Smyrna times., 1880-09-22


rumpus and pow WOW about little slip
like that? And don't think it just fair
for you to make so much out of it, anyway, |
seeing it happens SO seldom; l haven't
missed before since l brought on that |
earthquake, four years ago."
Mortimer How you talk ! Have you |
forgotten the yellow feverp
" My dear, you are always throwing up the |
yellow fever to me, and think it is per-
fectly unreasonable. You can't even send
q telegraphic message as far as Memphis
without relays, so how is little devotional
slip of mine going to carry so far? I'll
stand the earthquake, because it was in the
neighborhood but I'll be hanged if Pm
going to be responsible for every blamed'-
Est boom beroom. boom boom !
Bang"
"Oh, dear, dear, dear know it struck
| something, Mortimer. We never shall see
the light of another day and if it will do
you any good to remember, when we are
gone, that your dreadful language
merI"
| "Well What now?"
Your voice sounds as if-Mortimer, you
are actually standing in front of that open
fireplace !"
"That is the very crime am commit.
ting"
Go away from it this moment. You do
seem to be determined to bring destruction
ON us ALL Don't you know that there is no
better conductor for lightning than an
open chimney? Now, where have you got
to go tor"
Pm here by the window"
ooh, for PHYS sake, have you lost your
mind? Clear out from there, this moment.
The very children in arms know it is fatal
to stand near a window in a thunder storm.
Dear, dear, l know | shall never see the
light of another day. Mortimer?"
"Yes?"
"What is that rustling?"
: "It's me-"
"What are you doing?n
"Trying to find the upper end of my
pantaloons."
"Quick throw those things away | dc
: believe you would deliberately put or
those clothes at such time as this; yet
you know perfectly we'll that all authori
y ties agree that wooden stuffs attract light
e ming. Oh, dear, dear, it isn't sufficient tha
ones life must be in peril from natura
t causes, but you must do everything yol
can possibly think of to augment tn,
t danger. Oh, don't sing What can yol
}, be thinking of2''
" Now where's the harm in t?"
e mortimer if have told you once,
{ have told you a hundred times, that sing
e. ing causes vibrations in the atmospher
which interrupt the electric fluid, and
=" What on earth are you opening that doc
for?"
"Goodness, gracious, woman, is ther
10 any harm in that?"
"Harm? There's death in it. Anybod
that has given this subject any attentio
- knows that to create draught is to invit
the lightning. You haven't half shut il
" shut it highland do hurry, or we are a
destroyed. Oh, tits an awful thing to be sh,
"a up with q lunatic at such time as thi
Mortimer, what are you doing?"
Nothing. Just turning on the waite
TX The room is smothering and close. Iwal
ur to bathe my face and hands"
ou "You have certainly parted with Il
remnant of your mind When lightnir
strikes any other substance once, it strik
ou water fifty times, Do turn off. Oh, deG
l am sure nothing in this world can sa
all us. 1t does seem to me that-MortimC
III what was that?"
= "Itwas dat was picture. Knock,
ne it down."
"Then you are close TO the wall?
ot never heard of such impudence. Dor
you know there is no better conductor
ire lightning than q wall? Come away ther
tie And you came as near anything to swei
re- ing, too. Oh, how can you be SO desp
ately wicked, and your family in such per
rti. Mortimer, did you order feather bed, a
to asked you to do2"
"No. Forgot it p
re. "Forgot it? 1t may cost you your Ii
ne, If you had a feather bed, now, and cot
md spread it in the middle of the room q
ast lie on it, you would be perfectly SO
Come in here-come quick, before y
md have chance to commit any more fran
so, indiscretions."
ing / tried, but the little closet would !
and hold US both with the door shut, unless
of could be contented to smother. l 8
,ht. ped while, then forced my way out.
Are "Motimer, something must be done
your preservation. Give me that Germ
m book that is on the end of the man
in. piece, and candle; but don't light
give me match l will light it in hi
Are That book has some directions in it."
You got the book-at cost of vase
ling some other little things; and the mad
om. shut herself up with her candle. ha
you moments peace; then she called out
Mortimer, what was thatP"
A "Nothing but the cat"
1ow, "The catl Oh, destruction Catch
odds and shut her up in the wash-stand.
ii a quick, love; cats are full Of electricity
eled lust know my hair will turn white with
lrks- nights awful perils."
It of l heard the muffied sobbings again.
!, at for that, l should not have moved hanC
IT, foot in such wild enterprise in the d
are However, went at my taslS--over cf
e of and against oil sorts of distractions, al
,,.,, | tl,aco hard ooaa tao and nnosL of a