Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-12-24

house. She resolutely drew in her line
and wrapped it around the pole, lower
ed her feet, reached down in the boat
for the remaining paddle
The paddle wasn't there! M
She felt neryously in every impossi-
BILE place for the missing paddle, but it
was nowhere to be found. Well, she
was in 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. a
But the house wasn't very far Off
maybe they could hear her if she called
Uut very loud. She rooe to hor foot,
and opened her mouth to give prodig-
ious yell; but she couldn't speak above
whisper. 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 to look for
her, they couldn't see her from the
shore, and she wouldn't be able to utter
a sound to let them know she was there.
She forgot there was such a thing as a
moon at night. aa
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 warm
er, and began to whistle Schubert's
'Serenade" in her finest style. The
birds started in their nests as the strange
notes foated towards them, then drop
ped their drowsy little heads and slept
more soundly than ever. Music is a
good thing, but sleep is better-at
night.
Whistling is prOverblally good for
keeping up ones courage. Lutte found
her courage nightly refreshed by it.
She sat there for nearly an hour, whis-
tling everything she knew she even
began to enjoy herself. after fashion.
The moon soon rose, and filled every
place with subdued shadow or soft
every thing. She stopped whistling a
moment to enjoy it more fully. Every
now and then the lazy breeze brought
her faint, mingled odor of apple and
lilac blossoms. How lovely, lovely il
was She felt as if she was encounter
ed, sitting there alone at night in hel
little boat. "I'm the lady in the Dis
NAL Swamp she thought. smiling
"only this place is far from dismal o
swampy either"
. Just then she thought she heard dis
tant footsteps coming toward the pond
She hastily resumed her whistling t
direct them to her; she had no wish +
:, stay out of doors all night, no matte
how beautiful it was. The footstep
drew nearer; they came hurrying dow
: the slope, and in few moments Cousi
!. Reuben stood in narrow strip of moon
!. light on the edge of the pond.
'Good heavens | Lutte" he cried, i
an agitated voice, "what are you stay
ing out on the water this late at nigh
for? Don't you feel how cold it is?
! is enough to kill you"
Lutte had stopped whistling abrupt
:. and now motioned to the paddle whic
was lying near his feet. He did nj
understand. and cried, impatlently
"Why don't you come to shore ? o.
you rash girl, to be sitting there wit
!, your bad cold Make haste and padd
back" a hw
in Lutte kept motioning SO persistent
Il at his feet that he looked down and sa
er the paddle. He picked it up and aske'
m quickly: "Did you drop this out
- the boat ? Haven't you the other ol
IN in there ?''
ks "Lute nodded to the first questi
lie and shook her head at the last.
er 'Why don't you speak !? Have "
he lost your voice p
he She nodded vehemently, and touch
1T her throat and chest.
i'm "Good heavens p he repeated, te;
ing off his coat and overcoat, ''she is
N hoarse she can't speak Oh, child. you
e's kill yourself y
He He jerked up the paddle, and was
e,s the water swimming toward her, befc
NJ she knew what he was doing. Wh
lie he came to the boat he lifted himself
ed lightly, and sat with his back to her,
his wet knees and feet would not tou
be. her. Lutte watched him with pecul
no look during the few minutes he was p;
ding back to shore. He did not spe
,ar till he had fastened the boat and help
I'D her out. Then he took his overco
as and said: