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

The fleet of yachts lay at anchor off
Newport, swinging idly to and fro in the
gentle wind. 1t was n peaceful, lazy
way of taking life, appealing to the
higher senses in all cxtcrnals, and pro-
noting placid thought. Nothing to
worry, no social or business cares, it was
an Arcadia rcplcto with all modern con-
e~is~eos--something truly 10 bo do
, sired. SO Tom Armstrong thought to
himself, ns nc lay at full length in n
canvas chair and smoked after his din
ncr. The sun was setting far beyond
the land in blaze of golden glory, and
every yacht reflected some color of TIC
sunset. Yachts on every side of him lay
rolling in passing swell, aud his own
yacht rocked gently from side to side. A
| little while after the sun sank from sight
the moon came up over the ocean, and
lights began to dot tho shadowy fleet.
There was new activity among the
people about, and presently q quartet on
one of tho yachts began to sing. Then
row boats put of from each of tho
yachts, and before long line of boats
cncirclcd the yacht where the singers
were stationed. Tho party was col
lcgc glcc club, and the young men, ap-
preciating the applause which came
from tho audience, went on one song
kftar another, while the half circle of row
boSta tossed ill tho water. Tom Arm
strdgae WAS among the asscmblagc of row
boats, nc and his guest having rowcd out
from tho yacht, and tho effect was one
that appealed directly to him. His oars
rested OH the gunwale, and ho paid no
heed to the fact that his boat was slowly
drifting toward its ncighbor.
!Hullo, there" said some one, sud
denly almost in his car.
Tosa 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
collidng, but us he did so his fingers
touched another hand that was out
stretched. 1t was only n second before
both hands were withdrawn, but in that
time cArmstrong's boat had gently bumped
against the other.
81 beg your pardon i" he said, raising
Ills cap hurricdly and reaching for the
oars. at was very careless In me-"
lie looked toward tho occupants of the
boat rs he spoke, and quick as a flash
| the thought dartcd through his mind
that his carelcssncss was n blessing, for
looking at him was tho prettiest girl i'm
aginablc. 1t was her hand that no had
touched and drawn away from so quick
! ly. Ii was not more than glance that
he gave, but he could have picked her
out again in any thronr. Uc rowed
AWAY very slowly, and stoppcd rs soon rs
he could. He could lust sec the form
and outline Of the other boat, and Gould
count the occupants. There wnre two
/ ladies and two men, and Tom wondered
who in the world they were and what re-
la,ion thcy were To the Girl; he seemed
to he wonderfully interested in her. con-
sidcrin" the time he had seen her The
SONGS had been coin" ON all the time
but Tom had paid little attention to
them.
The college boys had about exhausted
their stock of new songs and CHANGED
upon some Of tho old favoritcs. When
they sang "Aunt Dinah's Quilting PARTY
the occupants of the surrounding boats
took UP tl.t chorus, and Tom was certain
that he could distinguish tho voice o
the pretty girl when they sang
And twas from Aunt Dnah's auiltins
party
, was S'e''s Neny nome.
WIN th's idc" uor II was all lmagna-
''o" on his part, no uoupD he called
'ouuiy ior ah encore, ana sat still, trying