The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-07-08

that she has every right 10 expect.
Yes" she replied coldiy; I'VE will
regard it si,nply as that-the tribute of
an itller to the charms Of a 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. Trowbridse provided himself
with supply of crackers and fire.
works for the two-and-a-half-year-
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 Chesterr' 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 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 his 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 exuberance Of his few years
A boy appeared with box the con
tents OF which greatly excited the
child's 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 objecting to tht
delay arbitrarily imposed, prompt.
| climbed the steps anGaantered into al
investigation on his own account HI
removed the wrappin: paper and Will
his small, nimble fingers succeeded il
pushing back the sliding cover, disclos
ing to his ravished view various pack
ages Of different colors and sizes
These invited closer inspection, and h,
proceeded to take them out Of the bo,
and deposit them on the step besid,
him. Suddenly he came to somethin,
which seemed to afford him great sat
| isfactiOn and which he evidentl,
thought he recognized. for he breathet
ecstatically. big cigarw He put tn
large tirecracker to his lips and begal
"mokin'. like fader" In the fast gath
ering twilight little Toms motion
passed unobserved
He glanced about him in proud con
sciousness Of his manly attitude. whel
his eyes were arrested by the sight 0
smoke issuing from his fathers lips
He puffed and exhaled like fader
but without like results. 4 match wa
all that was needed. and this coyete
article he discovered under Trow
bridges chair. where it had been in
advertently dropped
A moment sufficed for the match t
find its way into the chubby fingers 3
the baby boy, who scratched it and al
piled the flame to the fuse of th
cracker. which Immediately ignited.
There was a rush of skirts, and Car,
Collingwood. who had heard til
scratching of the match. dashed til
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 Il,
ing sparks few to the crackers OH til
step and caught the soft, fluffy skir
of the young woman, the draft mao
by her flying feet quickly tanning I'll
sparks into brisk fame that leape
upward toward her face. Finding he
self atire, she dropped the child on IL
grass and quickly retreated, to flu
herself in Chester's arms. He bega
beating out the flames with his hand
Walker coming quickly to his aid. ta
ing off his coat as be ran. The fam,
{ were soon extinguished, but Miss &c
D lingwood lay unconscious in Chester
! arms. Together they carried her in
D the house and laid her on the lount
in the library. Mrs. Walker had q
:, ready telephoned for doctor. but |
D the time he arrived the young lady hs
e regained consciousness. She was ca
ried to her room and put to bed. viii
D Chester restlessly paced the piazz
). impatiently awaiting the doctors !
0 appearance to learn the worst regar
I ing the injured girl.
When he finally appeared Trowbrid,
eagerly questioned him concerning Il
J. extent of Miss Collingwood's injuri
and was much reassured by the do
; tors report that they were not serio1
and that she would be about in fe
days.
T 1t was not till then that Trowbrid
= showed his own hands, which had be,
causing him acute pain. but which
his anxiety for Miss Collingwood
ID had scarcely needed