The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-06-30
duty to stay by you In case you're
hurt Abel"


len suddenly
Il just want to celebrate this once"
cut in Abel Il always wanted to-
and now I'm going to do it. OF course
I'd rather have you see the fireworks
too, but the noise and glare will max"
you nervous. and SO you better 70 over
to Pontusvillc. where it's quiet"
It's awful odd for You t" he doing
It now. Just when folks are i'll! talk
ing about a safe and sane Fourth
Il know It looks that way" said
Abel patiently. But I've had safe
and sane Fourths all my life. I'm
going to have a regular tear this time.
"Oh. Abel. I hope you won't burn
up the house,. cried Ellen
"I'l try not to. I'm going down in
the salt medder to do it."
We'll. won't be here to see it all,
I'm thankful to say. I'll write over to
, Cousin Phpbc now, and you can mail
the letter in the morning"
All right" said Abel cnrelcSs!y. and
Ellen realized that the die was cast
She would have to make good her
threat to 90 away on the Fourth Of
July, although she longed to remain.
as she felt that Abel would suffer
some accident because of his lack of
knowledge of the dangerous fireworks.
Several days afterward Abel drove
Ellen over to Pontusville. five miles
distant. He was in excellent spirits
and sang and whistled like a boy all
the way. Ellen's pretty face was very
sober indeed. and she did not smile
once. She really did not want to go
to Pontusville. but felt that once she
had declared her intention to do so
pride demanded that she keep her
word. Ellen began to feel that she
had acted hastily. What II Abel did
want to amuse himself in boyish fash
ion? He had always been kind and
considerable. and this was the first time
he had opposed her wishes since their
, marriage However, she felt that 1t
was too late to give 10 now. and dur
ing the trip her guinness had a rather
depressing effect upon her husband.
"Cheer up. Ellen" laughed Abel as
be lifted her out of the wagon at
Cousin Phebe's. "I'n be all right. The
! worst thing that can happen to me is
to starve to death while you're gone"
II ought not to stay month" she
declared.
"Well, it was your own suggestion"
he said.
do take good care OF yourself.
Abel" she urged as be kissed her
goodby.
Don't worry about me, honey. Have
good time. and If you hear any tor
pedoes going off remember it's over at
Willow farm and I'm having the time
of my lifer'
| He drove home again with sense
Of freedom that he had never before
experienced After dinner he was go.
| ing to drive up to the railroad station
| for the express box of fireworks which
he had ordered. OF course he had seen
! fireworks. but what he had always
! Ionged to do was to set them off him
self with his own hands. and this
! pleasure he was going to enjoy on tn"
morrow The only thing that worried
! Abel was that the box might not arrtv"
sor else that it might rain.
Nothing happened to mar that per
| feet day of pleasure for Abel Cooper
who had somehow missed most of the
pleasures of boyhood, but was still il
boy at heart. He finished his chores
early in the morning and went down
| to the salt meadow with his box of
| fireworks.
All day long he reveled In the ban.
of cannon crackers and the cracking
rattle of frecrackers. The odor OF
burning grInpowder and the smell Of
! punk were sweet in his nostrils.
A crowd of small boys camped in
his vicinity. and he made their hearts
glad by permitting them to share IN
his celebration of the glorious Fourth
Not one Of them remembered what
historical event they were celebrating
| All they realized was that this was
! the day wherein one might make all
the noise and din that one could wish
When night came the salt meadow
was very dark save for one spot in
the middle where lantern gIowed b.,
side box of firewood. Sitting around
on the fences were many villagers
who had heard of the celebration that
Abel Cooper was to hold. and SO h."
had an audience to participate in the
splendors of the skyrockets that Kissed
sputteringly into the air and to az
claim at the gorgeous globes that
spouted forth from the Roman candles
and the splitting circles of pinwhrris
One after another big fire balloons
sailed forth into space and becanl"
tiny red lanterns against the dari;
sky. Rocket after rocket shot into tn"
air and cleaned like a flashing m"
teor above them Abel Cooper glorien
In the dazzling display he was vera
ating. He felt like creator of planet
as his rockets burst high in the air ana
sent down showers of colored stars
Only one left" he shouted at hast
land it's hummer too"
They waited while he adjusted thr
rocket against tho Hftia fro rpo t,, l,,,,s