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

FROsTBURG, Md. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1896.

"But does not much depend upon
one e's-er-companion?" l asked, not
more doubtfully than felt. "We-that
is, YOU
II see what ycu mean. Certainly we
should be thrown back very much on
each other. bu. that's all right, you
know, with people who are properly
chummy."
"Do you mean
"No, not Maud and Fred. They are
almost too much so. They miss nearly
all that's going on, and SO don't get the
best ont of it, whereas you and l 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 fire!
How would you care for fiat such as
this?''
must have looked puzzled, for he
went on hurriedly:
"No, don't mean the fiat you
mean, SO you need not look severe. l
mean one room, and all that sort of
thing" he finished vaguely.
"Why," began nervously. 81 should
think it would be rather-nice, butt
"Cramped!' he interposed quickly.
"Yes, l knew you would say that"
l said l supposed he was only chatting
and did not mean anything.
"Oh, dear, no. It's only my way !!
But it is culious-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 l thought-Maud and Fred, you
know-but 10 doubt they will be wait
ing, too, though, 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?" 1 wondered.
"You quite understand, Explained !;
"it is not that want to stop
ooh, quite understand and could
hardly expect that" he assented pleas
antly.
"But you know we cannot possibly go
until after-after -
"No, l dare say you are right. 1t
would be rather awkward, dare say,
to go out and find ourselves the center
Of a small eruption. What a 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 on to
the terrace outside.
"You seem awfully delighted to get
out, said George rather pointedly, and
! supposed he meant it for sarcasm, but
could not resent it or say l was not.
Zone can breathe more freely now
that the--the explosion has come off 7"
was all could say.
Just then came Maud.
''Oh, there you are - Where ON 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.
"No, by Jove 1 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 l
told you I'd something very particular
to ask Edith''
"Well, she replied, looking dubious
ly at me.
cit isn't we'll. 1 haven't been able to
say word. You will just have to ask
her for me, and that's fact. Whenever
try to come to the point, she either
crushes Inc Or freezes Inc, and I've been
talking the most awful drivel you ever
heard"
"Then why didn't you come out?'
"We We're waiting for the explosion,
don't you know, and II couldn ex-
plode.'
Whereupon Maud burst out laughing,
and could not for my life think why.
''But for me there would have been
no explosion. When the last whistle
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 I guessed how
you were occupied"-here George
groaned aloud-''so by way of rousing
you got the foreman to make another
bang, just as 1 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 had
been dying for days to hear, only I
would not have him know it for the
world.-Answers.