The Independence Day Horror at Killsbury Part 3

"Of course you can, and you will tell me everything," laughed Ralph. "We are all one now, that makes a delightful difference." But she had no sooner told him of Jordan's joke at their expense than he exclaimed angrily: "Ridiculous defeat! O the brute! How I wish I had been there to answer him. He insulted you and the country at the same time."

"But you were not there, Ralph, and I don't know but I'm glad of it; for there is something ridiculous about it. Only think of it, Ralph! Fighting for freedom--and then deliberately turning the day that commemorates it over to careless children and irresponsible criminals, and flying away from it as though a legion of devils were let loose! You see, Ralph, it hurt me more to think that it really was ridiculous, than because Colonel Jordon said it was; but I had to keep it to myself."

"You could have talked to me, if I had been there, to your heart's content, you know you could, Ruth, and I would have talked to the insolent Colonel to my heart's content. He must have had the epidermis of a rhinocerous or he would have known better."

"Papa had a long talk with him after the Bearingtons left. I don't know what was said, but his manner changed entirely and for the worse--that is, I mean, he was more disagreeable to me than before--in a way--"

"I understand," said Ralph in a pa.s.sion. "He pitied you and made love to you! The impudent rascal!"

"Yes, Ralph; but I will say this to his credit. He had the good sense to retreat when he saw that his attentions were disagreeable."

"Humph!" said Ralph.

Ruth knew that "humph" was a sign that his jealous wrath was effervescing and that she might continue to pour out the feelings which had been shut away from him for three distressful years. She had a whole heart full of them now.

"Do you know, Ralph, I begin to think there's no use of going away any more to get rid of the horrible Fourth. It goes with me or comes to me, wherever I go--this terrible monster to which my little brother was sacrificed. Every year counts thousands of victims and every year more and more! O, how many homes will be made desolate on the day that is fast coming! How many beautiful and precious mothers' sons will be defaced or disfigured for life? Between three and four thousand was the death and accident roll last year. How many will it count this year and who and how many of our little circle will be among the hurt or slain?"

"The Lord only knows, Ruth; but I mean to know something about the why and wherefore of the increase of the Independence Day death roll in this town. I have been looking it up and it is something appalling."

"O Ralph! Ralph! let us stay right here then and see if we can't do something to prevent it--something to stay this cruel, cruel slaughter. It seems to me we might talk to the boys and watch over them and save now and then one at least."

"You are right, dear. We could do it if we could go to work hand in hand, with n.o.body to hold us back. It would be better and braver to stay here and wrestle with the monster than to try to hide away from it; and please G.o.d we will do it--after, you know when. We can't hope to accomplish much if we go to work single-handed, eh? We will be doubly armed for it before another year comes around."

The hand that lay in his gave a quick pressure in response and he went on manfully: "We have been fools and blind in this matter long enough. Something is going to be done about it before long. I have talked with a great many with regard to it since Lutie had his fingers shot off, and I have gathered some astonishing statistics--statistics that ought to set us to thinking and acting too."

"O Ralph! Ralph! Tell me all about it! Tell me everything! I will work for it night and day. Bless you, Ralph. O, how good it is to hear you say that we can do something and will."

Ruth was fairly wild with joy. She kissed his hand and cheek and brow, over and over again with a fervor that was new to him and very, very delightful. The betrothal kiss was nothing in comparison. Compliments on her grace and beauty had failed to call forth any such expressions of love.

"To begin with," he said at last, "I have found out that we have more Independence Day accidents in this town than in any other town of its size in the state. What do you think the reason is?"

"O! I know, Ralph. It's because Millionaire Schwarmer comes every Fourth and distributes a carload of fireworks. I know it is; and I believe he gave Laurens the package that cost him his life, though he tried to make it appear that he did not. How does he know who he gives to when he is distributing his death-dealers right and left!" sobbed Ruth.

