The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-11-22
this place is far from dismal or swampy

tant footsteps coming toward the pond.
She hastily resumed her whistling to di-
rect them to her: she had no wish to
stay out-of-doors oil night, no matter
how beautiful it was. The footsteps
drew nearer they came hurrying down
the slope, and in few moments Cousin
Reuben stood in narrow strip of moon
light ON the edge of the pond.
"Good heavens Lutte" he cried. in
an agitated voice, "what are you STAY
ing out on the water this late at night
for? Don't you feel how cold it is Z?
1t is enough to kill you"
Lutte had stopped whistling abruptly,
and now motioned to the paddle, which
was lying near his feet. He did not un-
derstand, and cried, impatiently "Why
don't you come to shore? Oh, you rash
girl, to be sitting there, with your bad
cold Make haste, and paddle back, +"
Lutte kept motioning 80 persistently
at his feet that he 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 first question and
shook her head at the last.
"Why don't you speak Have you
lost your voice p
She nodded vehemently, and touched
her throat and chest.
"Good heavens - he repeated, tearing
off his coat and overcoat, " she is SO
hoarse she can't speak. Oh, child, you'll
kill yourself !"
He jerked up the paddle, and was in
the water, swimming toward her, before
she knew what he was doing. When he
came to the boat he lifted himself in
lightly, and sat with his back to her, so
his wet knees and feet would not touch
her. Lutte watched him with peculiar
look during the few minutes he was pad
ling back to shore. He did not speak
till he had fastened the boat and helped
her out. Then he took up his overcoat
and said : "You are shivering let me
put this around you."
"Oh, no; you are wet" she whisper
ed. "You must put it on"
ga little wetting won't hurt me-" he
said; "T'm as tough as a pine. You
must let me put it around you. Will you
put your arms through the sleeves
Well-there! Don't touch me, or I'll
get you wet"
81 will touch you don't care if I dc
get wet" she said, in a sobbing whisper
laying her hand on his dripping sleeve
Il was so rude to you yesterday, yor
ought to have let me staid out there al
night in the cold"
"Oh no." he said, smiling, and wrap
ping the overcoat more tightly arount
her.
"And it was all about nothing" sh,
Ii Il
you-you--"
"That 1 what p. asked Reuben, bend
ing his head closer, SO he could heal
her.
"You thought it was unladylike ant
and ill-bred in me to whistle. Do 20,
think it is so bad ?" she asked, looking
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 spoiled
his best business suit. His pantaloon
will never be tit for a dog to weal
again."
81 don't think I ever used such stron,
words as ill-bred and unladylike in re
gard to your whistling," answered tn
doctor, smiling in her troubled face
"Ben exaggerated little. But 1 mus
confess that used to dislike to hear
lady whistle, but"
"Ill never whistle again, interrupte
Lutte, with as much decision as he
voiceless condition would allow.
"But," he continued, still smiling
81 don't dislike it now. 1 love to hea
you whistle. Besides, it was you
whistling directed me to you tonight
Perhaps L shouldn't have found yo
without it. So take back your rash vow
Cousin Lutte"
81 wish you would do something t
punish me for my rudeness," she said
hurriedly. "Give me as much medicin
as you want; will take whole barrel
full if you say so."
But shan't say So" he said. Their
was still smile on his lips, but non
in his eyes; they shone strangely.
81 don't know what made me s
cross" she went ON. 81 know II
spoiled and willful. never had
mother to show me how to be gentle an
good; but L am not often SO dreadfr
! as was to you yesterday. Oh, Cousi
Reuben, can you forgive me ?"
Lutte" he said, in voice almost 9
3 ow as hers, "look at me-"
They were standing in the narro
strip of light, and the moon lit up bot
$ their faces. She raised her wet eve
D obediently, but the strange look in h
} made her drop them suddenly, while
/ startled, painful flush bathed her face.
7 "Shall I tell you why you were s
) cross to me?" he asked.
t "No, no." she murmured, hiding h,
t face in her hands.
"Was it because you cared for m
= opinion, because you-loved me ?"
+ His wet arms were around her now
5 it was we'll she had on his thick owe
4 coat-and were pressing her closely
t his wet breast.
, "My innocent darling" he viii
: pered, "you know now why you were
s cross with me-"
Q "How long have you known ?" 81
2 said, her voice coming smothered fro
4 his shirt bosom.
5 "Know what, dear love?"
t "Why was 80 cross to you."
"Not five minutes. 1t flashed on n
+ just now, while you were asking me
I punish you."
. "I'm glad," she said. "I didn
: know myself, or I should have hid
q better"
"Pd defy you to do that" he sal
Y with low laugh. "Oh, my swe
t dumb darling, look up and give me OIL
a kiss"
a She raised her fair smooth face, al
Y his dark bearded one came in immedia
4 and olosa ooufact with IL Sbe mn