The daily Alaskan. [volume] (Skagway, Alaska) 1904-1924, 1905-09-22
CHE BUDDED
~ ON THE FOURTH
Iorisinal.l

ety. There win be no one here ex-
cent the members OF our family. Sorry
l can't have a young lady for you, but
| don't want the trouble Of one"
The Clifford children were Grace and
Charlie. When had last seen them,
Grace was a sweet little girl seven OF
eight years Of AEGEAN ethereal child
whom an artist would choose for spir-
ltuelle model purposes. Charlie was
three years younger. What luck for
me, this opportunity to turn my back
on the cracking, booming city and
spend the day with this quiet family.
When arrived-in time for dinner
on the evening OF the 3D. was re-
minded how time files. 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 gentleness, 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 /, 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. l
saw her no more during the evening.
The next morning l was awakened
by the spiteful snap Of firecracker. l
turned over and slept again. was
awakened by second snap, this time
to stay awake. felt under my pillow
for my watch and noted the time-5
o'clock. l had been told that breakfast
would be at 0. Four hours interval,
and felt hungry. l must get another
nap. I shut my eyelids and resolved
that l would sleep despite the daylight
streaming IN at my window. was
doing of when there came another
crack-not a good round noise, but a
spiteful, malicious, malignant little
snap, not big enough to fully awaken
me, but to disturb the slumber into
which / was drifting. l continued to
keep my eyes closed tightly, hoping to
fall asleep, but there came a succession
Of cracks in monotOnous regularity and
volume. / covered my ears with the
sheet and persevered. My efforts were
Of no avail. The contemplate snaps
continued, and at last gave up, open
ed my eyes and looked at the window.
l saw little brass cannon resting on
the rail Of the balcony on to which my
room opened. A hand projecting from
a coat sleeve, with lighted match, was
thrust forward TO touch of the cannon,
but the fame was blown out by the
wind before It reached the vent /
waited and watched. Another match
was tried and failed. Then a bit OF
lighted frecracker was tried, and this
time the wrist Of the hand that held 1t
wore a bracelet also heard a girls
gIggle. The cannon was fred.
1t was still but half past 8 o'clock.
should l endure this annoyance or
make an attempt to stop lit got up
and, looking into the hall, saw the door
Of a bedroom opposite standing open.
want In, closed the door. threw myself
on the bed and succeeded in getting
few minutes slumber before being
called. Meanwhile presume the chill
dren kept on with their firing, suppos-
ing they were annoying me. At break
fast Grace looked demure enough for
nunnery. / made no reference to my
discovery.
The children kept their crackers eI-
ploding all the morning. II l went on
to the front piazza they came with
them there. II / went to the back
piazza they also changed for my new
position. We dined at 1 o'clock, and
after dinner / sought the library for
a nap. l expected to hear more crack
ers, but l did not. l was doing OF
when an immense bee came tumbling
on to my nose. l made q frantic grasp
for It and failed. l settled myself
again, and again came the bee. This
time / saw that It was bit Of paper
hanging by a thread to a stick. l shut
my eyes and pretended to sleep. The
bee climbed all over my nose, but /
paid no attention to It Finally I
snored. Out Of the corner of my eye
1 saw Grace Clifford steal softly from
behind a screen with a plant sprayer
In her hand. Reaching forward, she
gave me Its contents. Almost before
the water reached me sprang up,
seized her in my arms and covered her
face with kisses.
Let me go or I'll call papar she
cried, struggling vigorously.
Call as loud as you like"
You're not a gentleman"
Nor are you lady"
How dare you say that to mep
mo lady would fire brass cannon
under a guests window to keep him
awake"
She gave a spasmodlc giggle.
''Or sting his nose with a humble
bee."
Another giggle.
Now, I've taken the kisses to pay
for keeping me awake for three hours
fbJa ynorntno and I'm 0oIno To take