus affectionately addressed her; “did you ever see any one as handsome as Willie?”

“Yes, child,” she replied, “his father was, before him.  You both look like your father; but Master Willie favors him more than you do.  Shut down the window, Miss Ellen, don’t you feel the wind?  A strong March wind aint good for nobody.  Its bright enough overhead to-day, but the ground is mighty damp and chilly.  There, you’re sneezin; didn’t I tell you so?”

Late in the same day Ellen was seated at the window, watching her brother’s return; gaily watching, until the shadows of evening were resting on his favorite rocks.  Then she watched anxiously until the rocks could no longer be seen; but never did he come again, though hope and expectation lingered about her heart until despair rested there in their place.

William was starting on horseback, after an early dinner at the tavern in C——.  As he put his foot in the stirrups, an old farmer, who had just driven his large covered wagon to the door, called to him.

“You going home, Mr. William?” said he.

“Yes, I am; but why do you ask me?”

“Why, how are you going to cross Willow’s Creek?” asked the old man.

“On the bridge,” said William, laughing; “did you think I was going to jump my horse across?”

“No, but you can’t cross the bridge,” said the farmer, “for the bridge is broken down.”

“Why, I crossed it early this morning,” said William.

“So did I,” said the farmer, “and, thank God, I and my team did not go down with it.  But there’s been a mighty freshet above, and Willow’s Creek is something like my wife—­she’s an angel when she aint disturbed, but she’s the devil himself when any thing puts her out.  Now, you take my advice, and stay here to-night, or at any rate don’t get yourself into danger.”

“I must go home to-night,” said William; “I have promised my sister to do so.  I can ford the creek;” and he prepared again to start.

“Stop, young man,” said the farmer, solemnly, “you mind the old saying, ’Young people think old people fools, but old people know young people are fools.’  I warn you not to try and ford that creek to-night; you might as well put your head in a lion’s mouth.  Havn’t I been crossing it these fifty years? and aint I up to all its freaks and ways?  Sometimes it is as quiet as a wearied baby, but now it is foaming and lashing, as a tiger after prey.  You’d better disappoint Miss Ellen for one night, than to bring a whole lifetime of trouble upon her.  Don’t be foolhardy, now; your horse can’t carry you safely over Willow’s Creek this night.”