"He doesn't know," said Ralph, "and he doesn't care or think about it; but he ought to be made to think. We know he gave Lutie the box of cartridges that tore off his finger. He ought to have been prosecuted for it and I am going to tell him so some day. I am not afraid of his millions. The trouble with people here is that they have got in the habit of bowing down to him and worshipping him--the golden calf! and being a calf instead of a wise man he fancies that he owns us all--body and soul--and may do anything he chooses with us."

"I believe it, Ralph. He has taken it into his stupid head to pat my shoulder and call me Miss Pretty when he sees me of late."

Ralph was furious again and threatened dire things. After he was sufficiently molified Ruth continued seriously: "O Ralph! Ralph! How can a man of mature years--a man like Mr. Schwarmer--put such dangerous things into a boy's hands? If he were young and thoughtless and dazed by custom; but a man of his age and experience! How is it that this Independence Day saturnalia has been let to grow into such enormous proportions? If all the fiends of the lower regions had been employed to make a plan for the destruction of the youth of our land, they could not have done worse. Only think of it, Ralph, taking powder and dynamite, the most dangerous of all substances and making them into attractive forms for children to play with--play with as freely as though they were carts or doll babies! O! O! what are we coming to? What idiocy--worse than idiocy--how Satanic!"

"Yes, Ruth, and it does seem to be growing worse and worse every year--as though we were sinking down to the level of the brute. As though Satan had gotten a lease of a thousand years and was trying to see how many children he can destroy--yes, and young men, too; for there are the deadly games for the finish. Another century of such brutal sports and celebrations and there would not be a sound man left in the community. We would be as hideous as the brutal, battle-scarred Saracens. But I cannot think we shall have another century of it. The climax will come before that and there will be a turn in the right direction."

"What makes you think so, Ralph? As I see it we shall have no homes--sweet homes with happy healthy families. We shall have hospitals instead--hospitals and hospitals, full of the crazed, crippled, idiotic and beastly. If anything can be done to prevent this dire calamity, why don't we begin at once."

There was silence for a few moments. The full moon sent its searching rays through the veranda vines. The stars twinkled brightly and a pair of eyes brighter than stars were looking into Ralph's face appealingly.

"Let us begin now, Ralph--this very Fourth and see if we can't do something to save our boys from this terrible King Schwarmer. He's a worse king for us than old King Herod was for Israel. Let's dethrone him."

"We will," said Ralph in a voice of quiet determination. "You have given me an inspiration. The time is ripe for action. Our new President is a Golden Rule man. A professed follower of the original Golden Rule Mayor. He comes of the same good old Quaker stock. He sings the same songs. He has the Golden Rule in a frame of silver, ornamented with apples of gold, hung up in his office, and he practices that rule as nearly as any man can."

"Let us go and see him, Ralph; he will help us if he believes in that rule."

"Yes, Ruth, and if we can manage to steer our own Fourth of July craft so no one is hurt this year, we shall have done something that will make you happier than you have ever been since Lauren's death; shall we not?"

"Yes! A thousand times, yes, Ralph."

"One thing more, Ruth--one more sacrifice for the cause. Can you guess what it is?"

"Tell me, Ralph! Tell me quickly."

"We must be married before that frightful Independence Day monster comes. We must be married at once."

"Go ask papa and mamma, Ralph. They are in the west room with Dr. Muelenberg. I know what they are talking about and I want you to promise me one thing."

"A thousand if you like, Ruth."

"No, Ralph, only this one. Promise me that you will not promise them to take me abroad for a wedding trip."

"Remember," she added, as she turned laughingly away, "if you do I will break the engagement."

CHAPTER VIII.

DR. MUELENBERG'S PRESCRIPTION.

As Ralph entered the west room, Mr. Cornwallis was saying: "You see how it stands, Doctor. We can't afford to go to Europe; and Canada, the poor man's abroad, is no longer effective."

"Here's Norwood," said the Doctor, looking quizzically at the young man. "There was a time when he helped us out splendidly with Miss Ruth."

"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Cornwallis, "and she has always felt so grateful and wanted to do something to repay you, Ralph. She thinks now if she had been here instead of in Canada when your little brother was hurt, she might have entertained him and kept him out of Schwarmer's way."

