The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-30

One night, on the plea of helping
Matte with the lines, Peter stepped
aboard the cobble and rowed her out
to her fishing ground. Anchoring the
boat securely, lie seated himself on n
thwart within reach, OF the painter.
Mattie had tried to dissuade him
from accompanying her. and she was
surprised he should ignore her wish.
Still, she was not altogether dIspleased
to have his company.
1t was one OF those nights in which
the dim starlight seems to Intensity
the darkness Of land and sea. The
heaving waters had phosphorescent
gseam, and the waves mounted suilenly
as the wind from the east swept across
them In stinging gusts.
But FOR Peters CompaniOnship Mnttfe
would have felt the solitude .eerie."
Yet they had little to say to each other.
They worked with will. Fish were
plentiful, and in a couple Of hours they
had caught as many as Matte wanted.
We'll be Weighing anchor now" she
said.
Not quite yet, lass." quoth Peter in
dry tone. II came here tonight mean
ing to get y0nr promise to marry me q
fortnight from now, and we'll up an
Choir only when you've given it,
You'll row me ashore at once, Peter,
or Ill never forgive you." cried Matte,
amazed and indignant
III row you ashore as soon as you
give me your word-not till then" said
Peter doggedly.
YOU'RE never in earnest Matte
was beginning to trcmble a little in
the darkness.
'"Am not? Pm thinking I've pinned
you this time. my lass" And he laugh
ed exultantly.
Matte was speechless for the mo-
ment, dazed by the revelation of his
character. 1t seemed to her that she
looked suddenly into a gulf Of horrid
darkness. What q cruel heart he must
have to think Of taking SD mean an ad-
vantage! He knew SO well how afraid
she was lest the old ladies should learn
Of these midnight excursIons of hers.
1t would break Miss Priscilla's heart to
know Of the hardships she had borne,
however cheerfully, for her sake. AS
for the other sister. she would be dis
graced forever In Miss Miriam's eyes.
Her own silence would insure that.
"Well, are you content to stop here
till dayiightT cried Peter, breaking In
on her troubled thoughts. There will
be fine stir ut the cottage when the
Misses Lorimer wake up and want
their breakfast" he added craftily.
At this Matte sprang to her feet and
stretched across to grasp the anchor
rope. but he held her OF. Then he
taunted her with her powerlessness.
She conflded to me long afterward
that she knew the sort Of despairing
rage that tempts being in extremity
to take the life Of another.
Peter drove her back to the seat she
had quilted. Then she shipped tho
oars into the rowlocks and strove with
all her might to drag the boat from its
moorings, but it was useless.
"Come, Matte, be q sensible woman
for once and give in. 1t beats me to
know what you make such to do
for"
Mattie's answer was q cry Of despair.
It was that heard as was returning
to the coast guard station after my
nights round Of inspection.
Mattie's despair was not unfounded.
What was the use Of telling this man
the true facts Of the case-that the
poor old ladies had nobody to look TO
but her? He would only sneer. She
need not throw herself upon his gen.
erosity; he had none. He was hard
as flint. He would keep his word In
spite OF ali she couId say or do. Day
s;sht wouid ind her here il she di6 not
promise. Gould she promise-for their
sakes? But would it be best for them
in the end? That question saved Mat
tie. She saw 80 clearly that the vito
Of Peter Small would have little power
to minister to others.
"You can stay here till doomsday,
Peter. but you'll never get me to say
I'll marry you. That idea is gone, once
and for all. I've changed my opinion
Of you this night as las I never
thought to- Her words ded in q
sob.
Peters anger rose. He began 10
threaten and to bully her, thinking
probably that her tears betokened
weakness that demanded such treat
ment. But lie was struck dumb of n
sudden by the sound Of approaching
oars.
"Ahoy, therer' Matte cried out, her
voice full Of joyful relief.
1t suffices to tell that rescued Mat
tie by cutting the cobble adrift from
her moorings when the surly fellow nt
the bow still refused to haul up. the
anchor, for am merely the chronicler
Of a page In Nattfe's life which proves
her TO have asheart as brave, generous
and faithfnl as that Of any heroine Of
fiction.
A number OF years later Matte stood
In the old fashioned garden. Two
young girls were chasing each other
round the flower beds. Mattic's eyes
were unusually dreamy. Coming up
behind her, unobserved, I'said:
II can tell who you are thinking Of"
II dare say. The dear old ladies'! /
miss them sometimes even now. You
see, since the babies grew up there are