The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-25
LEOPOLD ADLER,
SAVANNAH, GA.

| have to give the well up, or rather down,
| as a bad job"
IT hear he's courtin' your darter on the
| sly" remarked one who had hitherto been
| silent. Now if he should be right about
| the we'll mebbe you'd accept him for
| on-in-law after all"
He amt right. He's an edecated. fool,
| almost shouted Williams.
But suppose the water amt ever reach
ed will you let him have her?" asked
Burwell.
''Yis; I'll consent them
The conversation in Topeka Hall was re-
peated to the school teacher, and he and
Mildred, now deeply in love with each
other, fervently hoped that the well would
prove failure. The villagers soon heard
of old Peles's angry promise, and sympa-
thy for the lovers became prevalent.
AS for Peleg, he told his daughter that
she could keep company" with Hollen-
beck until the well experiment was at an
end. If the water was reached she was
to have nothing more to do with the
young man; but if the well proved to be
failure, she could have her way, for all
he cared.
Al depth of forty feet the well showed
no signs of water. Old Williams was des-
perate. He had spent a lot of money.
IT'S no use, boys, 1 guess" he said to
the la borers. But We'll try one more all
fired, great blast, and if that don't do
the business Wen stop and acknowledge
ourselves fools.i'
The result was tremendous The earth
shook, smalT fragments of stone Game OUT
in shower and big piece of rock sailed
into the air and alighted on the roof of
Topeka Hall, crashing through it and
coming 10 a stanGstil beside the stove
frigb%niug several persons out of their
wits but not injuriug any of them
Williams descended the well. Not a
particle of water was in sight.
~ give up" he shouted in disgust, as
he assembled the ladder to the surface of
=, the ground.
The explosion occurred at 4 O'clock in
the afternoon. But Hollenbeck and Mil
dred who had gone on an excursion with
party of friends TO a neighborlng vii
lage, did not learn of their good fortune
until later.
Much disgruntled, Williams retired to
bed early in the evening But his wife
was taken suddenly i'll before his eyes
could close, and he arose in the darkness
to get some medicine for her. 80
He searched for a candle in bureau
drawer, where candles were kept by his
wife, and finding one, lighted it.
1t began to sputter in a strange way
and TO throw out sparks.
Mrs Williams screamed. For mercy's
sake, father, what's the matter
The next moment a ball of fire rose
from the candle and struck the ceiling.
Smoke and sparks filed the room.
ooh, dear me! the house will burn
down. What shall we do?" cried Mrs
williams, rising in bed.
Another fiery ball went up and old Pc
leg, realizing now that he held no com
mon candle, but a Roman candle, lobbled
toward the nearest outer door as fast as
his rheumatic leg would permit him TO go.
Gaining the outer air at last, Williams
held the candle while three more balls
scared and the darkness was beautifully
illuminated.
Standing with only, his night shirt on.
his eyes blinking and his mouth uttering
maledictions, Peleg presented a grotesque-
spectacle. As the last ball sped on its
way and a shower of sparks fell he heard
tittering, and looking in the direction of
the sound, beheld his daughter and HoI-
lenbeck who had just returned from the
excursion.
Peleg fed into the house, and thrusting
only his head from the door. cried:
providence is agin me. You cam have
the girl schoolmaster. I've had enough
of wells and fireworks. Such another
cursed day l hope l shall never see again. :"
After Peleg's son, who had carelessly
placed several Roman candles with the
common candles in the bureau drawer, had
been soundly whipped by his father, peace
was restored in the household and APP
propriate preparations for the wedding of
Mildred and the triumphant school teach
er. no longer dubbed the educated fool,
were made.