"Bless her heart; but I am the one that ought to have kept him out of the way of that superb idiot," said Ralph with a glow of feeling. He was thinking that Ruth's objection to going away might be grounded in a desire to be near himself, although he was aware that she had not been conscious of it, so quick had it been to expand and reach out into more generous motives.

"Now she thinks she might be able to save others by getting up picnics and things of that sort;" said Mr. Cornwallis shaking his head, "but we fear she is not strong enough for that yet--that it would bring on the old terror and do no manner of good. She doesn't realize what it would be to fight against such a custom--a custom that was inaugurated when our New World began. It has grown to be a monstrous evil, but like many another serpent it has become so mixed up with business interests that it will be almost impossible to eliminate it. I have talked with more than one manufacturer, feeling there was no other way to rid ourselves of the vile Fourth of July abominations than by stopping their production and importation, but they will not give in. They will employ noted scientists to a.n.a.lyze their wares with the understanding that no germs of teta.n.u.s are to be found. They will throw dust into the eyes of the governing powers. They resent fiercely the least intimation that they are responsible for the killing or maiming of three or four thousand boys per year. They charge it to parents and teachers. One man swore at me when I approached him on the subject and asked if I didn't know that there were danger traps all over G.o.d's world and that a boy should not be let to plunge into the river until he knew how to swim. You see how it stands, Doctor--the powers of light against the powers of darkness. It's a thing for the strong hand of government to take hold of instead of our frail little Ruth. It will take a long pull, a strong pull and a pull all together to accomplish anything of consequence. You remember the efforts made last year. They began with the Decoration Day slaughter. The 'Divine alarm' was sent all over the country and yet the list of the dead and hurt was beyond all precedent."

"And this good old Quaker state," replied the Doctor, "consecrated by the good old saint, William Penn, exceeds all others in Independence Day accidents, and this town appears to be the storm center of the whole. The gentle 'Friends' he left to carry on his work must be asleep and the fierce spirit of the 'Lord's Committee of Colonies' must be awake and armed with the explosives which he tabooed with such good effect. The cases of teta.n.u.s I had here last year nearly drove me mad. I wanted to throw anti-toxin to the winds and turn mayor or missionary myself and take this beastly and idiotic custom by the horns. Call it patriotism! It's bad enough to bring children into this dirty world, but to furnish them with instruments to introduce the worst kind of dirt--the baccili of teta.n.u.s into their sweet young flesh is deviltry or insanity, at least. It's of no consequence so far as results go whether the wads in the blank cartridge are boiled or not. It is a fiend incarnate. No instrument could be more cunningly devised for the injection of poison into the human system. The flat head is like the head of a serpent. The small boy gives it a starter. It hisses and carries everything before it--pieces of flesh or clothing, soiled or unsoiled, but usually soiled. It buries and burns them deep in the flesh. The gash shuts up and they are left to fester there. Mien Gott! These are the things that are invented, manufactured and sold for innocent boys to play the deadly game of patriotism with. They are good for no other thing--they nor the toy pistol; and the wretch who invented them ought to be put into a house of correction and be kept there and preached to until he learns to set his wits at better things. The people ought to see to these matters. There are laws and laws shut up in your statute books. They want the spirit of flame put into them and the spirit of enforcement back of them."

"I was advised when I first came to this country, to take lessons in American patriotism. Mien Gott! The lesson I have learned is that missionaries are needed in all the fields around about. I should say let Miss Ruth turn missionary--that is, if she has no longer a fear of that dreadful work."

"Her fear of going away seems to be greater than the fear of the Fourth itself," said Mrs. Cornwallis. "That's the perplexing thing about it. That's why we doubt the expediency of going at all. Whether the evil we fly to is greater than the evil we fly from, is the question. She is all we have left and we have been so very, very careful--afraid to mention the subject almost."

"I have been expecting this puzzle in Miss Ruth's case and I incline to take it as a healing sign," said Dr. Muelenberg looking keenly at Ralph. "To engage in the work of stamping out this monstrous horror would be far better than ominous silence and the annual flight from it, for you, for her, for the people of the town and for the world, no doubt! But it will not do for Miss Ruth to go out alone. She must have some one with her, in heart and hand."

