The Cairo bulletin., 1906-07-22

is to be married next month, poor girl
and she, Miss Sparrow, of course
doesn't care to live alone"
offered no objections. but suggested
that she should write to her Uncle
Henry, for whom Henry Jr was
named, and request him to postpone
his visit until we were thoroughly set
tied in our new home. She indignant.
ly refused, saying that her uncle haC
grown very irritable and suspicious oi
late, and he might think we didn't
want him, and that she wasn't goina
to have Henry Jr.s prospects ruined
| by any such insane notions. My wife s
uncle, an asthmatic. wealthy old bach
elor, was strongly preiudiced against
me, because his niece had married me
when he had hoped she would nurse
him In his declining years.
The night Of the first of the follow,
ins month found us in our new home,
/ and excepting that d shower of orisms
fell from the parlor chandelier when |
| lighted the gas, the evening had, SC
| far, passed off without incident
My wife's uncle arrived in the worst
of humors; his train, being three hours
late, didn't pull in until almost mid.
| night. He drew back from me suspi-
| ciously when | offered to take his
valise. and glared at me savagely over
his glasses. thoroughly convinced. nc
doubt, that to conspiracy on my Fart
ttrac Ft,a he 4 10
My wife, not a little hurt when her
ELUSIVE greeting met with a rebuff,
said she was sorry little Henry mad
gone to bed, Cor she would so like to
have her uncle Henry see his little
namesake. Whereupcn he somewhat
grufTly inquired whether Henry Jr had
any intention OF absconding before
morning.
Crestfallen, and worn out after
hard days WORK we went to / ed but
had hardly closed my eyes VIXEN felt
myself suddenly aroused.
james, whispered my Wife, in
trembling tones, what is that noise 90
only water rum ng next door, |
replied drowsily, and turned over 10
sleep again.
Water next door! Why, James, it's
in this very room. Listen!"
| got up and plainly heard the
sound, but couldn't locate il.
Hoping to find the source of the
noise, ran a lighted wax taper along
the eide of the wall; when reached a
point about three feet from the win
dow | found il as a volume OF flame
belched forth almost to the opposite
side OF the room. | seized a pillow
and called 10 my wife for a cork.
Take it away for the love ol
heayen!" | yelled, as she handed me
a cork, holding in her other hand .
bottle. It's gasoine,"
She gave piercing shrek. an
threw the bottle and cork ont into thu
hall After knocking over several
things in the medicine chest she gave
me a rubber stopper. drove it
into the aperture OF gas pipe
from which the bracket had been |
purloined by the Sparrows, and which |
they had plugged with wax The pill !
low, in the meantime had caught fire I
and while / was trying to smother 1t /
my wife screamed again. and this
awoke Henry Jr., who Joined in The 1
melee: this brought down my wlfe8 /
uncle. whom We didn't see until |
lighted the gas, although he had an.
nounced himself by a sneeze.
Finally | got things quieted. u
didn't notice until the next morning
how badly had been burned n wa
after dawn when was awakened
james! get up. quick" called my
wife. The room is filled with smoke
the house IL on fire!
Almost suffocaied, jumped out OF
bed. threw open windows. and gropel Z
my way 10 the kitchen stairs.
"Phyl!is," I yelled at the top %
my voice: is there a fire down thcTe?"
NO, sab" yelled back the cook. I
''dar amt no fab; ] wish dar war,
but it's all smoke Drat de ole stobei
II won't draw. An Mars Jeems. dar's
A msn heah vile go. an be done turn
lie watah on IN de alley. base De SAP
fe watah rint amt paid. an how l.
Ter git breakfus wiiout no fab an Nc
watah. De good Lord. he only know T
We hurriedly dressed. while Henry
Jr.. having awakened. entered into the
spirit 81 the affair. ans seemed to en-
10y o.. for he persisted in kicking MS
heels up into the air and throwing OF
bis covering We tied aim fast 81
bis cradle. and then ran down to the
sitcheD. where We found Phyllis y
Ccrs.
1T are Cniy he smoke. Miss Ailce."
Explained the cook. drawing her sleeve
Icross her eyes. while my wife. the
licture OF misery. was genuinely cry
ng-
There are draughts all over this