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

must acknowledge that / am not with
out excuse. 1t is but the common
tribute to IA 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
IN idler to the charms of mere so.
ciety beauty" There was irony In
her cooi. 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 a 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 yersed in the ways OF very small
boys. Trowhridge provided himself
with supply of crackers and fire,
works for the two-and-a-h -half-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 ly-
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 stu
alton Of acute embarrassment.
"You have rival in Toms affec,
tions." said Mrs. Walker to Miss Col.
!ingwood.
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 exuberance of his few years
A boy appeared with a box the con
tents Of which greatly excited the
child'S interest.
Put tho 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 the
delay arbitrarily imposed. promptly
climbed the steps and entered into an
investiga ton on his own account. He
removed the wrapping paper and with
his small nimble fingers succeeded in
pushing back the sliding cover. disclos-
ing to his ravished view various pack
ages or 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 he came to something
which seemed to afford him great sat
isfacton and which he evidently
thought he recognized. for he breathed
ecstatically. big clgarr' He put the
large Grecracker to his 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 it had been in
advert"ntly dropped.
A moment suficed for the match TO
find It's way into the chubby fingers Of
the baby boy, who scratched 1t and ap.
piled the fame to the fuse OF the
cracker. which Immediately ignited.
There was rush Of skirts. and Caryl
Collingwood. who had heard the
scratching Of the match. dashed the
cracker out Of the child's 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 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 Chesters 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 eXtinguished. but Miss Col
lingwood lay unconscious in Chester's
arms. Together they carried her into
the house and laid her on the lounge
n the library. Mrs. Walker had el-
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 piazza.
impatiently awaiting the doctors re-
appearance to learn the worst regard
ing the injured girl.
Whnn he finally anneared TrnWhri6 ca