Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-11-21

l
] The paddle wasn't there
She felt nervously in every impossible
place for the missing paddle, but it was
nowhere to be found. Well, she auas in
a fix ! Out in the middle of the pond,
with no possible means of getting to
shore! Night was coming on rapidly,
and she was already shivering with cold.
Nobody at the house knew where she
was; they would think she was in town
visiting some one.
But the house wasn't very far off
maybe they could hear her if she called
out very loud. She rose to her feet
and opened her mouth to give a prodi-
gious yell; but she couldn't speak above
a whisper. Her damp feet and the
chill night air had brought her cold to
this climax.
Lutte sat down, overwhelmed. There
was nothing she could do--absolutely
nothing. She would have to stay out
there all night, and she knew-there
was no use mincing matters-it would
be the death of her. She looked tragi-
cally into the growing darkness, and
thought, even if they came there to
look for her, they couldn't see her from
the shore, and she wouldn't be able to
utter sound to let them know she was
near. She forgot there was such thing
as a moon at night.
But stop! she could utter sound
thank Heaven, she could whistle. Her
face frightened as she thought of this
despised accomplishment of hers With
rising spirits, she drew her overskirt over
her shoulders to keep herself warmer,
and began to whistle Schubert's "Sere-
made" in her finest style. The birds
started in their nests as the strange
sweet notes fioated toward them, then
dropped their drowsy little heads and
slept more soundly than ever Music is
a good thing, but sleep is a better-at
night.
Whistling is prcverbially good for
keeping up ones courage. Lutte found
her courage nightly refreshed by it.
She sat there for nearly an hour, whist
ling every thing she knew; she even be-
gan to enjoy herself, after a fashion
place with subdued shadow or soft light.
There was a sweet stiffness on every
thing. She stopped whistling a mo-
ment to enjoy it more fully Every
now and then the lazy breeze brought
her faint mingled odor Of apple and
the lilac blossoms How lovely, lovely
it was ! She felt rs if she was enchant-
ed, sitting there alone at night in hel
little boat. "Pm the lady in the Disma.
Swamp" she thought, smiling, "only
this place is far from dismal or swampy
either"
Just then she thought she heard dis
tant footsteps coming toward the pond
She hastily resumed her whistling tC
direct them to her; she had no wish tc
stay out-of-doors all 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 moonlight on the edge of the pond
Good God Lutte" he cried, in al
agitated voice, "what are you staying
out on the water this late at night for
Don't you feel how cold it is? It il
enough TO kill YOU
Lutte had stopped whistling abruptly
and now motioned to the paddle, which
was lying near his feet. He did no
understand, 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 SO persistently
at his feet that he looked down and saw
the paddle. He picked it up, anC
asked quickly, did you drop this ou
of the boat? Haven't you the other one
in there ?"
Lutte nodded to the first question anc
shook her head at the last.
"Why don'tyo speak? Have you los
your voice."
She nodded vehemently, and touched
her throat and chest.
Good God!' he repeated, tearing
off his coat and overcoat, 81 she is sc
hoarse she can't speak. Oh, child, you'll
kill yourself"
He jerked up the paddle, and was il
the water, swimming toward her. before
she knew what he was doing. Wher
he came to the boat he lifted himself il
lightly, and sat with his back to her, sc
his wet knees and feet would not touch
her. Lutte watched him with peculiar
look during the few minutes he was
padding back to shore. He did no.
speak till he had fastened the boat anc
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 whispered
You must put it on"
A little wetting Won't hurt me-" he
said; I'm as tough as a pine. You
must let me put it around you. Viii
you put your arms through the sleeves
Well-there ! Don't touch me, or II
get you wet
" will touch you; I don't care if
do get wet" she said, in sobbing wins
per, laying her hand on his dripping
sleeve. II was so rude to you yester
day, you ought to have let me staid on
there all night in the cold"
Oh no, he said, smiling, and wrap
ping the overcoat more tightly aroune
| her.
And it was all about nothing" sh,
said 1t was all because Ben said tina
you-you-"
That | what?'' asked Reuben, bend
| 1y,rv he hH,I 81 l.