The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-05-20

Il
He had described all the charms of
this trip to Alice and extended to her
the most urgent invitation. He had
obtained her brothers promise to sup
plement 1t and also to make one of the
party, and he had persuaded his sister
Blanch to aid him with his mother, but
he had met encouragement on all sides.
In the first place, Alice wrote it was
doubtful il she could go. 1t would be
a delightful outing and one she would
enjoy, but it would not be right to
leave Aunt Susan alone for 80 long, and
then, as her school did not close until
the last of June, she would have no
time to get ready
| To cap the climax Of Franks discom-
| future, when July came his mother an
nounced that she had decided to 90 to
the mountains for the summer.
It's no use, Bert" he said to his
friend one evening. 81 wanted your
sister to go to Maine with us and moth
er and the girls and a few more to
make party, but it's no CO. I can't
| induce your sister to join us, and it's
no use IL she would, for mother has
determined to go to the mountains, and
that settles it. If you and have any
outing on the yacht we must make up
gander party"
That suits me just as well as, and
In fact better than, the other plan," re-
Piled Albert consolingly. 'If we have
lot Of ladies along we must dance at
tendance upon them, and if not we can
Dish, smoke, play cards, sing or go to
sleep when we feel like 1t. tell you,
Frank" he continued, evidently desir-
ing to cheer UP that young man. girls
are oil right as companions at home or
| at balls and theaters, but on a yacht
| they are in the way"
A week afterward, and early one
| bright morning, the Gypsy, with
skipper, crew and party of eight
jolly young men on board, sailed out
or Boston and that night dropped
anchor under the lee Of an island in
Casco bay. She remained there one
full day and the next ran to Booth
bay and found shelter in a landlocked
cove forming part of the coast line
OF southport island. 1t was after din
ner next day, and while the rest of
the party were either playing cards or
| mapping In hammocks under the avn
Ing, that Albert Page took one of the
boats. his pipe and sketchbook and
rowed down the coast mile to an in
let he had noticed the day before. The
outer point Of this was formed by
bold cliff that he desired to sketch, and
pulling the boat we'll up behind the
inner point, tying the painter to a
rock and taking the cushions along,
he found shady spot and sat down.
The sloping rock he selected for a
seat was little damp, but he thought
nothing of it, and lighting his pipe be-
| gan sketching.
He worked for an hour putting the
weed draped rocks and long swells
that broke over them into his book,
and then, lulled perhaps by the monot-
onous rhythm Of the ocean, lay back
on the cushions and fell asleep. The
next he knew lie was awakened by a
cold sensation and found the tide had
risen until it wet his feet. Hastily
getting up, he took the cushions and
returned to where he had left the boat,
only to find it had disappeared. The
rising tide had lifted the boat and
painter from the rocks, and it was
nowhere to be seen.
There must be some road back up
on the island" he thought, that Will
| lead me near the cove where the
Gypsy is." and. still retaining the
cushions. he started to find 1t. But
he was stranger to Southport island,
and the farther away from the sea he
got the thicker grew the tangle of
scrub spruce and briers. 1t was too
thick to see anywhere, and after q
| half hour of desperate scramhling the
afternoon sun began to seem about due
east. He had long since dropped the
cushions. and finally, in sheer exhaus-
ton. he sat down on a rock to collect
| himself.
1T looks as though I'm billed to stay
here oil night" he thought as he noted
| the lowering sun, "and nobody knows
how much longer! There must be n
road somewhere. though, and I'm GO
ing to find it if the light lasts long
enough"
He started once more and had not
gone ten rods ere he came to one, and
then he breathed easier. His clothes
were torn, his hands and face scratch
! ed by briers, and to save himself he
couldn't make 1t seem but that the sun
was setting in the east. He sat down
to think. All sound of the ocean was
gone, and stiffness that seemed to
crawl out Of the tticket was around
him. He rested a few moments more
and then suddenly heard the sound of
wheels and presently saw, coming
around the curve, an old fashioned
earryall, worn and muddy, and, driv-
ing the horse at jog trot, man as
dilapidated looking as the vehicle.
Gladdened at the sight, he arose and,
holding up his hand as signal halted
the team. Excuse me, sir,o he said
| fn tho xul,4 III