The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-08-25
THE SPARROWS'
HOUSE
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
BY JOSEPH BAUGHER

(copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
There was absolutely no reason why
we should move; we were living in ar
up-to-date house in an excellent neigh.
borhood. But Alice, my wife, thought
differently, and as she was bent upon
making change, consented on con-
dition that she should do her OWE
house-hunting.
"Oh. James!" she cried, as she me,
me one evening with hve-year lease
In her hand. I've found such charm.
ing little home, and In such a delight.
full location: It's so cultured and re-
fined, you know. / am so glad on
Henry IRIS account, for you know that
Henry Jr. is getting on"
The youth referred to had not turned
II months.
II leased the house from a Miss
Sparrow-such a superior woman!'
continued my wife; so much nicer
don't you think. than renting from
those horrid agents who will never dc
thing for one without making fuss
about 1t. MiM Sparrow says she
couldn't think Of giving us 80 charm
ing little home. but her sister Amy
is to be married next month. poor girl!
and she. Miss Sparrow, of course,
doesn't care to live alone"
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 had
grown very irritable and suspicious OF
late, and he might think we didn't
want him, and that she wasn't going
to have Henry Jr.'s prospects ruined
by any such insane notions. My wtfe's
uncle. an asthmatic, wealthy old bach
elor, was strongly prejudfced 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
ing month found US in our new home.
and excepting that shower of prisms
fell from the parlor chandelier when I
lighted the gas, the evening had. 30
far. passed on 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 l offered to take his
valise. and glared at me savagely over
his glasses. thoroughly convinced, no
doubt, that to a conspiracy on my part
was due the accident to his train.
My wife, not a little hurt when her
elusive greeting met with a rebuff,
said she was sorry little Henry had
gone to bed, for she would SO like to
have her uncle Henry see his little
namesake. Whereupon he somewhat
grufiiy inquired whether Henry Jr. had
any intention of Ascending before
morning.
Crestfallen, and worn out after .
hard days work we went to led, but I
had hardly closed my eyes when felt
myself suddenly aroused.
James," whispered my wife. in
trembling tones, what IL that noiss!-
Only water running next door," I
replied drowsily, and turned owe. to
sleep again.
Water next door! Why, James. It's
In this very room. Listen!"
I got up and plai1ly heard the
~o.,~A h,,< <~~,1S~,t F1<ooxa .
Hoping to ind the source of the
noise, ran lighted wax taper along
the side of the wall: when I reached a
point about three feet from the win
dow l found It as a volume of flame
belched forth almost to the opposite
side of the room. seized a pillow,
and called to my wife for cork.
Take 1t away for the love of
heaven!" yelled, as she handed me
cork, holding in her other hand a
bottle. Its gasoline!"
She gave piercing shrek, and
threw the bottle and cork out into the
hall. After knocking over several
things in the medicine chest she gave
me q rubber stopper. drove 1t
into the aperture Of a gas pipe
from which the bracket had been
purioined by the Sparrows, and which
they had plugged with wax. The pill
low, in the meantime had caught fire,
and while l was trying to smother 1t
my wife screamed again. and this
awoke Henry Jr., who joined in the
melee; this brought down my wife's
uncle, whom we did1't see until l
lighted the gas. although he had an
nounced himself by a sneeze.
Finally l got things quieted. I
didn't notice until the next morning
how badly had been burned. 1t was
after dawn when I was awakened.
james! get up, quick!" called my
wife. THE room is filed with smoke
the house lie on fire!"
Almost suffocated, l jumped out Of
bed, threw open windows, and CROPPED
my way to the kitchen stairs.
"Phyllis!" ] yelled at the top Of
my voice; lis there fire down there %
mo, sah," yelled back the cook:
"dar amt no fab; wish dar war.
but it's all smoke. Drat de ole stobe!