"Here am I," exclaimed Ralph, rising to the occasion and making his errand known. Mrs. Cornwallis was affected to tears when he promised to try to be a good son. She was thinking of her beautiful boy. Mr. Cornwallis gave a dignified consent and Dr. Muelenberg grasped his hand vigorously, saying: "O! I suspected you, young man! I suspected you and I am glad my suspicions have proven true. I believe it will be for the betterment of all concerned."

And so it happened that Ruth's engagement proved to be a relief in more ways than one. It was a relief to herself because she could talk freely to Ralph. She could let her enthusiasm have full rein on this subject without arousing his fears for her sanity of mind. Any nervous symptoms that she might betray in so doing would not cause him the undue fright and solicitude that they did her father and mother. He would know that they meant she must be doing something for the cause so near her heart. It was certainly a relief to her father and mother, who had begun to admit at least to themselves (especially after Ruth's disaffection for Canada) that the annual going away from home was taking the form of a cruel necessity. Yes, and it continued to be a relief in spite of the little flurry into which they were thrown a few evenings later on when Ruth and Ralph appeared before them hand in hand with the Rev. Dr. Normander smiling benignly in the background. They knew what it meant, although there were no wedding garments and the wedding feast was not prepared. Ruth pleaded that there was important work to be done. Ralph declared that he was "following Doctor Muelenberg's prescription in not allowing her to go forth single-handed."

It was enough. The two hands were joined then and there and before another morning dawned the bride and bridegroom had planned their Independence Day campaign.

CHAPTER IX.

THE BRIDAL TRIP.

With a roll of statistics in hand and Ruth on his arm Ralph proceeded to the Golden Rule President's office the next morning after the marriage.

As they entered the hall they heard some one singing in a deep, melodious voice.

"That's the President," whispered Ralph, crushing Ruth's arm to his side. "It's his morning matin. I think he composes it as he goes along. Sometimes he sings the Golden Rule mayor's songs."

"Did you ever hear anything so quaint and touching, Ralph?"

"Never, Ruth, outside of 'Friends' Meeting,' where I used to go with Grandma when I was a kid. They sang their sermons and sometimes they were very touching."

"O, listen! He's singing plainer now, Ralph!"

"As long as you please, dear," said Ralph. The rascal was only too glad to listen, with Ruth's pretty head leaning against his shoulder and her fair cheek within kissing distance, while the following words came rolling forth in a heartful voice: "Co-workers with G.o.d! What a mission for men. What a promise! What glory awaits us then, When once we awake and our destiny see! The angels I'm sure might envious be. All hail to G.o.d's workers! Our race they will save From the foul name of 'master,' or 'idler' or 'slave.'"

"O, I like that, Ralph," whispered Ruth, after the singing had ceased. "It sounds so hearty and helpful--better than cathedral music for poor mortals like ourselves. I know he will help us. Let us go in now."

Ralph was in no hurry; but Ruth pressed him eagerly forward. She would not wait even for the proffered kiss. She rapped at the door.

"No need of ceremony here," laughed Ralph. He opened the door and they walked in.

The President was at his desk swinging his pen as vigorously as he had been using his voice a moment before. He did not stop until he came to a period. Then he arose quickly and extended both hands.

"Glad to see you, Norwood, and twice glad to see--"

"My wife," stammered Ralph--the words were new to him and the sound was new to Ruth. They both blushed and the President asked as he shook a hand of each: "How long since, Norwood? I didn't know you were married. It must be newly. I see you haven't gotten used to saying 'my wife?'"

"Only since last evening," replied Ralph.

"And you brought her to see me early this morning," said the President, slapping his shoulder while he retained Ruth's little hand in his powerful grasp. "Bless you! You are a good fellow, Norwood. You are giving me a rare treat. It's seldom a man brings his wife to call on me and never a newly-wedded one. I like the idea, though. It shows you are thinking of others' pleasure as well as your own. That's the right kind of love to have even in the beginning."

