Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-04-25
WAITING FOR A BANG

We had been staying in Wales for ever
so long-weeks and weeks-an awful
time it had seemed to me, drifting aim
lessly about, Maud and her husband
Maud is my sister, by the way, and
newly married-professing to be almost
as much ''gone on" the scenery as they
really were on each other. So you can
easily guess what that meant for poor
me until George joined us.
The chief, nay, the only, difficulty,
was George. He did not quite ''catch
on. He was very agreeable and very
nice, but apparently quite satisfied to
enjoy himself with US, and then go back
to work, as he playfully phrased it, "a
giant refreshed" and could not be got
to see that there was anything more
serious in life than aimlessly frivoling
about.
We had done Snowdon, and really
what with the electric light and the
crowd, and all that, it was not half
bad. Quite cheerful, you know, and
civilized Indeed, l never should have
gone without.
After that, l think-yes, it was
George suggested our going to Bethesda.
Not that any of us were at all interested
in states OF quarries, only it was some
where to 60 and an excuse for drive
George ordered the carriage and made
all the arrangements. He had been
there before, so knew all about the
"show," as he said, and we left every
thing to him.
Altogether it was SO stupid and SO
dull that, but for what Maud called the
"off chance" of George, never could
even that began to look desperate Even
have stood it as long as did, though
Maud began to lose heart.
"And yet I don't know how it is
You are looking your BEST" and she
eyed me critically, "and he seems quite
fond of you in his way"
But there was the hitch. His way was
not ours. Apparently he was no fonder
of me than of any other girl, or of Maud
herself.
We saw the men lay down their tools,
and, as though they had been SO many
rabbits, disappear into their holes, and
after few moments Of suspense there
were several loud explosions, and we
were told that the dynamite had done
its level best, or it's best, to level the
place, and we were warned most SOL
emnly that once we were inside the
works-we had only been on the outer
edge then-whenever the whistle sound
ed we must get into the nearest shelter
and not come out on any account until
after we had heard the "bang"
1t was highly exciting at the first, but
by repetition even danger grew monoto-
nous and began to pail, and we strolled
on, George and l, and left the foreman
to look after the others as best he could.
"Maud and Fred seem very much at
tached, don't you Think" said George
as we looked back just before passing
round a curve and caught sight of them
with their arms round each other s
waists, ostensibly listening to the fore
mans improving discourse, but really,
as we knew from experience, far, far
away.
"They are indeed" I answered, with
q sigh that might have meant anything
from envy to despair. l realized with
blush, according to the interpreter and
the Interpretation.
And we strolled ON again to part of
the workings rather screened by that
pyramid left standing in the middle.
81 suppose it is not possible to get
lost ourselves?' began presently.
"Bless me, no-you mean with this
Jack in the box arrangement-oh, dear,
no. One has only to pop out, and you
can see all over the show, but stop in
and-but there's that infer-I mean that
blessed thing again. I suppose we had
| better''-
"Oh, yes; we must really go in. All
the men are off already, and if they do
it, who are so used to it and know, we
should be very foolish to risk-see,
there's a refuge here!" And we went
| inside.
after all, it is rather jolly in here
out of the sun. Beastly hot outside,
don't you think? Sightseeing and all
that, it gets to be rather-rather
"a bore, do you mean?" interposed.
doesn't that depend
sob, of course, and l don't think
meant-you see, it's this way" And
he lit cigar. "It's the having to see
things that's the bore. Take You and
me, for instance. We could have been
jrst as jolly and far more comfortable
over there at the inn, or, in fact, any
where.
''Are you SO dreadfully uncomfort-
able here?" asked sismally
''By no means. Quite otherwise, l
assure you You don't mind my smok-
ing, know-but I've often thought that
| by far the host MAY to 90 Siphtseainp