Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-12-01

| WIS not among IHSln. ne TcludIucu dI
his window, in the dark, laughing until
his sides panied him, and saying to
himself:
Magnificent! Splendid Gorgeousl
Beats any Fourth of July ] ever sawl
I'll give 'em fifty dollars each-yes, I'll
make it a hundredr'
Fear lent wings to Cholly's feet and
he fairly few through the shrubbery,
which had become to him labyrinth
stuffed full of terrors. lie 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 II
third, hastily shed his coat, clntched
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! Murder!
Help! Helpl"
simultaneously the gongs ceased
their racket, the fireworks had already
burned themselves out, and the roars
of the cannon were heard no more
All was profound silence except Chol-
lys 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
"Murderr' and Help" until he had a
vague sense of some one raising his
head and endeavoring to calm him,
saying;
"Mr Lytewayte! Cholly! Won'tyou
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. Cholly! Look
up! Don't You know me?"
Was it az angel who thus poured the
balm of peace into his troubled soul9
Of course,-since it was woman; and
that sweet minister of consolation was
none other than Flora's aunt, who, as
an experienced widow knew the i'm
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 not?"
Eyes, dear; l will stand by you al.
ways" she replied,
Eyes, always" he echoed Thanks
You're awfully good"
What TO him, in that dark hour, was
|
naught but safety? Far better for him,
indeed, was the widow-w no 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
grass and had him pretty near able to
stand alone, her brother-in-law, her
niece and dozen servants came run
ming from the house ard surrounded
her. To the unhappy young mans i'll
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
a diabolical charivari is altogether toe
much. What do you mean by doing it.
How dare you? Explain yourself al
:, once, before call an officer and give
+, 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 beer
mutfiing her mouth with Il handkcr
u chief ever since she caught sight OF
> Cholly, burst into a scream of ire
= pressiblc laughter, in which all the
: others joined, except the widow.
80 sir" exclaimed that astute captol
of chances, in tone of grave and sac
= reproof, you go too far. 1t is cruel
. You have given the young mans nerves
such a terrible shock it will be won
u der if he survives it, Do not, | beg O
you, continue your merciless jest any
o farther"
Mr.. Blodgett stared at her moment
: in surprise, then asked, with sarcasti,
: Formally:
z Pardon me; but may inquire if yor
5 have any particular personal interes
I in what happens to Mr.. Lytewayte?'
9 Decidedly have, sir, since he is t
" be my husband"
) ''Oh! Is that SOP" he exclaimed, turn
y ing to the young man.
8 "Y-y-yes, sir, if you please" STAN
. mered Cholly, but rather ruefully.
I 'Of course l please. Nothing coul,
u please me better / congratulate you
Cholly; and you too, Sister Jennie
What a mistake made! l thought hi
was after Flo"
I Mr.. Lytewayte looked as if DESTROYS
y of saving something, but remained 81
: lent, and Mr.. Blodgett continued:
I That puts different face upon thu
e whole matter. Come to the house anC
d let us get you in better shape, Cholly.
/ As they walked up the wide gravelet
S path he said to his daughter, in Il low
y tone:
n How you fooled me, you little mink
making me think he came for you
t sake"
+ "No, | didn't; You never asked me
You only said you wished you knew
" Nobody ever gets any knowledge by