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

know, with people who are properly
chummy."
'Do you mean
"No, not Maud and Fred. They are
almost too much 80. They miss nearly
all that's going on, and SO don't ge. the
best out Of it, whereas you and | under
stand each other and can get along
splendidly without-without- Con-
founded long while the bang this time,
isn't it. Wonder if it ever misses fret
How would you care for Il flat such as
this:'
must have looked puzzled, for he
went OH hurriedly:
"No, l don't mean the fiat you
mean, SO you need not look severe. ]
mean one room, and all that sort OF
thing" he finished vaguely.
why, began nervously 81 should
think it would be rather-nice, butt
"Crampedr he interposed quickly.
"Yes, / knew you would say that. -
said supposed he was only chatting
and did not mean anything.
ooh, dear, no. It's only my way !!
But it is cu1ious-that what's er name
must certainly have missed fire. -
"You know the man said we were
not on any account to stir until after
the explosion.
"Oh, just as you like. I'm all right,
only I thought-Mand and Fred, you
know-but no doubt they will be wait
ing, too, though. I suppose, they would
say they were only one, and it is we who
were the two.
''Does he think am trying to keep
him here ON purpose?" wondered.
"You quite understand" Iexplained;
"it is not that want to stop
"Oh, I quite understand and could
hardly expect that" he assented pleas
antly.
"But you know we cannot possibly go
until after-after''-
"No, | dare say you are right. 1t
would be rather awkward, l dare say,
to 60 out and find ourselves the center
Of small eruption. What Stating
we should get!"
ooh, there it is, confound it !" we
exclaimed together as tremendous ex-
plosion announced the possibility of our
release, and forthwith we stepped OH to
the terrace outside
"You seem awfully delighted to get
out, said George rather pointedly, and
supposed he meant it for sarcasm, but
I could not resent it Or say was not
Zone can breathe more freely now
that the--the explosion has come off !"
was all / could say.
Just then came Maud.
''Oh, there you are!" Where OH earth,
Or under it, have you been!" And see
ing our confusion she was misled into
adding, "We began to think You must
have run off with her, This, with
would be archness, was to George. But
this was too much.
emo, by Jove! l wish had! Fact is,
Maud, I'm an awful fool To think
Of wasting such chance! We've been
shut up there two blessed hours. and /
told you I'd something very particular
to ask Edith.
"Well." she replied, looking dubious
~ at me.
cit isn't we'll. haven't been able to
say word. You will just have to ask
her for me. and that s fact. Whenever
7 try to come to the point, she either
brushes me or freezes me, and I've been
talking the most awful drivel you ever
heard.
''Then why didn't you come out?"
'We were waiting for the explosion,
don't you know, and II couldn't ex-
plode. !"
Whereupon Maud burst out laughing,
and I could not for my life think why.
''But for me there would have been
no explosion. When the last whistle
sounded, the men finished work for the
day. They all went home. We thought
you must have gone, too, at first, while
as to finding you - we'll, it would
have taken weeks. But guessed how
you were occupied George
groaned aloud-"so by way Of rousing
you got the foreman to make another
bang, just as shall have to-
She looked wickedly at George, then
ran away.
And at that he exploded, and out it
came with rush-how he had been dy-
ing for days to ask me, just what I had
been dying for days to hear, only I
would not have him know it for the
world.