Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-10-04
daughter?" He looked keenly

"Why, no father. I'd be sorry to
do anything in opposition to your
wishes, but you know l have a right
to my happiness" Her voice was
curiously like his own as she spoke.
"You mean that you will elope with
him?"
"oh. no; some day you will give
your consent"
"Never!" declared Jacob as he
picked up his newspaper. "By the way,
Alice. you've invited q lot Of people
down to Edgebank for the Fourth
haven't you?"
"Yes-and will you please order
the fireworks, father? We want g
display for the evening after the big
dinner"
very well. I'll attend to 1t my
SELF"
1t was the very night before the
Fourth when Jacob Sellew remem-
bered the fireworks. His daughter
and the servants had already gore
down to the country house, and he
was stopping at a hotel. There was
a new motor car to go down, too,
| and he had decided to drive 1t him
self as he was a skilled operator and
the roads were perfect.
He ordered the fireworks by tele-
phone and stopped for them with
the new car, for Alice had sent in an
| urgent reminder Of their need. A
few minutes afterward he went on
his way, the tonneau Of the car and
every available inch Of room In the
seat beside him being filled with
explosives.
Rockets and Roman candles, rcd
and green fire, set-pieces and cannon
crackers made up the assortment.
Jacob Sellew made an annual sac
rifice Of gunpowder to show Lis
patriotism.
His trip across the ferry anG along
the suburban roads was uneye";ful.
Things did not really begin to nap
pen until he reached the turnpike aid
speeded a little.
The new car worked like clock
well-oiled, smoothly running clock.
The moon rose and made the road
white and clear. There were still five
miles between him and his home.
He decided to smoke. He forgot that
he carried a load of explosives.
He lighted a cigar and hummed
little tune. Something went wrong
and the machine wabbled. It would
not respond to the steering wheel,
and just as he reached the curve Of
the road that bordered Cyrus Ken
drick's estate the machine swung
into the well-traveled roadway and
entered the grounds of Jacob Sell
LEWIS bitter business enemy.
To describe Mr. Sellew's anger
would be painful. He swore as he
tossed his cigar aside and jammed
all the levers and turned the wheel
this way and that.
In his chagri1 at the situation he
lost his nerve ana sat nerpIess1y
the machine wabbled up the avenue,
freakishly turned aside to cross the
lawn, only to stagger to standstill
in the midst of rose garden in front
Of the big house.
There were people sitting in the
veranda and he heard exclamations
and mans shout.
Then the real performance began.
A rocket Kissed from behind him and
shot horizontally across the park. 1t
burst its flaming way through q
handsome spruce tree and left de-
struction in its wake. Other rockets
shot forth in the most Independent
manner. Fortunately most Of them
were headed away from the house.
Roman candles pouted, red fire
blazed luridly and the cannon crack
ers roared as they wrecked the new
automobile.
Jacob sellew was on the ground.
dancing frantically around the dan
gerous display, lodging rockets and
candles with surprising agility.
All at once came some stablemen
headed by Jack Kendrick, carrying
a long hose. In three minutes sthe
blaze was extinguished and Jacob
Sellew was standing by the singed
and smoking machine waiting tha
approach Of his arch enemy.
What could he say?
Jack stood little aside.
Cyrus Kendrick stamped across the
lawn and shook his fist in Mr..
Sellews bewildered face.
NUybot 5o upY, ypoon hu fror.
passing on my grounds and making
an exhibition like this-eh? Are
you crazy?"
For the first time in his career,
Mr.. Sellew found himself making
humble apologies to Cyrus Kendrick.
He was deeply grateful when they
appeared to believe his story. He
could have embraced Cyrus Kendrick
when that gentleman told him to
forget It," and led him into the
library to partake of stimulants.
Truthfully speaking. Jack had
winked at his parent. Otherwise
Cyrus might not have displayed this
forgiving spirit, for his garden was
as the apple Of his eye.
"Er, Jack" remarked Jacob when
he was feeling better. 81 wonder II
you would mind telephoning over to
Alice and asking her to drive over !
after me?"
81 know trick worth two of that. |
sir" said Jack promptly. "Ill take
you home myself"
"That suits ME, Jack-and you
needn't hurry home. you know" he
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