The daily Alaskan., 1905-11-24
CHE BUDDED O ON THE FOURTH


 How pleased l was to receive Mrs. Cliford's invitation to spend the Fourth of July at the Clifford country place. I've shall be very quiet" she wrote. 'You mustn't expect any gay ety. There will be no one here eN- cept the members of our family. Sorry I can't have q young lady for you, but don't want the trouble of one.'
 The Clifford children were Grace and Charlie. When I had iast seen them, Grace was a sweet little girl seven or eight years of uge-an ethereal child whom an artist would choose for spir- ituelle model purposes. Charlie was three years younger. What luck for me, this opportunity to turn my back ou the cracking, booming city and spend the day with this quiet family.
 When l arrived-in time for dinner on the evening of the 3d-I was re- minded how time flies. Grace Clifford, though she still wore her dresses quite short was as tall as she was likely to be. Charlie was nearly fifteen. Grace seemed to have retained her childish geutlCnCss, and Charlie also seemed a quiet, retiring boy, deyot- ed, so his mother told me, to books. We dined undiSturbed by the sound of a single cracker, the children so well behaved that neither of them spoke during the meal. Indeed l, be, ing a young man considerably under thirty, remembering that Grace must be eighteen, felt inclined to have some words with her, especially as she was very pretty. But she maintained her reserve in presence of the father and mother at table and after dinner. saw her no more during the evening.
 The next morning I was awakened by the spiteful snap of tirecracker. l turned over and slept again. was awakened by a second snap, this time to stay awake. felt under my pillow for my watch and noted the time-5 o'clock. had been told that breakfast would be. at 9. Four hours interval and I felt hungry. l must get another nap. I shut my eyclids and resolved that I would sleep despite the daylight streaming in at my window. l was dozing off when there came another crack-nOt a good round noise, but spiteful, malicious, malignant little snap, not big enough to fully awaken me, but to disturb the slumUer into which I was drifting. I continued to keep my eyes closed tightly, hoping to fall asleep, but there came a succession of cracks In monOtOnOUs regularity and volume. I covered my ears with the sheet and persevered. My efforts were of no avail. The contemptibl2 snaps continued, and at last gave U2, open ed my eyes and looked at the window.
 saw little brass cannon resting on the rail of the balcony on to which my room opened. X hand projecting from a coat sleeve, with lighted mach, was thrust forward to touch off the cannon, but the flame was blown out by the wind before 1t reached the vent. l waited and watched. Another match was tried and failed. Then u bit of lighted firecracEer was tried, and this time the wrist of the hand tha- held 1t wore a bracelet. I also heard a girls giggle. The cannon was fired.
 It was still but half past o'clock. Should endure this annoyance or make an attempt to stop 1t? l got up and, looking into the hall, saw the door of a bedroom opposite standing open. I want in, closed the door, threw myself on the bed and succeeded in getting few minutes slumber before being called. Meanwhile l presume thc chiI- dren kept on with their firing, suppOs- ing they were annoying me. At break fast Grace looked demure enough for nunnery. I made no reference to my discovery.
 The children kept their crackers cN- plodlng all the morning. If went on to the front piazza they came with them there. If I went to tEe back piazza they also changed for my new position. We dlncd at 1 o'clock, and after dinner l sought the library for a nap. expected to hear more crack CTS, but did not l vas dozinS oI when an immense bee came tum5lins