Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-05-11
WAITING FOR A BANG

w AIIlNU Fun A DANU
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 protesting 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, never should have
gone without
After that, 1 think-yes, it was
George suggested our going to Bethesda
Not that any of us were at all interested
in states or quarries, only it was some
where to go and all 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, land 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 its best, to level the
place, and we were warned most sol
EMMY that once we were inside the
works-we had only been on the outer
edge then-wheneve 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 I, 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 curve and caught sight Of them
with their arms round each others
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
sigh that might have meant anything
from envy to despair. ! 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.
II 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 g that infer-I mean that
blessed thing again. ! suppose we had
better
"Oh, yes; we must really go in. All
the men are of already, and if they do
it, who are so used to it and know, we
should be very foolish to risk-see,
there's 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 deplnd"
"Oh, of course, and ! don't think /
meant-you see, it's this way" And
he lit cigar. cts the having to see
things that's the bore. Take you and
me, for instance. We could have been
inst as jolly and far more comfortable
over there at the inn, or, in fact, any
where"
care you SO dreadfully uncomfort-
able herei" ! asked diamally.
"By no means. Quite otherwise, I
assure you-you don't mind my smok-
ing, know--but I've often thought that
by far the best way to 60 sightseeing
would be to leave the sights alone. =
"But does not much depend upon
one 's-er-companion?' asked, not
more doubtful]y than felt. "We--that
lie, YOU
II see what you mean. Certainly we
should be thrown back very much on
each other, but that's all right, you