The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-06-06

don't know. Perhaps she was busy an
noying some one else.
About 5 O'Clock | met Margaret on
the piazza and proposed a walk. We
both looked about furtively TO see il
Joe was within sight or hearing.
There was no trace of her We start
ed. following a secluded path through
dense shrubbery We passed on to
rustic bridge leading over creek. /
paused and leaned against the rail.
Margaret did the same. both of us fac
ing the roadway. Feeling safe from
interruption. | began my declaration.
Margaret" | began, 1T is time that
1 should tell you of that feeling which
has gradually been rising in my breast
ever since | have known you. | have
had ample opportunity to observe your
beautiful character. your kindly dis
position and your native purity. 1
know that ii is presumption in one so
unworthy as myself to aspire to be
anything more than friend. | feeP'-
"Crackn
The sound was so near me that it
shook every nerve in my body. 1
could not only hear it: | could feel 1t.
But I couldn't see it. for it was direct
ly behind me. indeed. the explosion
occurred at the end OF my coattail.
1t was followed by another and an
other in rapid succession. | turned.
but the explosions turned with me.
Some one had tied a bunch of fire
crackers to my cOattail
| could neither see nor reach them.
for as ] turned they turned with me.
/ endeayored TO take hold Of them, but
only turned faster and faster like a
dog running around after his tail
Then l backed up against Margaret
that she might ra!ieve me Of them. bus
she gave a little shrek and retreated.
Take them off, / cried.
q don't dare. They'll set my dress
afire"
True dressed as she was in thin
white muslin. a spark from the pesky
things might ignite it and cause
tragedy. An opportunity to stop the
hOrrid swapping occurred to me. There
was water under the bridge. ran
down there, feeling like one pursued
by cracking rifles. and. squatting in
the creek had the satisfaction after a
few mutled snaps beneath the surface
of being relieved OF the annoyance.
My white trousers were wet nearly
to the knees. My coattail was drip
ping. l was in no condition to con
tinue declaration of love. BY an
uneXpressed consent we turned and
walked rapidly to the house. We had
| not taken a dozen steps when we
heard what | had heard before when
rising that very morning-an idiotic
''te-heew
Then I knew that we had been pre-
coded by Joe; that she had taken pO-
sition under the bridge and had tied
the crackers to my coattail.
On reaching the house Margaret
showed me a rear entrance where |
| could go up to my room without being
seen. There | took off my trousers
wrung them out, sat on them in lieu
of ironing and when they were dry
enough TO put on went down and join
ed the others on the lawn. Joe was
there and when | approached looked
at my trousers with well feigned sur
| prise and asked if | had been bath
ing with my clothes on. | turned my
back upon her without reply.
All waited till it grew dark enough
to set off the fireworks, of which an
abundant supply had been provided.
was determined to have matters set
tied between Margaret and myself,
and as soon as the pyrotechnic dis
play commenced | led her away. Some
one saw us and asked where we were
going. Margaret, equal to the occa-
sion, replied:
TO the cupoa. We can there see
not only our own fireworks, but those
all about us"
Following the suggestion, to the Gu
pola we assembled. But | paid no at
tentiOn TO what was passing below.
This was my last opportunity to get
in my proposal. and l fastened to
avail myself Of it.
Margaret" | began again, this time
taking her hand. which she did not
withdraw. Il was about to say to you
this afternoon when interrupted that
from the first moment of our meeting
l have been impressed with your beau.
tiful character and. though l know it
is presumption in me to-
Whiz!
A rocket screached not half dozen
feet above our heads.
l looked down on the lawn and by
the red light saw Joe. assisted by
couple of her boy friends, aiming an
other rocket directly at the cupola.
We had barely time to get down on
the floor before the fiery thing shot
with its horrid noise above us 1t was
followed by a discharge of roman can
dies, the balls Of which fell either on
the roof of or in the cupola. There
was nothing for us to do but beat a
precipitate retreat. Margaret lost her
head completely and ran down the
steep staircase so fast that she fell
Catching her up. her head fell upon
my shoulder
Sweetheart! Margaret. Dearest.
Speak to me"