The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-11-29
this place is far from dismal or swampy

Just then she thought she heard dis
tant footsteps coming toward the pond.
She hastily resumed her whistling to d.
rect them to her she had no wish to
stay out-of-doors all night, no matter
how beautiful it was. The footsteps
drew nearer they came hurrying down
the slope, and in a few moments Cousin
Reuben stood in a narrow strip Of moor-
light on the edge of the pond.
"Good heavens Lute," he cried, IN
an agitated voice, "what are you stay
ing out on the water this late at night
,forp Don't you feel how cold it b?
n;s enough to kill you"
Lm~had stopped whistling abruptly,
and nowhatoned to the paddle, which
was lying nearais feet. He did not un-
derstand, and cried, o,;mpatiently "Why
don't you come to shofe2 Oh, YOU rash
girl, to be sitting there, Ssa>,xonr bad
cold MakaLastey-and paddle posI /"
Lutte kept motioning so persisv.-.i1
at his feet that ne looked down and saw
the paddle. He picked it up, and
asked, quickly: "Did you drop this out
of the boat? Haven't you the other one
in there?"
Lutte nodded to the irst question and
shook her head at the hst.
"Why don't you speak, Have you
lost your voice ?"
She nodded vehementls and touched
her throat and chest.
"Good heavens p he REPEATED, tearing
off his coat and overcoat, g she is 80
hoarse she can't speak. Oh, 6ild, you'll
! he ierked up the paddle, ana was in
he water, swimming toward her, before
BE knew what he was doing. When he
Gaze to the boat he lifted hiniself in
lightly. and sat with his back to hr, 20
his vet knees and feet would not tooeh
her. Lutte watched him with peculiar
look during the few minutes he was pad
ling bak to shore. He did not speak
till he had fastened the boat and heped
her out. Then he took up his overoat
and said :. "You are shivering let me
put this arsnd you" :.
ooh, no. you are wet, she whisper
ed. "You Aust put it on"
GA little w,tting won't hurt me, he
said; "I'm as tough as pine. lou
must let me putt around you. Will you
put your arms through the sleeve !?
Well-there Dhn't touch me, or III
] get you wet"
81 will touch yon; I don't care if lido
get wet" she said, ina sobbing whispr.
laying her hand on hs dripping sleeve.
I was 80 rude to ytu yesterday, y'u
ought to have let me stid out there I'll
night in the cold.". q +
"Oh no." he said, smiing, and WRAP
ping the overcoat more lightly arouid
her.
"And it was all about nothing" sle
said. cit was all because Ben said tht
"T6at I what ?" asked Reuben, bend.
ing his head closer, so he could hes
her.
"You thought it was unladylike ant
and ill-bred in me TO whistle. Do yol
think it is so bad ?" she asked, lookinI
humbly up in his face. eff you do, II
never whistle again." Poor Lutte wa
completely subdued by Cousin Reuben
returning her evil with good in such
magnanimous way. "He's not only Civ
en- himself an awful wetting," sh
thought, remorsefully, "but he's spoilet
his best business suit His pantal6on
will never be tit for a dog to wea'
again."
"I don't think I ever used such stroni
words as il-bred and unladylike in re
gard to your whistlirg," answered tn
doctor, smiling in her troubled face
"Ben exaggerated q little. But l mus
confess that used to dislike to hear
lady whistle, but"
"I'll never whistle again, interrupte'
Lutte, with as much decision as he
voiceless condition would allow.
"But," he continued, still smiling
"I don't dislike it nov. I love to hea'
YOU whistle. Besides, it was you
whistling directed me to you tonight
Perhaps I shouldn't have found 20,
without it. So take back your rash VOW
Cousin Lutte" !
SCI wish you would do something 7
punish me for my mdeness," she said
hurriedly. "Give NE as much medicinss
as you want; will lake whole barrei
full if you say So" -
"But I shan't say 50, he said. There
was still a smile or hIs lips, but none
in his eyes; they sh5ne strangely.
81 don't know what made me st
cross" she went on. 81 knov I'm
spoiled and willfu. I never had 6
mother to show mellow to be gentle ane
good; but I am not often so dreadful
as I was to you yesterday. Qh, Cousin
Reuben, can you forgive me-
Lutte" he said, in a voice almost a.
ow as hers, "look at me-"
They were stanling % the marrow
strip of light, and he moon Lit up both
their faces. She raised her wet eyes
obediently, but the STANCE look IN nis
made her drop them suddenly, whlle
startled, painful Aush bathed her face.
"Shall I tell you why you were SO
cross to me?" he asked.
"No, no." she nurmured, hiding hei
face in her hands.
"Was it because you cared for my
opinion. because yoa-loved me ?"
His wet arms wee around her now
it was well she hat on his thick over
coat-and were pessine her closely te
his wet breast. :,
"My innocent darling" he whis
pered, "you knoS now why you were sc
cross with me-" =, >,
Chow long lave you known % she
said her voice coming smothered from
his shirt BOSCH.
"Know wlat, dear love"
"WhyI vas so cross to you"
aNots,,, no:nutes It flashed on me