The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-07-25

meanor aud she patted the boys
shoulder and kissed him, and said
We'll, I'm sure it won't occur again. "
According TO schedule, he should
now have gone upstairs to relieve
George, who was wondering what was
keeping him, but this Bubble Boy
was having too good time to go mn
INTO the hot little room. He saw cake
and pies and he smelt n good chicken
dinner cooking, and as he had never
eaten in his short life, lie determined
to stay aud have something.
Dinner most ready asked he.
'Im awful hungry"
"Itll he ready in ten minutes. " said
his mother. Mr.. Truesdell had gone
out to feed the hens, ana the double
sat down by the kitchen window and
shifted lougingly at some apples. "'N
I'll have 'napple?" said he. Hd
seemed to have mastered small boy
dialect IN surprisingly short space
of time. His mother-she thought sho
was his mother, although. as we know
he had no mother-gave him an apple,
ana when dinner was served, soon af-
ter, he ate three times as much as
George ever did and was so Jolly withal
that Mr.. and Mrs. Tuesdell didn't
know what had come over their boy.
George, after dinner [ wish you'd
harness up Jack, - said the farmer.
I've got to drive over to the Cages
to get book on hens that he prom
lsed me. I'm going to give you some
hens and let you see what you can
make out OF them with the aid of the
book. | don't take much stock in hen
books myself. I've always made EN-
lay without any book, and / don't be-
lleve but what hens laid before the
first book was printed, but I'll give
you something to be Interested in and
You won't be so apt to break windows
If your time is more occupied"
The Bubble Boy smiled but said
nothing. He was too busy with his
third slice of pumpkin pie to talk.
After he had finished it he said: Can
| ride over with you?"
81 dunno. Kinder late for you.
Well, seem to-morrow's your birth
day, I'll let you"
SO it happened that few minutes
later, George, who had been weeping
in his room, not daring to go down
and expose the trick he had played
upon his father, and yet feeling very
hungry and contrite, heard a sound of
wheels in the yard and looked out of
the window. There in the dusky
light he saw the Bubble Boy backing
Jack into the Concord wagon. Ho
worked like an old hand, and in n fcw
minutes his father came out of the
house and got into the wagon, and
then they rode OFF, his double driv-
ing.
This was too much for the poor
boy. II there was one thing he liked
before another 1t was ride with his
father, and ut night of all things. He
cast himself upon the bed and sobbed
as though his heart would break.
What n wicked boy his double was.
Here he'd offered to board and keen
him to take all his troubles off his
shoulders, aud he was taking his
pleasures as we'll oh, how hungry
he was. Cold chicken would taste
good.
He rose from his bed and walked MS
noiselessly as he could down the attic
stairs, but his mother, who was put
ting Cynthia to bed, heard him. and
called out in an alarmed tone: "Who's
there?'
Its me-, said George in a weak
voice.
you bacl, so soon? Why, what's
the matter? Seeing he'd been cry
ing.) Has anything happened TO
your father? Tell me child"
81 didn't go with papa" sobbed
George. CHATS why I've been cry
ing
Why, George, 1 saw you go, said
his mother.
1T wasn't me; it was n bubble boy
that tloated in this afternoon"
His mother looked bewildered.
whats the matter with You? Are
you crazy?" said she.
At this moment the sound of wheels
was heard in the yard and George
said: There they are. They'll be
in in n minute
In less than n minute his father
came IN. con, here you are, >" he said
to George. "You ought not to jump
ont Of the back OF the wagon in that
way in tho dark. / stopped anil
called to you and you didn't answer.
and ! thought you were hurt. And
then ! saw You running toward the
house"
"That wasn't me. That was the
Bubble Boy"
Ills father didn't notice what no
said. Where's that hen book? J
want to show your mother that pic
ture of tho Wyandotte"
What hen book?' asked George,
mystifed
For the next few minutes his an
swers were so bewilderiug 10 both
parents that they finally told him
sharply TO go TO bed
10 doesn't do TO keep n growing
boy mp late, said the father.
As for tho double they wouldn't
hear another word about him.
George went upstairs by way of the
pantry. aud appcaac1 his appetite
somewhat. When mo entered hi. room
he half expected fo see his double.
But, rs We oil know, Bubble Bows
have short lives lie looked ont Of
tho window. a siIvcry moon was rid
ing through etcumy clouds. and mo-
Thought b." saw an iridcscont bubble
floating by ils side.
% guess I'Il take my own punish
meuts and my own pleasures after
This, said he, os he took bite Of
IrumuIrsl OF Lr,tr I.rft .....t