Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-09
did he seem impressed 2"


He hasn't touched a match since
"One of my friends'-Agatha who had not observed
any lack Of sympathy, opened her heart-"one OF my
friends is sure it is form of obsession, which
she says the child 10 not yet strong enough to combat
And another friend Of mine suggested osteopathy she
thinks IL is his spine Another has advised me having
a Christian Scientist give him absent treatment but
Wentworth is so opposed to anything of that kind
Oh, dear Auntie am so discouraged! Agatha winked
her tears
Nonsense. my dear's said Miss Wentworth there
which difficulty reused like trumpet.
Sitting in Agathas chamber twelve days after
Agatha's departure, Miss Wentworth, smiled grin,y
solutions for Agatha, her evty to Wentworth We'll
he's many for me, confess" the father had said
with shamefaced sort of grin; but he's dandy
little chap except for that and will make good all right
if he promises l say Aunt Hester, if you wire
that he has given his word III send thousand straight
to you for any charity you'll name"
Graft isn't necessary to make me do my best Went
worth" his aunt had returned. However. she could
not help remembering certain far-away old friend of
vet always had given away her carefully boarded pas
sage money needier creature. Poor, ridiculous
soft-hearted unselhsh Patience Holworthy, what
ocose inspiration It would be to send her birthday
gift of that check!
"But shall not remind him" asservated Went
ruefuly, I'm not likely to have the chance"
Not for the first time she reviewed the of her
visit. She did not Cecil the night of her arrival
and wrote letter to her next friend in Cambridge
She said that the house was "a faultlcss new Colonial
with all the luxures and many Of the comforts of fe
plumbing all the house She told Of Cecil; she
told of the wonderful" Miss Cargi ("who looks
rather young. rather tired, and distinctly sukyI dare
Froebean interoper-which am'); and she ended
by saying: az suppose ought to have gone in to
what haughty assured me that he slept in the room
adjoining hers, and it would be better not to waken
him So t. shall a,1 not see him until tomorrow am
There as it happened, Miss Wentworth was mis-
taken She had not prepared for the versatile daring
of the heir of the House Of Barnes; and she did
minutes of twelve out Of the first doze of tired
traveller by the sharp sound of the striking of
match; Miss Wentworth had not been lonesome
householder for fifteen years without knowing the
habits of burglars Instantly she sat up in bed. There
utter silence Then, again the scratch of match
and suddenly light shot from under the white Swiss
valance of Miss Wentworth's bed She had sprung
from it. she had snatched the Watering from the low
boy by her side and hurled the contents at the widening
glow before she thought what it might be. Out
the light went and shape scrambled forth from the
white folds around the bed, very small shape in
motion of the hand, discosed) of little lad with
a mediaevaly barbered head OF sver-yeow hair and
pale face He stood up very straight and slim and
spirits and the establishment of the that he
charmngy pretty.
81 set t afire?" he qucried. in small sweet voice:
"You did replied Miss Wentworth land you had
very good chance not only Of burning me, which,
probably would not have bothered YOU but yourself
as well, which might have been very dsagreeable in
\ didn't to set 1t afre."
Il dare say. But you did The trouble is these
PLAYFUL little diversions of yours are more dangerous
The little boy looked thoughtful he also looked
srewd; deduction made by the spectator against her
will: she did not desire battle of wits.
What is you going to do wiz me?" came the next
question. esS
Miss Wentworth considered gravely before she said
Il am going to ask you to promise to stay in bed and
leave matches alone the rest OF this night.
Isn't you going to spank me wiz big stickr
What is you going to do if don't prommus,"
Il haven't decided yet But it is easy to promise to
be good the rest of this night"
and insratiating smile. he moved swiftly. to Mis-.
Wentworth's- side He slipped his morsel Of. hand
int" % hers NJ m :os d he ss
Possibly that was why she was his intereessor with
the righteous and violent indignation Of Elsa and the
colder disapproval of Miss Cargill
The lady of Compelling personality" listened grim
ly Esa's frank declaration that what needed
simply switch; but she took Cecil away with con-
scenously loose grasp, and i'll utter silence
Now why" mcditated Miss Wentworth. as she sank
into slumber' arhy must he get under the bed?"
the next afternoon after really delightful morning Of
peace and luncheon with Cecil himself (who showed
the most excellent table manners) when her afternoon
esta interrupted by the sound of scurrying feet,
the swish of flying skirts and EXPLANATIONS not loud,
but furious in Swedish With the rapid vivdness of the
Miss Cargils daily hour of release, and Elsa was in
charge of Cecil She had three to traverse; she
was midway in the second, as a subdued torrent of
reproaches was interrupted rather accompanied by
certain flat explosions of sound suggesting dull fire
cracker.
May it be confessed that Miss Wentworth deferred
all her principles for few seconds and her drank
Elsa's invectives with satisfaction. hedsm ,verlde,
You bad, bad chids trowng matches into you mud
ders basket full of papers tole you do it. Put out
you hans! Fire hurt you mooch vorser! How you
be so wicked? Mex time let the big pocemans
tax you to chal, Yah!"
Not a whmper appealed to the listener: the victim
was absolutely dumb. Nor when, after decorous
noise of approach Miss Wentworth sroled upon the
contemplating the wreck Of dainty wastebasket and
1t was Elsa who complained, vouby, that the upstairs
telephone rang, and while she was. answering it, the
waste basket was ahre and she found Cecil putting
out the fire with wet towel
II didn't let it burn" he explained with timd
smile 81 put it Gcight out !"
Miss Wentworth masked dismay under that wise
silence which the elders learn. She said in cold.
neutral voice: 9" shall not punish you noup Cecil;
shall have to think Elsa, put Mister Cecil to bed"
Miss Wentworth returned to her and ex-