Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-24

party, except that l sat most of til,
time in a particular corner and watch
ed Susie as much as dared.
"When the party had broken up
and we were starting home, l noticed
that the sky was thickly crowded and
the night dark. The Squire who was
sitting OH the front porch smoking a
late pipe, called after us:
Better stay all night, Benny, it's
going to rain
But we thought not. When we got
into the woods, however, we began to
think SO, and it was dark and no mis-.
take. The farther we went, the deeper
became the darkness. l knew the
path we had to follow, every curve
in it. But the carpet of dead leaves
bothered me. | had to stop two OF
three times, and grope about on either
side, to make sure, was on the right
track and the last time l found
was not in it, and what was worse
couldn't find it.
III kept up the search as long as
possible, dreading to tell Susie of the
blunder | had made. But the truth
had to come out at last; and, as if to
make matters really serious, it began
to rain--a dull, pattering fall, that
would probably last till daylight, and
she exposed to it.
"She tried to make joke of it ut
first; but as the rain came more and
more steadily, she became frightened
and nervous. l found her the best
shelter l could at the roots of a great
tree, but the rain reached her even
there. She had nothing round her
but light shawl-for the evening
had been uncommonly warm for the
seasOn-and | knew she would soon
be thoroughly chilled; so, being very
tough myself, and used to all sorts of
exposure, just took off my coat and
begged her to wrap it round her shout
ders, but she would hear to nothing
ofthe sort, and babe me, quite brusque-
ly to put on my coat. Bnt the rain
increased, and the night grew damper
and colder. l resolved to take mat
ters in my own hands. Without say
ing a word just wrapped the coat
around her shoulders myself, and, for
fear she wouldn't take it, l 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 as a mouse while
| was fixing the coat but when was
done, she shook my hand in both of
hers, and, says she, do you think so
very much of me, Ben 2 and, says I,
More than I can tell. or Won can
think, l reckon
"And, says she, why did you
never tell me so before 2
"Well,' says l, you know I'm
rather slow of speech; and, besides,
| reckoned you wouldn't cdre to hear
the like from me-"
"She didn't say nothing after that
for a good long spell, till j began to
be afraid she was offended then, says
she, You may sit doyn here beside
me, if you like, Ben.' !
~ did so, and then, after another
long spell, says she, striking my
hand with one of hers you are the
best and kindest man in t!le world.
Ben; and / like you better, than all
Of Them
my shirt sleeves were by this time
wet enough to wiring, and THE chill
gusts that every now and tllen swept
down from the tree tops were enough
to make q Newfoundland dog SILVER;
but | never felt warmer or more COM
Portable in my life than when Susie
said that. | never felt my slowness
of speech more in my life, though it |
seemed as if could not think of any
word that meant enough. So l had
to listen to Susie without saying a
word myself, but she did not appear
to mind it bit
ell, tile first thing | knew it had
stopped raining, and the moon was
peeping down through drift in the
clouds. found the path in no time;
and Susie made me put on my coat
again.
"When we got home to Susic's, her
father was just turning out tn look
for us, and met us, at the yard sate.'
"'Soaked, but smiling SAYS he.
what on earth has happened to make
you look SO pleasant, when you are
both as wet as couple of drowned
SittensP He had lit lantern, you
100 on1 A,,ho<l - ,,:<.ll =: ! !