THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. lO/ 
“ to which he has introduced us are not quite so 
dangerous as the denizens of the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains, on whom, I believe, you have had thoughts 
of bestowing your special attentions.” 
“And bearAy thoughts they were, I admit,” 
responded the young man, “ which I hope your 
father may succeed in fishing out of my muddy 
brains, unless, as is most probable, he shall find 
the infusion of sense so minute as to defy even 
microscopic detection.” 
“ Why, Mr. Davidson,” exclaimed Ella, “ you 
are real naughty to say so, when God has so 
highly blest you with the means and capacity 
for acquiring knowledge ; and so, as a just pun¬ 
ishment for your heinous offence, I shall sen¬ 
tence you to row us across the lake to-morrow, 
where we have a call of duty to a sick and suf¬ 
fering family; and the only mitigation to your 
punishment is, that Mr. Rudolph may be one of 
the party if he feels so disposed.” 
“Thanks, Miss Dean,” replied the young 
man; “I shall surely be on hand, lest, being 
alone in such an association, the sentence should 
fail to have its moral effect on my friend. The 
/act is. Miss Dean,” he continued, “ I have been 
trying my best to recover my friend from a ter- 
