The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-06-27

out excuse. 1t is but the common
tribute to a beautiful woman's charm
that she has every right to expect
Yes" she replied co!dly; I'VE will
regard it simply as that-the tribute OF
an 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
command.
Little Tom wants to see his 'Nunck-
en- Chester had been the concluding
words.
Not versed in the ways of very small
boys. Trowbridge provided himself
with supply of crackers and fire.
works for the two-and-ah alfyear-old
scion of the Walker family not at all
commensurate with that young gentle
mans years.
He was entirely unprepared fora 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 incumbered up the steps.
the childish prattle relieving the stu
alton of acute embarrassment.
"You have a 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 his usual hour in honor of
Chesters 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 exuberance of his few years
| A boy appeared with a box the con
| tents of which greatly excited the
! childs interest.
"Put the box down on the steps," di-
rected Chester, giving the boy coin.
whats 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 Directing to the
delay arbitrarily imposed. promptly
climbed the steps and entered into a.
Investigation on his own account. IL
removed the wrapping paper and will
i his small, nimble fingers succeeded ii
| pushing back the sliding cover, disclos
ing to his ravished view various pack
| ages of different colors and sizes
These invited closer inspection. ard ht
proceeded to take them out of the be,
and deposit them on the step besic.
him. Suddenly he came to sonethin.
which seemed to afford him great sat
isfaction and which he eyidentl,
thought he recognized. for he breathet
eestatically. big cigarn He put tn,
large firecracker to his lips and began
"mokin' like fader" In the fast gath
ering twilight little Toms motion
passed unobserved.
i He glanced about him in proud con
sciousness Of his manly attitude. whel
his eyes were arrested by the sight O
smoke issuing from his fathers lips
but without like results. A match wa
all that was needed. and this covete'
article he discovered under Trow
bridges chair. where it had been In
advertently dropped.
A moment sufieed for the match t
the baby boy, who scratched it and al
piled the fame to the fuse of th
cracker. which Immediately ignited.
There was rush of skirts. and Cary
Coliingwood who had heard til
!. scratching of the match. dashed tn
cracker out of the child's hands an
picked him up in her arms. In he
haste she had not noticed the directio
Of the burning cracker. which fell int
the box of explosives. There was
cracking and sputtering. and the q!
ing sparks flew to the crackers on th
step and caught the. soft, fluffy skirt
OF the young woman, the draft mad
by her flying feet quickly tanning tn
sparks into a brisk fame that leape
upward toward her face Finding he
self afire, she dropped the child on th
grass and quickly retreated, to fin
herself in Chesters arms He bega
beating out the flames with his hands
Walker coming quickly to his aid, tai
ing of his coat as he ran. The flame
were soon extinguished, but Miss Co
iingwood lay unconscious In Chester
arms. Together they carried her int
the house and laid her on the loung
in the library. Mrs. Walker had a
ready telephoned for doctor, but b
the time he arrived the young lady ha
regained consciousness. She was cal
r1ed to her room and put to bed, Will
Chester restless1y paced the piazzs
Il inaDafipOt1y awai4inu tho doafar,s RI