The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-19
Does Not Like Firecrackers Now.


Two rather elderly gentlemen sat in the win
dows of the Iroquois Club yesterday as the peo-
pie passed into the Columbia theater. Fire
crackers OF all sizes were popping, banging and
booming up and down the street. and the air
was fun OF pungent gunpowder smoke, says the
Chicago Mail.
This reminds me of something that hap
pened good many Fourth of Julys ago." said
one of the old fellows; something which pos
sibly accounts for my presence in Chicago to-
day. the fact that am single man, and for
my general mode of life. In fact. it accounts
for my wealth and about everything else con
nected with me-"
what accounts for it,"
These firecrackers. You wouldn't believe
trecrackerS could have 80 much influence on a
mans career, would you? It's a little thing
but I'm satisfied it changed the course of mine
entirely
II won't say how many years ago it was, but
1t wasn't till after the centennial; I'll tell you
that. Possibly it was in the same year; fire
crackers were very generally used that year If
you RENE uber. There weren't any of those big
ones that make noise like a cannon ami will
break your leg, though. 1t was the ordinary
little 10cents a-package cracker. with one yell
low and two green ones done up in it; that &C
Complished my downfall.
AT that time was young man and pros
porous. That is was under 40 in age and had
a good commission business in town of about
IS, 900 inhabitants. I'd come there from New
York poor clerk ten years before. had got to
fallen in love.
THE lady was a beautiful young girl of
70, regular dream in face and figure, blonde
with yellow, curly hair, big blue eyes a liss )me
slender figure, and the most volatile disposition
| have ever known. She was music teacher S
daughter aud her face was her fortune
II was infatuated with her, and really, old
man, actually believe / loved her sincerely
and honestly. She used to keepme guessing as
to what she would do next, used to guy the life
out of me, and all that sort OF thing, in her
mlschevous, girlish way; but didn't mind it,
and l believed that she loved me as we'll as
loved her.
well. I'd been going with her about year,
and hoped to put the ring on her finger soon. A
moonlight picnic for the night of the Fourth,
held on the grounds of a society leader of the
town, and of course took George. There was
dancing, supper, cards and what not indoors.
but on the lawn lay the charm, for a dozen
hammocks were swung beneath the dark pine
trees, and the myriad of japanese lanterns lust
shed light enough to give one ones bearings.
George and left the dancers and wandered to
hammock for a long talk. | blew out the
lantern overhead, for we didn't want TO be dis
Uurbed.
THE moon shone brightly, occasionally a far
off rocket pierced the leaden blue of the sky.
and the throbblng mea ,ures of a waltz re-
sounded from the open aud brilliantly lighted
windows of the drawing-room
1T was fitting time and place, s.nd decided
TO make the most of my op lortunity. | was
speaking in whispers and G5orgie was replying
in tnat low melodious tone OF women which
has but the suspicion of vocalization and vet
carries to the ear for which it is intended with
dlstluctneSs and vibration uuequaled in a
brass band.
Her head was on my shoulder after a pro-
test. l was declaring my love in the most
ardent tones | knew. My voice was raised
slightly, possibly. and we were overheard [
heard chuckle beyond the pine tree. Georgia
started, jumped out of the hammock. and did
the same. Toe spell was broken. But we heard
no more voices and ! finally got her reinstated
in the old position.
My declaration had been sadly discomposed
but manfuly kept on with il as soon as / had
easel her apprehensions was Just getting to
the actual question wh-n there came dozen
sharp reports directly under u.s. a dozen flashes
reflected Georgie's white dress and my shirt
front, and by the light of a shower of sparks
| saw the face Of my only rival for Geor yie' s
tavor-a grlnning laughing face-fianked by
dozen Others, and chorus of laughter min gled
with the fusillade of hundred OF so firecrack-
ers
1t was an awful situation, and womanlike
George blamed me for it. She left angry and
mortified, but with the dignity of a queen, in
her sisters carriage, leaving nue. to come home
alone, and, the next day, got q n tie saying she
couldn't see me again after such an embar-
RAISING affair. and that she left that day to
visit relatives in the east The laugh was too
strongly on me. / couldn't stand il; left the
town and came here. George married two
years later the fellow who threw that bunch of
crackers, and I've wiped out m disappointment
IN financial success. But | hate TO hear fire
crackers pop just the same r. this DAY.