The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-07-19
THE SPARROWS'
HOUSE
By JOSEPH BAUGHER
Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles.) }

There was absolutely no reason why
we should move; we were living in an
up-to-date house in an excellent neigh
borhood. But Alice, my wife, thought
differently, and as she was bent upon
making a change. consented on con.
dition that she should do her OWE
house e-hunting.
"Oh, James!" she cried, as she mel
me one evening with a five-year lease
in her hand. I've found such charm
ing little home. and in such a delight
fined, you know. l am so glad OIL
Henry Jr.'s account, for you know that
Henry Jr is getting on"
The youth referred to had not turned
IL months.
81 leased the house from Mist
Sparrow--such superior womanp
continued my wife; so much nicer
don't you think, than renting from
those horrid agents who will never d:
a thing for one without making fuse
about It, Miss Sparrow says she
couldn't think of giving us so charm.
ing a 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"
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 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 wife's
uncle, an asthmatic, wealthy old bach
elor, was strongly prejudiced 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
lighted the gas, the evening had, so
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, no
doubt, that to a conspiracy on my part
was due the accident to his train.
My wife, not little hurt when her
| effusive greeting met with a rebuff,
said she was sorry little Henry mad
gone to bed for she would so like to
have her uncle Henry see his little
namesake. Whereupon he somewhat
grufily inquired whether Henry Jr. had
any intention OF absconding before
morning.
Crestfallen, and worn out after a
had hardly closed my eyes when / felt
myself suddenly aroused.
James, whispered my wife, in
trembling tones, what is that noise?"
only water running next door,"
replied drows.y, and turned over to
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 1t.
Hoping to lind the source of the
noise, | ran lighted wax taper along
the side OF the wall; when reached a
point about three feet from the win
dow | found II 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 it away for the love OF
heaven!" yelled, as she handed me
a cork, holding in her other hand a
bottle. TITS gasoline!"
She gave a piercing shrek, and
threw the bottle and cork out into the
hall. After knocking over several
things in the medicine chest she gave
me a rubber stopper. drove II
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
and while | was trying to smother 4
my wife screamed again, and thii
awoke Henry Jr., who joined in thu
melee; this brought down my wife,
uncle, whom we didn't see until
lighted the gas, although he had an
: nounced himself by sneeze.
Finally | got things quieted.
didn't notice until the next morning
how badly | had been burned. 1t wa
: after dawn when | was awakened.
james! get up, quick!" called m
wife. THE room is filed with smoke
! the house IL on fre!"
Almost suffocated, jumped out O
: bed, threw open windows, and grope
. my way TO the kitchen stairs.
"Phyllisl" | yelled at the top G
: my voice; "is there fire down there
=, mo, sah," yelled back the cook
- "dar amt no fiah; | wish dar wa
) but it's all smoke. Drat de ole stobe
1t won't draw. An Mars Jeems, dar
a man heah vile go, an he done tur
v de watah on in de alley, kase he sa
r de watah rint amt paid, an how /
ter git breakfus wifout no fab an n
watah, de good Lord, He only know
}, We hurriedly dressed, while Henr
IS Jr., having awakened, entered into tn
spirit of the affair, and seemed to 81
10y 1t, for be persisted in kicking h
heels up into the air and throwing o
his covering. We tied him fast