West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-07-01

tnat sue mas every right to expect"
Yes" 50 replied coldly; 1--WE will
regard IL simply rs that-the tribute OF
an idler 10 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. aud the Walkers
removed 10 their summer home.
whittier Chester received n pressing
invitation TO spend the Fourth OF Ju,y.
30 pressing. IN fact. as TO amount 20 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. Trowbridge provided himself
with supply OF crackers and fire.
works for the two-and- a -haif-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 Chesterr' came I'm
sweet. jubiiant tones. aud little ey
Ing figure with flushed cheeks and
tumbled hair precipitated itself I'm
Trowbridge's arms
Hello. little man." and Chester lift
ed him up on his shoulder. Raising
his hat with his free hand. he made
MS way thus incumbered up the steps
tho childish prattie relieving the stu
ation or acute embarrassment.
You have rival in Toms afYec.
uons." 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 I'm 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 I'm front OF the house
In all the exuberance or his few years
A boy appeared with n box the con.
tents OF which greatly excited tho
child's interest
Put the box down on the steps" di-
rected Chester. giving the boy a coin.
What's got I'm de boxr' demanded
little Tom, his face nlIght 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. nimble fingers succeeded I'm
pushing back the sliding cover. disclos-
Ing TO hts ravished view various pack.
ages OF different colors and sizes,
Ihese 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
isfaction and which he evidently
Thought he recognized, for he breathed
ecstatically, big cigarP' He put the
large flrecracker to his lips and began
'mokin' like fader." In the fast gath.
ering twilight little Toms motions
passed unobserved.
lie glanced about him I'm proud con-
sciousness OF his manly attitude. when
MS eyes were arrested by the sight OF
smoke issuing from his fathers lIps.
He puffed and exhaled like fader''
but without like results. A mitch was
all that was needed, and this coveted
article he discovered under Trow.
bridges chair, where II had been In
advertenty dropped
moment suficed for the match 10
ind Its way into the chubby fingers of
the baby boy, who scratched II and nm.
piled the flame 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 md
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
cracking and sputtering and the fly
Ing sparks few to the crackers on the
step and caught the soft, fuzzy 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 afre, 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 on his coat as he ran. The flames
were soon eXtinRuished, but Miss Col.
nngwood lay unconscious in Chester's
arms. Together they carried her into
the house and laid her on the lounge
IN the library. Mrs. Walker had al.
reAty telephoned for a doctor, but by
the time he arrived the young lady had
rsgalned consciousness. She was car
r1ed TO her room and put to bed, while
chester restlessly paced the piazza,
impatienty awaiting the doctors re-
appearance TO learn the worst regard.
ing the injured girl.
When he finally appeared TrowbridRe
eagerly questioned him concerning the
extent OF Miss Collingwood's injuries
ana was much reassured by the doc
tors report that they were not serious
and that she would be about in a few
days.
IL was not TIL then that Trowbridge
showed his own hands, which had been
causing him acute pain. but which IN
his anxiety for Miss ColIinewood he
had scarcely Needed.
''It was lucky for her that you acted
50 promptly" remarked the doctor as
he was dressing Chester's hands. "a
moment more and she might not only
have been dlsAgured for life, but lost
life itself"
At the time Chester paid little at
tention 70 the words "dlshgured for
hfe." Tie thought II merely one Of