The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-09-25

'"e ucIS ia Vic WOOu, singing TO uer-
self, it seemed singularly delightful.
l clutched Tommie and held him back.
Sing no more ditties. sing no more,
or dumps so dull and heavy,
The fraud OF men was ever SO,
Since summer first was leafy.
"And of women" said Tommie,
stepping forward, cap in hand; as
least he remembered so much of hit
manners. Tho singer started and
drew herself up.
''Sir !" said she, like the affronted
lady in the play.
81 beg your pardon" said Tommie.
"That was very pretty song"
What is that to you, sir! It's
Shakespeare"
excuse me-" said Tommie; Eve
have had'a mishap. My wheel has
been stolen"
"Stolen" she cried in a crimson
glow. "Down by the lake?"
"Yes, down by the lake." said the
malicious Tommie.
'.Oh, she cried, chow can explain?
There it is. I thought it was Fred's.
l thought Fred and Harry left them
there"
"It's no matter" said L. "Im
sorry. 1t was a natural mistake"
She looked at me with q werld OF
thanks in the blue eyes. Did I tell
you before they were blue? Tommy
calmly walked to his wheel.
81 am glad you did it," he said,
"because it has given me a chance to
know YOU"
you're atrocious," she said; and
turned and fled up the road behind the
gateway.
"Tommie," said ], you're a cad"
Tommie leaned on bis wheel and
whistled.
"Wasn't she jolly?" he said, "I'll
follow"
"You are not going to do anything
Of the kind,"I cried. But he is al
ways stubborn, and it ended by me
following him.
The road led from the wood into q
broad sunny lawn, which was domi-
mated by great stone house, where q
man was Just stepping into a high dog.
cart.
ton"
At the moment Wharton saw MS.
well, declare" he cried, coming
forward.
''She didn't lie, said Tommie. "He
is the Harry of the Harry and Fred
probably"
'Did you think she did?" l cried
fiercely but Tommie was explaining
fn hot 1>ol
and Wharton was insisting on the
hospitality of the Merivale house,
which he had rented for the summer,
he explained, and Tommie xas accept
Ing while I stood speechlezs. At the
moment our lady of the road came
out of the house and blushed at the
sight of us, and looked as if she wanted
nothing 80 much as to take to her
heels. Wharton presented us. "Miss
Rose Burton" Tommie had the au.
dacity to say, "we've met befole.".:
"You have" said Wharton.
~ don't remember" she said, Civ
ing Tommie glance that would have
troubled me, but only seemed to de.
light him. But she rewarded me by
turning and extending her hand and
saying in q low voice, "I don't see
why your friend is 80 odious about
that mistake"
81 don't know, I'm sure," said.
Mrs. Wharton just then appeared and
! had her-I don't mean Mrs. Whar-
ton-qaite to myselt--an opportunity
tried to deserve. Ibegan to believe
that Arcadia was all tho poets have
claimed for it,. l told her that knew
it was a mistake from the first; and,
to be frank, didn't Try very hard to
defend Tommie's churlishness. told
her she had rather startled me when I
saw her mount Tommie's wheel like
Like boy" she interposed.
"Oh, | don't know" said ].
GLOW Harry and Fred"
"And frea?" | said. beginning to
suspect every man.
"Oh, he's my brother How they'd
laugh, | was going to say. But a Joke
~ with him who laughs last with
your friend, think"
'He thought you Dick Turpin dis
Snised,' / said, trying to make his
case bit worse.
"He might have knowD," she said,
as if much provoked.
Eyes, he might" assented.
Yet In strict fairness felt called on
to let him know my periidy; and that
night, as we sat smoking and review
ing the days adventures, | said:
"ohe thinks you insutlerable, Tom.
mie."
she told you that already?"
why, yes, | replied with rather n
self-conscious air.
81 say, Fletch, l believe there will
be more fun In this house than on the
road. | don't believe wo can have