St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-08-02
Fireworks---A Fourth of July Story
BY ELIOT MCCORMICK.

BY ELIOT MCCORMICK.
They-that is, the FirewOrks-were
to be at Mrs. DeddicOte's on Fourth of
July night, and Ruth Mousewinkle was
going. That much was settled. With
whom she was going was another ques-
ton, and one which gave Miss Mouse
winkle not little anxiety. The trou-
BILE was not that she was without an
escort-such thing had never yet hap
pened to the girl-but that she had the
choice of two; and a choice, under the
circumstances, would seem to mean a
good deal more than she wanted it to.
For her part, she was content to go on
indefinitely receiving the admiration of
John Brakeman, who was farmer and
very worthy and industrious young
man, Jointly with that of Schuyler APP
pletOn, who came to New Paradise only
for the summer, and did nothing while
there but sail his yacht and drive his Il
cart. 1t was matter of indifference to
heI, she thought. whether she went to
the fireworks in the company of one or
the other; but she was not at all willing,
by going with one, to offend and per-
haps throw over the other. She could
not afford to lose either Mr.. Appleton's
short acquaintance, with the yacht and
the Il cart, or John Blakeman's longer
friendship and his excellent common
sense.
AS for Ruth herself, there was no
particular reason why she should be
preferred by the two most eligible
young men in New Paradise to Adeliza
Boggitt, or any other of the girls in the
place, except that she was great deal
than most of them, and was besides the
motherless daughter of old Adoniram
Mousewinkle, who owned pretty nearly
all of New Paradise, and had no other
heirs to the estate.
Well, you see in what a dilemma
Ruth found herself the day before the
Fourth, having been asked by both
young men to go to the Deddicote's,
and having put both off with vague
promise of letting them know that
evening. When the evening came she
was still undecided; and even when
she heard John Blakeman's firm step
coming up the walk her mind was not
made up. Amid all her perplexity she
thought what fortunate thing that
both did not come together; and then
| the next moment she was answering
Johns somewhat abrupt "Good even
ing" John never beat about the bush.
With him, she knew very well, it must
be either yes or no.
"WeIl ?n he said half interrogatively
as he stood before her.
She pretended to misunderstood him
"Well ?" she repeated laughingly. "oh
yes; you know Pm always well. What
a lovely night it is ~
The young mans lip curled, the
merest trifie. "Have you come to any
conclusion about tomorrow night q'' he
asked.
Ruth resented the tone. She did moi
like to be constrained-a fact whicl
John knew well enough, but which il
his jealous irritation he did not heed
She hesitated a moment before reply.
ing. Perhaps she was yet uncertain.
because, if you havn't," John went
on, 'I'd like to know. can't take yor
and Adeliza Boggitt BOTH"
Adeliza Boggitt The girl with the
fiery hair, whom Ruth positively alb
horred. To name her in the same
breath was an affront. To suggest tax
ing her in Ruth's place was an offenst
which Miss Mousewinkle could no
overlook. A faint color came and wen
upon her cheek, but her voice, as sh,
answered him, was perfectly calm.
eyes," she said, 81 have decided
Mr.. Appleton wants me to go in hi
yacht, and | think / shall. You ar,
quite welcome to take Miss Boggitt," sh'
added stiffiy.
John hesitated, conscious of his owl
misstep; looked at the half averted fac,
so prettily flushed and wondered
J vaguely if it were really too late t,
, make up. If that moment he had spokel
, what might not have happened? Blu
he held his peace, and the opportunit.
went by.