The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-10-23

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trtitn nau tcscomesouJ dc l.iss ss nllt. G., 4.
to make matters really serious, it began
to rain-a dull, pattering fall, that would
probably last till daylight, and
Susie exposedsto it. Shes tric l. to
make a Sioksfof iii ST first; but
rs Gle rain came rhore and more steadily,
she became frightened and nervous. I
found her the best shelter I could at the
roots of great tree, but the rain reached
her even there. She had nothing round
her but light shawl-for the evening
had been unusually warm for the season
--ands T knew she would soon be thor
oughly chilled; so, being very tough
myself, and used to all sorts Of expos
ure, T Just took off my coat and begged
her to wrap it round her shoulders, but
sheswonld hear to nothing of the sort,
and bade ne quite brusquely to put on
my coat, But the rain increased, and
the night grew damper and colder. Il,
resolved to take matters into my own
Hands Without saving a w"-a rrriT0 ,
T5apqeo the coat srounG ner shoulders
myself, and, for fear she wouldn't take
it, T said, by way of apology, you see,
I'D give my life for you any minute,
Susie, and it don't stand to reason l.
shouldn't give you my coat. ..,,,
"She kept as mute asa mouse while a.
was fixing the; coat; but, when l was
done, she took my hand In both OF hers,
and, says she, DO you think so very
much of me, Benz and, says L, More
than I can tell, OK you can think, l
reckon sCA Ea1A ~. t..E
"And, says she, Why did you never
tell me so before2' gs;': ~
Z ss Wei, saysI !, you know I'm rather
slow of speech; and, besides, i reck-
oned yoa wopldat care TO hear the like
from me- 6'gIyggEg !
"she didn't say nothing after that for
good long spell, till i began toTbe.
afraid she was offended; then says she.
you may sit down here beside me, If
you like, Benz LgCr$
az did so, and then, after another
good long spell, says she, stroking my
hand with one of hers, You're the best
and kindest man in Cthe world, Ben;
and I like you better than any of them?
aMy shirt-sleeves we're by this time
vet enough to wiring, and the chill gusts
that every now and then swept dow
from the tree-tops were enough, to make
a Newfoundland dog shiyer; but Inever
felt warmer or more comfortable ~ my
life than when Susie said that. I never
felt my slowness of speech more in py
life, though it seemed as if I couldn't
think of any word that meant enough.
So I had to sit and listen to Susie with /
out being able to say a word myself, but
she didn't appear to mind it bit.
"Wel, the first thing I knew it had
stopped raining, and the moon was
peeping down through drift in the
clouds. I found the path in no time;
and Susie made me put on my coat
S When we got home to ofsnaies, her
;fatherwas just tnrIling turning oyt 70 bok for
us, and met US atS the yard gate.
"Soaked but smiling,' says he.
What on earth has happened to make
you look SO pleasant, when you are both
as Wetas aconple of drowned .kittens?'
He had lantern, you see, and flashed
it right in our faces. We didn't tell him
anything then, but he found out about
month after when I came to ask for
/, s Just al this moment We were inter
rupted by pretty scolding voice from
the house, ezclaiming, "Why, Ben, you
will catch your death of cold, sitting out
there without your coat when the dew
is falling"
Simpson had been over an hour tell
ing his story. Our pipes had gone out
and the sun had gone down, but there
was still light enough to mark the placid
expression of9letght that came over his
face at the mere sound of his wifes
voice; and ! thought saw palmer than
ever before how it had happened that
the lively little Susie had married my
slow friend, and had done wisely in so
doing.