New-York tribune., 1902-07-06

the family upon rare occasions only, for n -"
little more than covering for Mr. Hart ,vha
chose to go out there for fishing Sometimes ns
their own cottage was filled TO oyerAo,vi, 'aea
guests Mrs. Hart would send the men over >. a %
island to ''roOst" she called it. but most 80 He
time the place was shut up.
Mary have you Twinkle this morni.
asked Elsie she opened the door leading into p
kitchen of the cottage. I've searched and sea,oS
for her, but l can't find her. and the KttIa -
looked very unhappy. for Twinkle was her ~vs-
own" and each child cared for his or her esnaot,
pet.
No miss 1 haven't. l her last night r.
before mistress closed up the house. and the, I1
was sitting out yOnder on that Sandbar a-Iooki,,
over toward the island as though she was a won.
derin' who lived there" and Mary the cooI
laughed her own wit.
on l wish L could find her! My dear pussv
kins!r and Elsie went back into the cottage 70 -
new her search. But it proved unaVaiing and n,
Twinkle was to be found The family had no
been settled in the cottage three days and on m.
day following their arrival Twinkle had vaaisbeG
leaving little mistress soTeIy troubled Fou,
more DAYS passed and the morrow would usba
in the Fourth of July. Fireworks and hEeerackea
had been sent out from the city. ana the boys
were wild with delightful anticipations. but Elsie
could not reconcile herself TO Twinkle 5 loss They
had searched and made inquiry far and near br
all to purpose. Twinkle could not be found
The day passed all such days pass. and III.
children enjoyed it thoroughly; AT least the bov
did but Elsie still grieVed for her lost pet Even
ing drew on. and the boys began To set up their
fireworks. Roman candles were stuck IN the sand
and the tide out and the long sandbar ez
posed they placed a row Of rockets almost across
to the island.
Boom! Boom went the bombs anu candles an
Whiz! sizz! bang! went the rockets. one after an
other. Presently rocket flew wildly into N.
air. whried about. sputtered. and then came tear
ing to the earth again. To land upon the island on
( O1y lraUa
would have gone from their minds forever had M,
its sparks set about creating a little ceIebraton
upon their own account
oh. look! Look the island. The cottage "a
all aiire cried Hugh. he let fall the l4ndle he
about to set off and pointed wildly toward IN.
little cottage.
"As true as l live cried Mr. Hart Com.
quickly. boys. We can get across and mayb save
1T by prompt action Get all the pals you can ind
and follow me. Don't waste 4 momentr' and of
he tore. followed by his boys ana half a dozen
others from the cottages at hand. Several
other men had seen the fire. and were now run
ming up to offer help, and in = few moments a
regular fire brigade formed and Was running
| toward the burning cottage. Mrs Hart and sew
eral other women followed close at their heels
with Elsie and some of her little friends running
beside her. Mr.. Hart rushed toward the burning
building and dashed upon it his pail Of water. but
just as he did So tripped and nearly fell a
small animal that came scUrryins from the cot
tase. TO drop something at his very feet. and
then rush back toward the house
Mr.. Hart stopped and picked up a tiny white kit
ten. but before he could say word little gray
figure came running toward him again. bearing in
its mouth 4 little black brother the mite n
his hands.
As 1 live. its Twinkle ne cried. and hastily
handing over the two kittens rushed around
toward the rear door which the flames had no.
yet reached The light from the hre made every
thing plainly visible and there in one corner Of
4
house was Twinkle. with two kittens. one
black and white. the other a little tiger In the
further corner lay the mother of the little kittens
dead. Doubtless the mother love had given her
strength to reach her little ones. and then Life
departed. She had doubtless been dead several
days. and somehow Twinkle had discovered her
babies and cared for them. for Twinkle had iusi
/ reared a family in the city and seen them care
fully bestowed in new homes before leaving town
The kittens were quickly moved TO a place Of
safety. and in a little while the fire sItin-
suishcd Then Twinkle looked after How
she had managed to live the island al that
! time and for the orphaned kittens a myS-
terry her owner but il a poor. thin. fOrl0ra
/ Twinkle which they carried back TO the mainland
and ravenousIy hungry one. The adopted
kittens placed in basket. and their gracious
foster mother took her place beside them with
warbIy meow. though 10 say:
Il suppose ! ought u be advocate Of Fourth
/ Of July celebrations or my beautiful children would
/ never have been found. but really I should no.
/ have minded II the discovery had been accom-
/ panied With iust little less thrillIu, scenes