The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-04-27

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small men =
She asked these questions with some relen ting
of heart, for already had the childish charms Of
her man been upon her, and it was with great
relief that she heard the decision of Aurelia, the
most radical of the allies.
"No! keep him here. Such chance was sell
dom vOuchsated to the allies to teach one of these
men-widowers-a lesson they would not soon
forget. Punish that wretch, that unnatural wild.
over, oy saying nothing about the child Let
him think he was lost let him hunt him I'D the
best way he Can"
The youngest Miss Iones-she was only forty.
and naturally timid and apprehensive-sugges,-
cd That 1T would be just like one of these men
10 come right here to Miss Higgins after him.
mere wasn't anything they b, dn't the face to
90, IL would be just like one OF 'em to walk ill.,
to her sittln'-room."
Here Miss Higgins remarked with spirit:
'She would like TO see HIM walk int her
house. He wouldn't stir step beyond the hall,
ana as for tn stair carpet she was goip. 10
IL up and cleanse it, anyway"
ms remark, which was warmly applaudsd
terminated the conference.
Johnny did not seem ayerse to the arrange
ment he was at the age when bodily comfort
overshadows the mental. He appeared to have
good deal OF affection for his father, but there
was Bridget, at the very mention of whose
-~'-,S ~ HuasteU MS teeIU. one was
awful she had shaken him. pinchei him, pulled
his hair"
Eunlce higgins warm heart almost melted
within her at the recital of his sufferings
A week passed away, and daily had Miss Hlg.
gins man gained upon her affections. She was
the youngest child Of her parents, and had never
known the delights of childish society. She
had dwelt so long alone, that to have that bright
manly little face opposite hers at the breakfast
table, looking out of the window, hailing her re-
turn from her short absences, his merry, limo.
cent prAttle and ringing laugh, was all more
agreeable to her than she would be willing to
acknowledge.
She grew lenient to the boyish nerve of her
man, TOR the best of boys have unregulated mo.
ments; looked benignantly at him as he capered
IN the garden paths in startling proximity to
her msrrowfsts snd cluster cucumbers. She
rsveled out long stocking, and out of one of
her second best Morocco shoes made a ball for
him and when he lost it in her best meadow,
she herself boldly breasted the clover waves,
side by side with him, in pursuit OF it.
80 that beautiful week passed away, and one
morning Eunice Higgins was called from her
snowy dairy room by ringing at her front
door.
On opening it, she confronted pleasant look.
ing man of about her own age. Woman's uner-
ring Intuition said to her "this is he" Here
was the opportunity to wither him with her
chances. But hew could she when he looked so
much like johnny, just such peasant, manly
lock to his face. Eunice did not wither him.
Il have been informed Madam, that there has
been boy, runaway boy, here-is it so ~
Instead OF the prusslc acid and vinegar tn It
she had designed to have in her tone, the like
ness to her man softened her voice, that IL
was only pleasantly acidulous, like ripe lemon,
q abe reDlipd 'tNec sir IL
ia he here now!"
"Ies. sir, he is.'
His anxious eyes SO frightened at this that
she entirely forgot her carpets and her ennity,
and actually invited him in.
No sooner was he seated than Johnny ran in
with eager eyes
"Ea!he, Father
he threw his arms around his fathers neck
and kiseed his bearded lip, and then, in his de.
light, he turned and threw his arms around Eu'
nice Higgins neck, and kissed her with the same
pair Of lips, and still Miss Higgins could say, in
the dying words OF the great statesman:
Il still live.'
Mr.. Dale was man Of means and leisure. He
thought the air Of the town exceedingly good
be obtained board for the summer, for himself
aud son, at the little hotel. But in all Chester.
vile no air so sAlubrious he thought, as the
air Of Mis-, Eunice Higgins parlor; consequent.
~ he sought that retreat often, Johnny goina,
before like an olive branch
Day after day did Mr.. Dale tread over the
immaculate purity Of her carpet, and they were
not taken up and clennsed Hour after hour
did he sit upon her parlor sofa, and it was not
purified by soapsuds or bsnzine
AT last, one peaceful twilight, it was on the
l4th OF September, at the close Of d long CONVEX.
sation-both of the parties being, at the time, OF
sound mind-Johnny's father kissed Miss Hig
gins upon her cheek.
Whom say she did not Immediately burn GU,
the spot with c,ustic, you may be prepared for
the resul, which followed.
The next week Euhice Dale, late Higgings
was ignominonsly expelled from the allied
forces of Chesterfield; her name washed out ir
hot streams of Hy-on and still more burniLy in
diynation But Euuce made a happy home fol
her man aud his father, and, rejoicing in theii
content and her own, she visited not OF the IA
lied" Proceedin.s Aud thus ended the story o.
Miss Higgins Man.