Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-01
Tn not an after-dinner speaker at all

I'm not an after-dinner speaker at all
my dear boy. Only on UGH an occasion
and-and with such an audience"
Quite so," said Kitty. But what Will
The Star Spangled Banner and wha
with the crackers, I cant hear more thar
a word now and then; so let's sit here
and keep STILL"
They sat down all three, on the edge
of a grassy terrace and silently watched
the rockets and Roman candles, and got
their ears accustomed as we'll as they
could. to the racket that came from al
sides-from the lawn where they were
and the lawns of either side. and the
sidewalk on the other side of the fence.
Presently from the cessation of the up
roar in the street, and from a general
movement of the guests down toward the
fence. with excited shouts and scurrying
of small boys, they judged hat some
thing unexpected had happened. Shriner
ran off to see what was the matter, but
before he could get back, the rattle of
wheels and the clang of an ambulance
bell told them plainly enough that some
one had been hurt.
That's the worst Of it." said Engle.
And the best of it, too said Kitty.
Every years Fourth of July accidents
help to reduce the number of crackers
next Fourth. In time we shall learn to
keep our national birthday, as you call it,
like rational beings"
Dear me!' said Engle in some sur
prise. Aren't you rather hard-heart-
do"
II am ar American woman who looks
to the greatest good of the greatest num-
ber." said Kitty, very solemnly.
Just then Shriner came running back
with the welcome news that the ~boy-the
victim was a boy, of course-had only
had only had a little finger blown off, and
the doctor had sale that the wound would
not be atall dangerous. Then the hostess
came and broke up the triangular party
by carrying off her English guest to Gin
troduce him around as one OF the heroes
of the day'-very much to the satisfac-
ton of Shriner. Whether Engle's removal
was also to the satisfaction of Kitty Birk
did not appear plainly; in fact, that was
what Shriner wanted to know, and that
was why, in an interval between a grand
flight of rockets and a salute of bombs,
he howled forth what was in his mind to
her.
Miss Birk, do you care for that man?"
1t came out like with the suddenness of
an accidental explosion.
What? 1? Oh. I like him we'll enough"
But look here, Kitty" He was anx-
iously watching her face in the light of,
a string of lanterns between two trees.
You've only known him two weeks"
That's So" she answered.
And me you've know as many years.
And you know that l have-have loved
you-oh, ever so long. You don mean to
tell me that he's cut me out, do you?"
II don't understand you.' she said,
looking down at the gravel.
You know that l have loved you all
this time. and l am ready to work and
work for you all my life, tiff only"
There the young man came to a dead
stop. Kitty looked up and turning her
head on one side, critically examined his
face in the lamp light.
Now what are you doing ?-making
fun of me?"
"Oh, no." Kitty replied very quietly.
I'm looking to see whether that speech
was sincere-Whether you are more
pleased with the success of your oratory
than at having our audience think as
Q do"
Hip, hip, hurrah!' Shriner exclaimed.
And then they moved out of the light
of lamps to where they could not be so
plainly seen.