The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-06


out excuse. 1t is but the common
tribute to "a beautiful woman's charm
that she has every right to expect
Yes" she replied coldly: I'VE will
regard it simply as that-the tribute of
I'm idler to the charms of mere So
ciety beauty" There was irony in
her cool. even tones. while her eyes
were looking straight into the dim
ness Of the room.
The weeks wore on. and the Walkers
removed to their summer home,
whittier Chester received pressing
Invitation to spend the Fourth Of July.
so pressing. In fact. as to amount to a
command
Little Tom wants to see his 'Nunck-
en- Chester" had been the concluding
words.
Not versed in the ways Of very small
boys. Trowbridse provided himself
with a supply of crackers and fire.
works for the two-and-ahalf-year-old
scion Of the Walker family not at all
commensurate with that young gentle
mans years.
He was entirely unprepared for the
sight of Miss Collingwood on the
Walkers broad piazza.
"'Ere's Nuncken Chester" came in
sweet. jubilant tones. and little fly
ing figure with flushed cheeks and
tumbled hair precipitated itself in
Trowbridge's arms.
'.Hello. little man." and Chester lift
ed him up on his shoulder. Raising
his hat with his free hand. he made
his way thus lncumbered up the steps.
the childish prattle relieving the situ-
alton of acute embarrassment.
"YOu have rival in Toms affec-
tions." said Mrs. Walker to Miss Col
lingwood.
After dinner they sat on the piazza.
little Tom being allowed to sit up
later than bis usual hour in honor Of
Chester's arrival. The two gentlemen
sat smoking and chatting where the
smoke of their cigars would not reach
the ladies'. Tom was running up and
down the path in front of the house
in all the exuberInce of his few years.
A boy appeared with a box the con-
tents of which greatly excited the
child interest
Put tho box down on the steps" d.
rected Chester. giving the boy coin.
What's got In de box?" demanded
little Tom, his face alight with inter-
est.
You'll see tomorrow" answered
Trowbridge and then continued his
conversation with the child's father
Little Tom. finding his quest for in
formation ignored and objecting to the
delay arbitrarily imposed. promptly
climbed the steps and entered into an
investigation on his own account. He
removed the wrapping paper and with
his small. ninhle fingers succeeded in
pushing back the sliding cover. disclos-
ing to his ravished view various pack
ages Of different colors and sizes.
These invited closer inspection. and he
proceeded to take them out Of the box
and deposit them on the step beside
him. Suddenly be came to something
which seemed to afford him great sat
isfaction and which he evidently
thought he recognized. for he breathed
ecstatically. big cigar" He put the
large Grecracker to bis lips and began
"mokin' like fader." In the fast gath
ering twilight little Toms motions
passed unobserved.
He glanced about him In proud con-
sciousness of his manly attitude. when
his eyes were arrested by the sight Of
smoke issuing from his fathers lips.
He puhred and exhaled like fader"
but without like results. A match was
all that was needed. and this coveted
article he discovered under Trow
bridges chair. where 1t had been in
advertrntly dropped.
A moment suficed for the match to
find its way into the chubby fingers OF
the baby boy, who scratched it and ap.
piled The fame to the fuse Of the
crackr Immediately ignited.
Th' >. rush Of skirts. and Caryl
CoIlingwood. who had heard the
scratching Of the match. dashed the
cracker out Of the childs hands and
picked him up in her arms. In her
haste she had not noticed the direction
Of the burning cracker, which fell into
the box Of explosives. There was u
cracking and sputtering. and the fly
ing sparks few to the crackers on the
step and caught the soft, fluffy skirts
of the young woman, the draft made
by her flying feet quickly tanning the
sparks into a brisk Fame that leaped
upward toward her face. Finding her
self afire, she dropped the child on the
grass and quickly retreated. to find
herself In Chester's arms. He began
beating out the flames with his hands.
Walker coming quickly to his aid. TAX
ing of his coat as he ran. The flames
were soon extingulshed. but Miss Col
lingwood lay unconscious in Chestcr's
arms. Together they carried her into
the house and laid her on the lounge
n the library. Mrs. Walker had al
ready telephoned for doctor, but by
the time he arrived the young lady had
regained consciousness. She was car
ried to her room and put to bed, while
Chester restlessly paced the plazZa.
impatiently awaiting the doctors re-
apl,eara nee to learn the worst regard
ing the injured girl.
When he finally annpared TrnWhriG Ca