The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-11-20

yates had read their essays, and tn
chairman of the school board hac
presented their diplomas and made {
Short address.
Now it was the turn Of the young
master, and the audience gave him
little round of cheers as he rose tc
speak the parting words to the grad
yates. For Phil Oakes was certain tc
say something worth hearing.
So he did The conventional senti'
ments about the voyage oflife and the
port of success were for once neglect
ed. The young masters speech was
short, but good; terse, but bright and
interesting and amusing.
Amy looked and listened.
She was with her brother and sister
in-law, and she was rather in doubt as
to the thing she intended doing; but
she did not falter.
How nice he looked And bis
bright eyes were turned toward her
more than once. And she had deter
mined to do it if it was eccentric.
She grasped firmly the handsome
nosegay of flowers she had carefully
arranged, red and white and yellow
roses with border of delicate ferns,
and as the young master bowed, amid
sincere applause, she threw it with
vigor at him.
! There was general laugh at the
novel feature, and then spreading
"Ah!" of CONSERVATION.
The big bunch had hit the rather
rickety lamp On the organ and knock
ed it to the floor. There was the ex-
pected crash of breaking glass, but
worse, there was burst of fame. The
oil had caught fire.
OF course there was panic. Even
men, in their first fright, pushed to-
ward the door. Women screamed and
children cried.
Everybody was certain that the
building would burn, and there was a
general rush and hubbub.
But Amy stood still. Her sister-ih-
law had grown almost hysterical, and
her brother had borne her out, and
called to Amy to follow.
But she did not. She stood mo-
tionless and watched one figure on the
platform.
Phil Oakes had snatched up the
carpet from the temporary platform,
and was valiantly smothering the
flames.
Amy waited. She had done it! If
he was badly burned-if he was
smothered-it would be her fault
hers! And how differently she had
meant it! She had been foolish, but
surely she did not deserve that her
foolishness should be to his injury.
The time she stood miserably wait
ing-waiting till he should see and
come to her, as she knew he would
for he must know from whom that
bouquet had come)-the time seemed
endless.
When ne came, white faced but
smiling, the tears rushed to her anx-
ious eyes.
Il was such goose!" she said.
"What made me do it? You are
burned-both your hands-and | did
it!'
"No, no! A small burn or two
nothing!" said the schoolmaster, look
ing handsome as he bent toward her.
Don't think it! I have your flowers,
and they were worthit! Are you alone:
Let me take you home"
She took his arm. He was not much
hurt, and he held her flowers tightly
in his hand, and they were going out
into the cool night together, and she
was almost glad.
For otherwise she would be going
home with John and Margaret.
ssMy sister-in-law was hysterical her
self, and my brother took her home.
He told me to come, but l."
'.Your brother ?" said Mr.. Cakes
eyes"
"And your sister-in-law? ?"
"Why, yes"
"But I haven't seen them!" he ex.
postulated.
"But you haven't called on. me,
Amy retorted shyly.
aAnd I thought you were here
alone," he declared.
sBut I'm not" she replied, wonder
ing.
The schoolmaster stopped short and
faced her.
:sIs it possible" be said solemnly.
s'Is it possible that that child is your
nephew?"
:.Ofcourse! What else could he be, u
Amy cried.
There was silence of some min
utes.
Il thought he was your-son," said
Phil Oakes, almost inaudibly. 81
thought you were widow"
"a widow!" she gasped.
She leaned against a fence and
laughed until she was weak.
81 was sure you were widow" he
said. ssYou had on black dress, you
know
with yellow bows on it," she re-
,,lio,3 IN o coft Screan,
'Aud the little boy was with you.
"Oh, yes! Malcolm loves me. And
Margaret was away that day."
'And he looks like you"