The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-11-17

their EXPLANATIONS in the Internal dis
turbance. But Mr.. Blodgett's voice
was not among them. He remained at
his window, in the dark, laughing until
his sides panied him, and saying to
himself:
Magnificent! Splendid! Gorgeous!
Beats any Fourth of July l ever saw!
I'll give 'em fifty dollars each-yes, I'll
make it hundred,'
Fear lent wings to Cholly's feet and
he fairly flew through the shrubberv,
which had become to him labyrinth
stuffed full of teITors. He had no idea
in what direction he was going at any
moment, and could not go anywhere
that did not seem worse than the spot
he had just left. In one place he
dropped his mandolin; in another,
parted company with his hat; in a
third, hastily shed his coat. clutched
by some thorny shrub Finally he
found himself in front of the tall iron
gate, and sprang to it to escape; but
the instant his fingers touched its bars
he received a shock that threw him fat
upon his back, and there he lay, howl
ing in crazy fright: Murder! Murderl
Help, Help,''
simultaneously the gongs ceased
their racket, the fireworks had already
burned themselves out, and the roars
of the cannon were heard 10 more.
All was profound silence except Chol-
! ly's howls of terror. He was not con-
scious that anything had stopped. The
eyes and ears OF his mind still saw and
heard it all, and he continued to shrek
Murder and Help until he had a
vague sense of some one raising his
head and endeavoring to calm him,
saying:
"Mr Lytewayte! Cholly, Won't you
stop? Don't you see it is all over?-
whatever it was. You are not hurt,
thank Heaven! and you shall not be.
/ am here to protect you. Chollyl Look
up! Don't you know me?'
Was it an angel who thus poured the
balm of peace into his troubled soul?
OF course-since it was a woman; and
that sweet minister of consolation was
none other than Flora's aunt, who. as
an experienced widow, knew the inn
portance of Selling opportunities.
Cholly recognized her at length, and
painted: 80, Mrs. Blodgett, You will
not desert me. You will protect me,
will you not9"
Yes, dear; I will stand by you al
ways" she replied.
Yes, always" he echoed. Thanks.
You're awfully good"
What TO him, in that dark hour, was
sentiment. when his soul cared for
naught but safety? Far better for him,
indeed, was the widow-who got around
where and when she was wanted, and
could be of some use-than Flo, who,
for aught he knew to the contrary, had
brought all that horrible experience
upon him. as hideous practical joke.
1T would be just like her. he said to
himself. In that. as the reader knows,
he did her injustice; though, truth to
tell, when the racket broke forth. her
quick wits readily understood it, and.
with all her goodness, she was just
human enough TO laugh almost as
heartily as her father did. Why should
she not? 1t was only Cholly.
By the time Aunt Jennie h ad assisted
the victim to rise from the dew-laden
so' anu hlN pretty dbiC W
stand alone, her brOther-in-law, her
niece and dozen servants came rum
ming from the house ard surrounded
her. To the unhappy young mans in
finite amazement the apparently very
irate Mr.. Blodgett burst forth at him:
What do you mean, sir, by such out
rageous conduct as this? Your sere-
made was bad enough: but to raise such
diabolical charivari is altogether too
much. What do you mean by doing it?
How dare you? Explain yourself at
you in charge"
Cholly clasped his disheveled head |
with both hands and feebly gasped, !
with an air of appealing to Heaven:
Good gwacious. Is this veal aw
some hawid nightmare?''
That was too much for Mr.. Blodgett'S !
gravity; and even Flora, who had been
muffling her mouth with handker-
chief ever since she caught sight of |
Cholly, burst into a scream of ire
pressible laughter, in which all the
others joined, except the widow.
80 sir!' exclaimed that astute captor
of chances. in a tone of grave and sad
you go too far. 1t is cruel!
You have given the young mans nerves
such terrible shock it will be Won
der if he survives it. Do not, | beg of
you, continue your merciless jest any
farther
Mr.. Blodgett stared at her a moment
in surprise, then asked, with sarcastic
Pardon me; but may inquire if you
have any particular personal interest
in what happens to Mr.. Lytewayte?"
Decidedly have, sir, since he is to
be my husband"
''Oh. Is that SOP" he exclaimed, turn
ing to the young man.
'Y-y-yes, sir, if you please" stam-
mefed Cholly, but rather ruefully.
''Of course l please. Nothing could
please me better. / congratulate you,
Cholly; and you too, Sister Jennie.
What mistake | made! / thought he
was after Flo"
Mr. Lytewayte looked as if DESTROYS
IF saving something, but remained ST.
ent, and Mr.. Blodgett continued:
That puts different. face upon the
whole matter. Come to the house and
let us get you in better shape, Cholly."
AS they walked up the wide graveled
path he said to his daughter, in low
,one:
How you fooled me, you little mink.
making me think he came for your
sake"
NO, l didn't; you never asked me.
You only said you wished you knew.
Nobody ever gets any knowledge by
lust wishing for it. But he did come to
zee me. Aunt Jennie lust caught him |