Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-01-24

oI-uOors aii niSht, no mater now beautiful
1t was. The footsteps drew nearer; they
came hurrying down the slope, and in =
| few moments Cousin Reuben stood In a
narrow strip Of moonlight on the edge OF
| the pond.
Good God Lutte - he cried In an agita-
| ted voice, what are you staying out on
the water this late at night for? Don't
| you feel how cold 1t is? II is enough to
| kill you"
Lutte had stopped whistling abruptly and
now motioned TO the paddle which was ly.
| ing near his feet. He did not understand.
and cried, impatientiy, "why don't you
come to shorei Oh, you rash girl, to be
| sitting there. with your bad cold. Make
| haste. and paddle back
Lutte kept motioning so persistentiy at
his feet that he looked down and saw the
paddle. He picked 1t up, aud asked quick
ly, Did you drop this out OF the boat? !?
Havn't YOU the other one In tberes''
Lutte nodded to the first question and
shook her head at the last.
why dou't you speak? Have you lost
| your voicel"
She nodded vehemen,ly, and touched her
| throat and chest.
Good God.'' he repeated. tearing Off
his coat and oyercat. ''she Is so hosrse she
can't speak, oh, child, you'll kill your
| SELF
lie 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 lined himself In lightly, and
sat with his back 10 her. so his wet feet
would not touch her. Lulu watched him
with a peculiar look during the few min
u,es he was padding back TO shore. lie
did not speak till he had fastened the boat
and helped her out. Then he took up his
overcoat and said, "i on are shiverlng let
me put this around yoI.'
"Oh no. you are wet" she whispered
~ ou must put IL on
"a little wetting won't hurt me" he
| said; I'm as tough AS a pine. You must
| let me put II around you. Will you put
| your arms through the -leeves1 Well
there, Doh't touch me, or I'll get you
wet"
Il will touch you; don't care II do
| get wet" she said, in sobbing whisper,
laying her head on her dripping sleeve
~ Sas so rude to you, yesterday, you
ought TO have let me staId out all night In
/ the cold
''On no" he said, smiling. and wrap
| ping the overcoat more tightly around
/ her.
And It was all about nothing" she
said. 1t was all because Ben said that
| you-you-'
That | what? asked Reuben bending
his head closer, so he could hear her.
| You thought it wa. urlsdylike and
| and Inbred In Inc TO whistle. Do you
| think it is so bad:' she asked. look ing
/ humbly mp In his face. II you DO, I'll new
/ er whistle again" Poor Lnte was com
I pletely subduej By Cousin Reuben's re-
! turning her eHl with good IN such a mag
/ self an awful wetting." she thought. re-
morsefnlly, but he's spoit his best bu,i-
ness suit. HI. pantaloons will never be
/ iit for a dog to wear again"
II don't think | ever used such strong
words as iil-bred aud unladylike In regard
/ to your whistlin.," answered the dpct )r, ,
4 smiling In her troubled face. Ben exag-
Z geraied little. But must confess used
\ 10 dislike TO hear a lady whistle. but"
4 "fll never whistle again" Interrupted
/ Lutte, with ss much decision a. her voice
/ less condition would allow.
But he continued, still smiling. II
/ don't dislike il now. | love 10 hear YOU
whistle. Besides, II was your whi,tling
/ directed me TO YOU tonight. Perhaps |
shouldn't have found you without il. So
take back your rash vow. Cousin Lutte"
II wish you would do something TO uuu-
/ ish me for my rudeness." she said hurried
\ ly. Give me as much medicine a. you
want; ! will take whole oarreliul II you
say so"
! But shan't say So" he said There
I was still smile on hts lips. but none in
( his eyes; they shone strangely.
| Il don't know what made me 80 cross" !"
she went on. Il know I'm spoiled and
willful. | never had 4 mother to show me
I how 10 be gentle and good; but Am not
Omen 80 dreadful as | was to you yester-
/ day. Oh, Cousin Reuben, can you forgive
/ me."
| Lutte" he said, in a voice almsst as low
as hers, look at me-"
I They were standing in the narrow strip
/ OF light. and the moon lit up both their
/ faces. She raised her wet eyes obediently,
but the strange look in his made her drop
I them suddenly. while u startled, painful
/ nush baihed her face.
"Shall tell you why you were So cross
I to mei' he asked.
mo, no." she murmured, hiding her
I face in her hands.
Was 1t because you cared for my opin-
! ion, because you-loved me?"
His wet arms were arouad her now-it
was well she had on his thick overcoat-
and were pressing her closely To his wet
breast.
My innocent darling" he whispered,
you know now why you were so cross
with me-"
''How long have you known?" she said g,
| her voice coming smothered from his shirt
| bosom.
known what, dear lover
"Why was so cross with you"
Not five minutes. Ii flashed on me Just
now, while you were asking me TO punish
| you"
I'm glad" she said. II didn't know
myself or | should have hid it better
I'D defy you to do that" he said, with a
low laugh. "Oh, my sweet DUMB darling.
look up and give me one kiss"
She raised her fair smooth face. and his
dark bearded one came In immediate and
close contact with 1t. She murmured. on
| the divine breath OF that first kiss. You
| have not said whether you love me or not. -
Does this feel like itT' he whispered.
| crushing her closer to him. oh. nv darl-
ing, | love you-I love you 40 much!
have been so mad about yoa as even TO be
jealous OF poor little Dick Spur. Last
night felt like killing him when you smil-
ed on him so
She was too happy to feel a passing psng
for poor Dick. How cotid she think of any
one but Reuben, with his cheek against
hers and his eyes on her?
~ ou told me not TO touch you, she
said presently; 'don't you think you are
acting iDcOnsistently, SirY'
God forgive Inc ~ he said. loOsing her.
Il am = selfish brute, to be holding you
a. aust me, wet and dripping as am.
forgot every thing but myself. DO you feel
coidT anxiously.
Not Bit"
Maybe the overcoat kept you from get
ting damp. never thought to have hug
ged that old Ulster with as much zest as
have done tonight. Come. let's hurry
home. and III begin giving you that barrel
Of medicine you were SO anxious to take"
You must take part of it YOURSELF she
said, as they started up the slope in double.
quick time. I'm dreadfully afraid this wet
ting will make you sick"
I'm too happy to be sick" he said,
looking 1t her in way that made her blush
and tingle to her finger-ends. "WeIl give
grandpa and Ben double surprise. They
think you are in town somewhere; but
had presentiment you were at the pond.
SO slipped down there quietly, without
telling any body"
..Xas thav uiil ha surnriead A. our