She was a true Frenchwoman in her tastes, although truly American in education, and would not have the sweet smelling plot of ground on which she had spent so much of her spare time, turned into a pit of vile-smelling powder and brimstone. She resolutely maintained that she could show her intense patriotism in better, safer, and more odorous ways. And she did it to the entire satisfaction of everybody in Killsbury unless it might be Millionaire Schwarmer who came to his mansion on The Hill every Fourth of July, boomed his cannon and distributed free fireworks among the boys of the town, “in grateful remembrance,” he said, “of the fact that he was born there.”
Mrs. Cornwallis said to her husband that it was a pity he could not show his gratitude in more agreeable and useful ways, but she did not say so in public or brood over it in private. She was a very busy housewife and devoted mother and had no time to cultivate even the necessary grievances.
Mr. Cornwallis was in sympathy with his wife’s opinions; but as yet it had not occurred to him that free fireworks, (like free whiskey) were any worse for the town than those that were regularly bought and paid for. As to the legal restrictions necessary with regard to the sale and manufacture of explosives for the celebration of our national day, he was beginning to be very outspoken.
CHAPTER II.
THE ROUND ABOUT ROAD TO SCHWARMER MANSION.
There were two roads leading up to the Schwarmer Mansion from the town of Killsbury. One of them was called “The Straight Way” and the other “The Round About Road.” The latter followed the steep declivity that led down to the river’s edge and passed the big lot that belonged to the Cornwallis grounds.
“Guess I’d better take the ‘Round About’ with all that heavy baggage of yours, Mr. Schwarmer,” said Captain Dan Solomon, the expressman at the station. “There’s a loose board in the bridge on the ‘Straight Way’ that my filly don’t exactly approve of.”
“Just as you choose, Dan,” replied Mr. Schwarmer. “It doesn’t make a cent’s worth of difference to me, most assuredly it doesn’t. How long before you’ll be around?”