"She chose it for her wedding trip," laughed Ralph confusedly. Then he recovered himself and added seriously: "She was very anxious to see you and speak with you, and she would not wait a moment longer."

"Come and sit down," said the President. "We will talk. We will reason together if need be."

After they were seated Ruth took a little miniature from her pocket and handed it to him.

"Please look at the picture so you will understand exactly how I feel and why I appeal to you," said Ruth.

"That's right! just right! People don't half understand each other. That's the reason why they often seem so hard and unsympathetic." Then he put on his gla.s.ses and looked at the picture.

"What a beautiful face! How spiritual! It almost seems as though I had seen one that looked a little like it." He gave her a keen glance.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GOING TO VISIT THE PRESIDENT.]

She shook her head. "You never saw him surely--my beautiful little brother Laurens Cornwallis. He died seven years ago this Fourth of July--Papa and Ralph and Dr. Muelenberg found him lying alone in the woods on the river bank, all torn and mangled with fireworks. It was a dreadful sight and an awful mystery! but probably you never heard of it."

"I was abroad then but it strikes me that I read of some such accident. Probably an outline of it and that there was something wrong about it; but I want to hear more. I want to hear all about the wrong things that have been, or are being done in this town. My belief is that private wrongs are too often hushed up. They ought to be talked about in the open, as a rule, and even where they are of a private nature they should be talked of in the right way and to the right persons."

Thus encouraged, Ruth told more fully than she had ever done before, the effect of her brother's death on herself--of the visions she had when the brain fever was at its height--of the colossal shadow of Millionaire Schwarmer looming into the sky scattering implements of death and destruction everywhere--of the white-winged figure of her brother flying along with the upward look, toward a pit of writhing, fiery, serpents--how she fancied that she ran after him and really did call and call for him to come back; and how Ralph came instead and made her think he was Laurens and the delusion saved her.

"And so you have married your delusion. Bless your heart, you have done just right," laughed the President, but there was a suspicion of tears in his eyes and Ruth went on: "I was only eleven years old then. My brain was saved, but I was a physical wreck. Year after year for seven years papa and mamma took me to Canada to save me from the horror of our National Day! Only think of that. Flying away from it and trying to hide my fears of it. You are right about 'speaking out.' I think now if I had been encouraged to speak of it freely and do something to remedy it, I need not to have gone away, at least, so many times; but poor mamma and papa! They were so broken down they couldn't bear to talk about it--papa especially; but I know now that it would have been better for him if he had. His hair was a beautiful brown when little Laurens died, but now it's as white as snow! And there are others that ought to speak out plainly. There have been a great many accidents here since Mr. Schwarmer's advent. None of them have been quite so bad and mysterious as my little brother's, but they have been too bad to pa.s.s by and have been increasing every year. Ralph will show you that it is so."

After the statistics were read and commented upon, Ruth broke out: "It's coming again. It's almost here. We know dreadful things will happen if we don't watch and watch and do everything we can to prevent them and stir everybody up to do the same. You can help us, I know you can."

"Bless your heart! That's just what I'm here for, to help everybody. I can help you stir up the people. I will call a ma.s.s meeting for this very evening, and you and your delusion will be there in the front row--and the curtains will all be torn away from this beastly Fourth of July business. He will read the figures and you will tell your story and encourage every hurt soul to do likewise. This is what I believe in. What I don't believe in, is forcing people to do things. But I do believe in warming them up to do right things. I don't believe in masterings, bossings, tie-ups or hold-ups; but I do believe in explainings, urgings and entreatings."

"The Rev. Dr. Normander tried the gentler method with Schwarmer at the time of Lauren's death," said Ralph, "and he declared that Independence Day was a sacred day and that he had as good a right to distribute free fireworks on that day as a minister had to distribute free religious tracts on the Lord's Day, or words to that effect."

"O the idiot!" exclaimed the President. "I would not punch his head and make more of an idiot of him; but if I could get my eye on his free fireworks I would destroy them as I would a nest of rattlesnakes. I would let him see that I know the difference between good and evil--between G.o.d and the devil, by an ill.u.s.trative example."

