The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-03-27
THE PICTURE IN THE FIRE,
BY FLAvEL SCOTT MINES,

BY FLAVEL SCOTT MINES.
The fleet of yachts lay at anchor off
Newport, swinging idly to and fro in the
gentle wind. 1t was peaceful, lazy
way of taking life, appealing to the
higher senses in all externals, and pro-
noting placid thought. Nothing to
worry, no social or business cares, it was
an Arcadia replete with all modern con-
~"~ss~aas-somsthipG truly to be de-
sired. So Tom Armstrong thought to
himself, as he lay at full length in a
canvas chair and smoked after his din,
ner. The sun was setting far beyond
the land in blaze of golden glory, and
every yacht reflected some color of tho
sunset. Yachts on every side of him lay
rolling in passing swell, and his own
yacht rocked gently from side to side. A
little while after the sun sank from sipht
the moon came up over the ocean, and
lights began to dot the shadowy fleet.
There was a new activity among the
people about, and presently quartet on
one of the yachts began to sing. Then
row boats put off from each Of tho
yachts, and before long line of boats
encircled the yacht where the singers
were stationed. The party was a col
lcgc glee club, and the young men, ap-
preciating the applause which came
from the audience, went on one song
sftar another, while the half circle of row
boats tossed in the water. Tom Arm
strong was among the asscmblage of row
boats, he and his guest having rowed out
from the yacht, and the effect was one
that appealed directly to him. His oars
rested on the gunwale, and he paid no
heed to the fact that his boat was SLOWLY
drifting toward its neighbor.
,HHullo, therer" said some one, sud-
denly almost in his ear.
Tom started, and saw that he was
bearing down upon the boat, and almost
touching it. He put forth his hand to
catch the stranger boat and prevent them
colliding, but as he did so his fingers
touched another hand that was out
stretched. Itwas only second before
both hands were withdrawn, but in that
time Armstrong; boat had gently bumped
against the other. :
~ beg your pardon |" he said, raising
his cap hurriedly and reaching for the
oars. "It was very cateless In me-"
He looked toward the occupants of the
boat as he spoke, and quick as flash
the thought darted through his mind
that his carelessness was a blessing, for
looking at him was the prettiest girl i'm
aginable. 1t was her hand that he had
touched and drawn away from so quick
ly. 1t was not more than glance that
he gave, but he could have picked her
out again in any throng. He rowed
away very slowly, and stopped as soon MS
he could. He could just see the form
and outline of the other boat, and could
count the occupants. There were two
ladies and two men, and Tom wondered
who in the world they were and what re-
lation they were to the girl; he seemed
to be wonderfully interested in her, con-
sidering the time he had seen her. The
songs had been going on all the time,
but Tom had paid little attention to
them.
The college boys had about exhausted
their stock OF new songs and Glanced
upon some of the old favorites. When
they sang "Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party"
the occupants of the surrounding boats
took up the chorus, and Tom was certain
that he could distinguish the voice of
the pretty girl when they sang
"And twas from Aunt Dinah's quilting
party
l was seeing Nelly home.n
With this idea (for it was all imagina-
ton on his part, no doubt) he called
loudly for an encore, and sat still, trying
o0qin fn 1icfip .,,ioh hor i
score of Others. When this was done
the singers were evidently getting tired,
for they started Goodnight, Ladies'"
and the people, acting upon the gentle
hint, began to move off in all directions,
looking, in the pale moonlight, like a
lot of gigantic water spiders. At least
that was what Toms guest and friend,
Will Townes, suggested; but Tom
sneered ut the idea, and seemed to get
really angry over it. He lost sight of
the particular boat that the girl was IN.
so ho went directly to his yacht Asquam,
bemoanine his. hard fate that he. had
been 1Inabl0 to find out which her Yacht
vass SO that he might find an opportunity
to meet her. gE''i,
Tom went on deck very early the next
morning, and he was no sooner there than
voice hailed him.
"Ahoy, Asquamw
1t was from the yacht Phyllis that had
come to anchor few lengths from him
the night before.
"Hullo!" he answered.
The gentleman who stood on the other
boat put up his hands to his mouth, and