The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-05-02

ceedingly disreputable old pipe as be-
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 salved her conscience by say.
ing, well, it is my letter anyhow. Tin
ished or not, SO I'm going to read it.
Dear Little Snipsy-At this minute my
castle is resounding with a concert. yet
TN 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
/ am going to the temple. where I have
passed many worshipful hours. One OF
my friends is going along, While the rest
will remain in my castle, preferring to
sleep. am ashamed to say that | have
been overeating lately and smoking too
many cigars.
Hum said Snipsy, looking around
II think l see This hut is his castle,
to be soup and crackers. And here is
his pipe. I'll just bet he hasn't bit
of tobacco in the world. And-well
if he has been deceiving me and max
ing me think he is rolling in riche:;
while he is Just fairly starving I'll
never forgive him. I am little wretch
and a brute! See my bills for cara
mels and matinee tickets and he-o!1.
can't bear it!''
Here the child began to cry dismally.
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 hating
steps. AS he saw Mildred standing
there he stopped short and looked at
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 so closely in his
preparation Of their habitats that he
found ready sale for them, was a.
founding. He gasped.
'Well, uncle grandpa, yO don't seem
10 be glad to see your little Snipsy.
Let me tell you I have found you OUT.
You have deceived ne. Here is your
grand castle. here your faithful friends,
but where are the great eemple and che
musicians? Smoke up now and tell
me-" said she, handing him his pipe.
Too shocked and crestfallen over Ger
discovery of his bitter poverty when
she Aa0 been leo % think be Was
rolling in eiches'' snd even encour-
aged in extrasagaoce. be baA not orc
Word to say. but sank down Oh the
stump and felt in a1 Mis- pockets lor
the tobacco 60 GU The pipe, but found
nom.
Ana, I tnev u! ael~! got This
in eho village. Now smoke and tell NE
an about ~
Saying ehis, The ctlld eat down GU
the edge Of tue bon. The sight AZ ire
tobacco was oil the I'D oao could
grasp foe the momene, ana Re did
smoke vith che 0usto u . wan de-
prive0 ot his fovorite sdace As be
smoked his ideas began t. take . mose
normal form
~HoW did you 6nd me. Snipey?''
sOh. easy! ! Looked ct tho l,ostMark
On 10 letters and GO OF elae trsin
there and asked my cay q asked
whaa kind Of tobacco you omoked. for
{ thought II YOU smo!sed you wouldn't
scolo me. Ave ron aWay from 9hDd. -
"Snipsy!'
"Yes, end aow I want to kso~ oil
abWt Il. . Know that yos saved aH
from the fin when poor mother was
killed and that you were never we'll
in your foot after. but did not kno0
that you were so poor, I'd never base
one hour in that school. NV
mother was an actress. and l am sun
that l have some talent and-tempera-
ment'
The old man grOaned.
Eyes, and l could have been making
lots of money for us both. You could
have trained me, and, anyway, I'll not
60 back to school,"
well. dearie, I am not SO badly of.
Ny wants are few, and am able to
do fairly well catching and mounting
bugs. butterflies and small animals for
the museums"
'M-m-m. and where do you live in
the winter?"
'Oh, l have to be near the
Nov, I've heard enough. just
simply won't go back to school. You
adopted me. and now have some say.
won't let you sacrifice yourself fol-
me an hour longer"
my dear little girl. it isn't sacri-
fee. but a pleasure"
II haven't said all l had to say. III
finish it later Now, where is your
temple? Where are all your ten serv-
ants? Oh, yes; see your ten fingers.
But where are your friends?'
Here is one and there the other.
And as to the temple-ah. child, that
is real. Up at the end of the valley is
a high rock. near half a mile high.
almost perpendicular, and over the top
of this flows a stream Of water, Il