Connecticut western news., 1896-06-11
WAITING FOR A BANG

w Al lNU IOh 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 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 t..fd not quite "catch on." He was sery 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 anytr more serious in life than aimlessi. .oling about. We had done Snowdon, and really what with the electric light and the crowd, and all that, 1t was not half bad. Quite cheerful, you know, and civilized. Indeed, never should have gone without.
 After that, think-yes, it was George suggested our going to Bethesda. Not that any of us were at all interested in slates or quarries, only it was some- where to go and an excuse for drive.
 George ordered the carriage and made Ill the arrangements. He had been here 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 of chance" of George, never could sven 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 ,yed 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 .fter few moments of suspense there were several loud explosions. and we were told that the dynamite had done it's level best, or its best, to level the place, and we were warned most sol smnly that once we were inside the works-we had only been on the outer sdge then-whenever the whistle sound ,d we must get into the nearest shelter and not come out on any account until After we had heard the "bang" It was highly exciting at the first, but oy 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 | -ached, don't you think?" said George IS we looked back just before passing | round curve and caught sight of them with their arms round each other s | waists, ostensibly listening to the fore mans improving discourse. but really. IS we knew from experience, far, far away.
 "They are indeed" answered. with ] sigh that might have meant anything from envy to despair. I realized with a blush, according to the interpreter and she interpretation.
 | And we strolled on again to part of the workings rather screened by that pyramid left standing in the middle.
 "I 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 8 that infer-I mean that
 blessed thing again. l suppose we had
 5etter"-
 l "Oh. yes; we must really go in. All the men are of already, and if they dc
 it, who are so used to it and know, we
 should be very foolish to risk-see,
 there's refuge here'' And we wen,
 inside.
 | After all, it is rather jolly in hert
 out of the sun. Beastly hot outside
 don't you think? Sightseeing and al
 that, 1t gets to be rather-rather"
 "A bore, do you mean?" interposed
 Doesn't that depend'-
 "Oh, of course, and don't think meant--you see, it's this way" Anc
 he lit a cigar. "It's the having to SC,
 things that's the bors, Take you ant
 me, for instance. We could have beer
 jrst as jolly and far more comfortable
 over there at the inn, or, in fact, any
 where"
 "Are you so dreadfully uncomfort
 able herei' asked dismally.
 By no means. Quite otherwise,
 assure you--you don't mind my smok
 ing, know-but I've often thought tha
 by far the best way to go sightseeing
 would be to leave the sights alone. " "Bpt does not much depend upol one ne's-er-eonlpanion I asked, no
 more doubtfully than felly "We-tha
 is. you'-
 II see what you mean. Certainly " t should be thrown back very much O.
 each other, but that's all right, 70 tt know, with people who are properl u chummy."
 Do you mean"-
 "No, not Maud and Fred. They ar
 almost too much so. They miss nearl ,f all that's going on, and so don't get tn le best out of it. whereas you and l under
 stand each other and can get alon
 splendidly without-without- Coi
 founded long while the bang this tim
 isn't it2 Wonder if it ever misses fire
 How would you care for a flat such
 thisf"
 |. Imust have looked puzzled, for