CHAPTER X.

A PUBLIC MEETING--STATISTICS AND RESOLUTIONS.

Early in the afternoon there was a big poster on the Town Hall, with a proclamation, or rather, invitation from the President, asking "the citizens one and all, without distinction of s.e.x, race or color to a.s.semble together in order to discuss plans for the saving of life, limb and property during the forthcoming celebration of the Nation's birthday."

They came--old men and young men, women and girls. The hall was packed with an expectant crowd. The President opened the meeting by saying: "Dear Friends and Townsmen: "I did not invite you here to listen to a speech. I don't believe in cornerings of any kind and surely not in cornering anybody and talking him to death. I invited you expecting you would talk to me and each other. I am a new man in civic affairs; but I don't want to stay new. I want to get at the heart of the interests of this town. I did not come among you to make millions. Like my brother mayor over in Ohio, I should not know what to do with a million of money; but unlike him I am not afraid I shall ever be a millionaire (applause). But I begin to fear that I have neglected my civic duties. You know I was averse to having the yoke of office put upon me. Now I thank you for your kindly insistance. I have had proof this very day that the yoke is good for me and may prove to be good for the people of the town also (cries of 'why' and 'how').

"Before I tell you why or how I want to give thanks right here before you all to one who is not here--one who has crossed over--my dear Quaker mother, who taught me the Golden Rule and how to apply it. I loved that rule, but I hesitated about putting it up in the office, just as my brother mayor hesitated about putting it up in his manufacturing establishment. I had very much the same feeling about it, but I conquered it, thank G.o.d! It resulted in this meeting (cries of 'hear!' 'hear!') "Yes, you shall hear. I don't believe in keeping matters of this kind veiled. Early this morning a young woman came to my office. She brought no axe to grind but she brought what was infinitely better, a heart full of love and solicitude for the youth of this town. Years ago her little brother had fallen a victim to a terrible and mysterious Fourth of July accident, and she wanted to do something to save others from a like fate. She thought that if I believed in the Golden Rule I would help. G.o.d bless her." (Cries of "G.o.d bless her!" "G.o.d bless her!") The President wiped his eyes and continued: "Yes, G.o.d bless her! She brought no axe to grind but she brought her husband with statistics to prove that this town has more Independence Day accidents than any town of its size in the state." (Cries of "shame on the town.") "Yes, shame on the town and every individual of the town--especially those who profess to represent it. I am ashamed of myself--mortally ashamed that I have let such a monster grow and fatten right under my nose, without doing a thing to prevent it. I don't know how the rest of you will feel about it, but I feel that I have very little excuse for my stupidity in this regard; for the same mother that taught me the Golden Rule also taught me that war and its instruments and all its vain-glorious celebrations such as our Independence Day has grown to be, are wrong and that we should lose no opportunity of speaking and acting against them.

"She taught me all that and I accepted it or thought I did. I proclaimed myself to be a man of peace, an enemy to cannons, battle-ships, swords, guns, pistols and all the implements made for the killing of men; while I have had nothing to say against the little murderous, viperous implements that are put into the hands of innocent and ignorant boys." (Cries of "hear!" "We are all in the same boat!") "Then let us get out of the boat and go to work in earnest to destroy the evil, root and branch. There is nothing more sure than that this Fourth of July slaughter is a branch of war--a terribly crooked branch and a poison one--one that can be easily made to grow into another deadly Upas tree. We have all heard of that exasperating old Upas the very fibre of which if woven into a garment produces a constant itching to the wearer. The same thing happens to the small boy who indulges in Independence Day customs too freely. He gets an itching for war and brutal sports. Ralph Norwood will now give you the statistics of our annual Independence Day slaughter for the last ten years, which will show you, I trust, into what a fatal fetichism we are rapidly descending."

Ralph came forward with an immense roll which he accidentally let slip. As it trailed on the stage there were whispers of excitement from all parts of the house, such as "See." "See." One rough fellow blurted out: "That's all right, Norwood, let's have it sled length."