Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-02-26
thy asked, putting her arm around her

udnce ON Lne river, tndt nau Deen
looked forward to and discussed during |
the past week. Two long floats, with
floors laid purposely for dancing, were
made fast to the sides of launch. In
the intervening space was placed a
small float, which answered as the
music stand, supper-room, and as. a
passageway from one of the large floats
to the other. The ratings were hung
with Japanese lanterns, which afforded
ample light to dance by, but the mu-
sicians had number of large lamps set
in metal brackets. When all the guests
were on board, the launch steamed out
into the middle of the river, which at
this place was about a mile wide.
While the first waltz was being played
darkness set in, the stars grew thicker,
and the full moon, high up in a cloud
less sky, made the surface Of the water
resemble sheet of polished silver. So
steady and even was the motion of the
floats as they moved slowly up stream
that only those who were leaning on
the ratings and were looking down at
the reflection of the colored lanterns
could detect it, Stamford thought the
whole affair SO picturesque that during
one of the dances he stood alone at the
end of one of the floats, and watched
all that was going on before him.
"Why aren't you dancing?" some one
asked, while passing him.
He turned and saw Miss Colyon
4 ,no ha,. ay-fn
II shall dance in a moment" he re-
piled, and then admired her grace and
beauty as she went slowly by. He saw
her start off to waltz again, and he
watched her until she mingled with the
others and became lost to his view.
Many couples were dancing, some were
promenading, and a few were leaning
lightly against the ratings, and all
seemed to be full of pleasure, mirth,
and happiness Stamford was ienjoy-
ing, being silent spectator of it all.
Suddenly he and all on board were
startled by crash. The next moment
a sheet of flames arose from the barge,
where the musicians were. One of the
large lamps had fallen, broken, and
now the flame had caught the oil
spilled over the floor The musicians
fed to the large barges, but in doing
so one of them struck one of the other
lamps and knocked it down, and now
it's contents were added to all that was
burning. Many of the young men did
what they could to try to beat out the
flames, but all their efforts were in
vain, for the flames rose higher and
higher, and were blown angrily by the
breeze on the river. A number of the
girls tainted when they first saw the
flames, others swooned after the Sec
ond lamp had fallen, and they lay like
corpses, terrifying those who stumbled
over them as they hurried to the far
ends of the floats, ready to jump into
the river. No boats had been brought
along, for no one had dreamed of there
being any danger. The shores were
half mile away, and the river was
some fifteen feet deep. The situation
began to look dangerous.
Stamford alone had kept his post,
and with perfect GOODNESS watched ev-
erything that was going on. Presently
some one caught his hand, placed a
trembling hand upon his shoulder, and
looked up through her tears into his
face.
won't you let me die with you?"
"You mustn't be frightened" he said,
looking down at her for a moment.
"We are not going to die"
Then he Strengthened up and raised
his voice: Cut away the ropes andr
verse the engine"
The voice brought all the men to
their senses, and everything became
quiet then, when the ropes to the small
float were cut, the engineer reversed
his engine. The launch, with the two
large floats, drew back, increasing al
every moment the space between it and
the small float which was soon drifting
by itself on the river
T. "You would better land us as quickly
as possible" Stamford said to the cap
tain, ''for many on board are still dan
gerously nervous"
A large crowd was collected on tn,
shore by the time the party landed
, but this dispersed shortly after tn,
= pleasure seekers had gone to theil
, homes. Miss Colyon went at once tt
= her room. Like all who had been OF
the party she knew that she owed
/ great deal to Stamford, and felt as al
/ did that his cool head and good judg
, ment, showing themselves at such al
, opportune time, when life seemed t,
, be in danger from all sides, were de
: serving of the highest esteem. Blu
t only Miss Colyon knew how much h,
3 was to be admired, for she alone knew o
the kindness he had shown by attribut
ing what she had said to him to he
I fear and excitement of the moment
y rather than to any personal feeling TO
q him. Yet she felt that he surely mus
know what had caused her to wish t.
die with him. She sat at her opel
q window until midnight, trying T.
drown her unhappiness in her tears
but later, while the long hours move,
q slowly away, she told all that she fel
. to the darkness and her pillow.
The next day she did not appear
:. saying to Dorothy that she had not We
recovered from the fright and tn
a nervous excitement of the night be
: fore. Then she told Dorothy that sh
!, must return home on the following
e day. When she came down to break
fast on the morning of her departure
/. she was pale and quiet, and her name
|. was cold and reserved
1 When Miss Colyon had returned t
d her home in Virginia, Stanton
v thought of her more than ever, an
h was contented and happy only whe
It talking about her with his cousin
l When he realized that in all probabi
o ity he would never see her again, h
nAnnnnlt IN 4 tnl, h, In,