The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-07-21

The next morning was awakened
by the spitefu snap of firecracker.
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. had been told that breakfast
would be at 8. -Four hours interval
and | felt hungry. ! must get another
nap. l shut my eyelids and resolved
that would sleep despite the daylight
streaming in at my window. l was
doing off when there came another
crack-not u good round noise, but Il
spiteful, malicious, malignant little
snap, not big enough to fully awaken
me, but to disturb the slumber into
which l was drifting continued to
keep my eyes closed tightly, hoping to
fall asleep, but there came succession
Of cracks In monotonous regularity and
volume. l covered my ears with the
sheet and perseyered. 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 10 touch or the cannon,
but the fame was blown out by the
wind before 1t reached the vent.
waited and watched. Another match
ri ne
lighted tirecracker was tried, and this
time the wrist Of the hand that held II
wore u bracelet. | also heard a girls
giggle. The cannon was fired.
1t was still but half past B 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 bedroom opposite standing open.
want ill., closed the door, threw myself
on the bed and succeeded in getting a
few minutes siumber 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 ex-
plodlng all the morning If l went on
to the front piazza they came with
them there. If l went to the back
piazza they also changed for my new
position. We dined at o'clock, and
after dinner l sought the library for
a nap. expected to hear more crack
ers, but | did not / was doing of
when an immense bee came tumbling
on to my nose. made a frantic grasp
for 1t and failed. l settled myself
again, and again came the bee. This
time l saw that It was a bit Of paper
hanging by thread TO a stick. shut
my eyes and pretended to sleep. The
bee climbed all over my nose, but /
paid no attention to 1t. Finally l
snored. Out of the corner Of my eye
saw Grace Clifford steal softly from
behind a screen with a plant sprayer
IN her hand. Reaching forward, she
gave me It's contents. Almost before
The water reached me | sprang up,
seihSu Hci III my hiluS anu CONeIeu ucT
ACE with kisses
Let me go or III call papav' she
.ried, struggling vigorously.
Call as loud as you like"
You're not gentleman"
'Nor are you lady"
How dare you say that to meT
mo lady would fire a brass cannon
lnder guests window to keep him
wake"
She gave spasmodic giggle
'0r sting his nose with a humble
zee"
Another glggie.
Now, I've taken the kisses to pay :
or keeping me awake for three hours J
his morning, and I'm going to take
ay for the bumblebee."
gave her half dozen smacks. 1
Now Wen settle for the spray"
| gave her round dozen more and 5
pened my arms. She few out OF the y
Dom like bird.
Poor GraceP' said Mrs. clifford !
hen her daughter did not appear for a
ne fireworks prepared for the chill i,
rem" in the evening. "She's gone to {
ed with headache. She's such a
elicate child"
Before the next Fourth the sensitive "