The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-06-03

longing to her guardian, whom she al
ways had called uncle grandpa. Tip
toeing about. she saw The tiny cabin
and then the table with its strange
outfit of tools. The mounted squirrel
was duly admired. and then there was
nothing more to do but sit down and
wait. Then the girl, Mildred Brown
ing. saw the unfinished letter to her.
self and salyed her conscience by say
ing, "Well, it is my letter anyhow, fin
ished or not, so I'm going to read it,
Dear Little Snipsy-At this minute my
castle is resounding with concert, yet
in spite of that write to you. letting the
music continue Last night at dinner /
entertained SO many guests that my head
is half dazed with it all. This afternoon
I am going to the temple, where | have
passed many worshipful hours. One of
my friends Is going along, while the rest
will remain in my castle, pretelring to
Sleep | am ashamed to say that l have
been overeating lately and smoking too
many cigars.
"Humr' said Snipsy, looking around.
Il think SEE. This hut is his castle.
and his luxurious repasts seem to me
to be soup and crackers, And here is
his pipe. I'll just bet he hasn't a bit
of tobacco in the world! And-well,
if he has been deceiving me and max
ing me think he is rolling III riches
while he is just fairly starving I'll
never forgive him. | am a little wretch
and brute! See my bills for cara
mels and matinee tickets and he-oh.
can't bear it!'
Here the child began to cry dismaliy.
when she was reused by the sudden
arrival OF mongrel dog without any
tail, which gave one bark of warning
and then backed off, waiting develop
ments.
The old man fastened his halting
| steps. AS he saw Mildred standing
there he stopped short and looked It
her as though he feared she had died
and this was her ghost. That she
should have found his retreat, where he
worked for several museums gathering
insects and mammals, mounting them
and following nature 50 closely in his
preparation of their habitats that he
found ready sale for them, was as
founding. He gasped.
| well, uncle grandpa, you don't seem
to be glad to see your little Snipsy.
Let me tell you l have found you out
You have deceived me. Here is your
grand castle. here your fs-ithful friends
but where are the great temple and the
musicians? Smoke up now and tell
me-" said she. handing him his pipe.
Too shocked and crestfallen over hel
discovery Of his bitter poverty when
she had been led to think he was
rolling in riches ard even encour
aged in extravaganza, he had not one
word to say, but sank down on the
stump and felt in all his pockets fol
the tobacco to fill the pipe, but found
none.
AHA, l knew it. Here. got this
in the village. Now smoke and tell me-
oil about it,
Saying this, the child sat down ol
the edge of the box. The sight of tht
tobacco was all the old man coulG
smoke with the gusto of a man de
prived of his favorite soIace. As III
smoked his ideas began to take NOR.
normal form.
GLOW did you find ME, Snipsy?"
"Oh, easy! l looked at the postmarl
Oh the letters and got off the trail
there and asked my way. | asket
what kind of tobacco you smoked, fo
thought if you smoked you wouldn'
scold me. I've run away from school,
"Snipsy!"
Eyes, and now want to know al
about it. / know that you saved III
from the fire when poor mother wa
killed and that you We're never vel
in your foot after. but did not know
that you were SO poor. I'd never lay
remained one hour in that school. M
mother was an actress. and am sur
that l have some talent and--tempera
ment"
The old man rroaned.
"Yes, and l could have been maki3
lots Of money for us both. You coul
have trained me, and. anyway, I'll nc
| go back to school"
, well, dearie, am not SO badly Of
j., My wants are few. and | am able t
do fairly well catching and mGuntin
bugs. butterflies and small animals fl
t the museums
: "M-m-m, and where DO you live
, the winter:'
t "Oh, have to be near the
"Now, I've heard enough. l ius
: simply won't go back to school Ic
r adopted me. and now have some sa1
! | won't let ycu sacrifice yourself f
me an hour longer
: ''sty dear little girl, it isn't a sacI
: fee, but a pleasure
81 haven't said all had to say. L
. finish 1t later. Now, where IS yot
!! temple? Where are all Your ten ser
| ants? Oh, yes: see yGilr ten finger
t But where are your friends:"
z Here is enc ard there the oshe
G And as to the temple-til. child. tn
] is real. Up at the ead of the valley
a high rock. near half a mile hig
i almost perpendicular. and over tie ts
:. of this flows a stream Of water.
a river In the spring As II falls ay'
0 the edge it rlunges down straight
). a rocky hollow caldron worn By
r volume beneath it. When II strik
}. this caldron Ii Is ike teD thousal
II thunders rolling and aaverberatil
e along the valley. and the water dish
i up in a seetiling foam terrible to SC
; frightful to hear.
7 All down the sides OF this rocs
g precipice there are interstices Wke
] ferns and flowers have found a fcs
o Ing. but they would perish were it n