The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-09-12

away out of sight of the two or three
mountains by which We were shut in
and introduced to some of the same
range in the adjacent country 1t wa.
particularly stipulated that there were
to be no drives, as it was haying time
and the horses were constantly in de
mand.
off it was in the beginnin' or in the
fag-end of the season." said Farmer
Higgins, eve mought manage it, but
jest when the crap is in the grass, we
can't think Of it, you see, not for any
money"
But he did think of it, and not for
very much money either. However
Violet managed it, We went humping
along the rocky roads in the very heart
of many brilliant afternoon, the chill.
dren that smuggled along nesting with
me in the fragrant hay in the body of
the wagon, while Violet was perched
high on the front seat by the side of Mr..
I Higgins, chatting with him quite earn
estly, with a pretty air of interest in her
shining eyes. 1t would quite have
spoiled my ride to sit on that broad seat,
with not even a leathern strap to nv
back, with Farmer Higgins in such close
proximity. He wore stockings now, to
be sure, and as little Becky said, "pappy
had a collar on" but there was strange
odor about him-a mixture of the barn
yard, of tobacco, of perspiration, and
the rank weeds he had been moving
down. Then he was far from assimilat-
ing in person to the wondrous beauty of
the place and the season. His hands
were covered with warts and freckles,
the muscles of his arms stood out like
whip cords, and the hairs thereon were
many inches long. He was extremely
yellow and lantern-jawed, and had that
| shuftllng, deprecatory mark of a hen peck
ed man.
ITO think of this beautiful bit of
earth, " said Violet, during our first week,
holding but the one man-and such a
man! He's ugly, he's stingy, he's grasp
ing, he's brutal, he's timid."
He's simply an ANIMAL" I said
"There are animals and animals" said
Violet. "Some are capable of cultiva-
| ton"
And now, at the end OF a fortnight,
she was content to ride close by his side
for hours at time
Lets take turns, vi" I said at last,
with burst of generosity and self-re-
proach. I'll bear the agony of the
front seat next time"
"No, Lide," she replied; "don't
think Of it. He wouldn't 60, and we
should have to stay at home. [ don't
mind i'll don't indeed"
looked at her earnestly, and a sud
den CLINT of her hooking eyes was like a
revelation to me. / fell back aghast.
You don't mean to say, Violet I be-
gan, that Observation-Disclosures
have gained any influence over this per-
son-that you are making yourself agree
able to him in any wayT
4 should be sorry to be impolite or
rude to anybody" she replied, demurely
He's human creature, Lide-in the
rough, to be sure, but with hidden capa-
bilities. We never can tell what a dia-
mond is until the polishing process
begins, In the mean time the expert
ment is interesting"
Interestingly | repeated, and fell
back in my chair. 1t was as plain as a
pipe-stem. She was carrying on a mild
Irritation with this weak rustic.
"The elevation Of the human race"
continued vi, has always been hobby
of mine. Just think of it, Lide. Mr..
! Higgins has consented to have a suit of
clothes-a whole suit. Not made to or
der, nor, indeed, readymade, and | eret
to add that his faith in a friendly tail
Dress induces him to believe that his
black pantalOOns can be turned; but he
is willing to leave it in the hands of Betsy
] (srnnah tho taIlnroSu yyho I;vror NJ IOoor
! town, and goes out to work for two-and-
sixpence day and her board. We are
going after Betsy to-day, and the ride
will be a glorious one; there's water
fall by the way, you lucky woman, and
we dip into a strip of woodland, twi-
light of solemn and mysterious verdure,
and we emerge again upon a semblage OF
green fragrant with those wild raspber-
ries that melt in YOUR mouth and ravish
your nostrils. It's sacrifice on my part,
for from little hints of Farmer Higgins,
| fear me much this capable Betsy IS an
old flame of his. He has propitiated his
wife's favor by promising to bring her
two bottles of the Spinal Renovation for
her poor back. But where is the con-
ISOLATION for my lacerated heart if this
Betsy Crouch should stir the dregs of
his ola passionw Here Violet put back
her head and laughed TIL the tears hung
OH her long lashes. And what could ]
do but 60 to Deertown? l made up my
mind That Violet needed keeper as
much as any lunatic, and resolved that
no spot on earth could be made into a
comfortable asylum for the quality OF
such mania.
We brought Betsy back with us, and
as [ looked at her fair, fat and forty
charms, [ wondered how Mr.. Higgins
could have so bungled his matrimonial
venture. But Betsy told me as we jolt
| ed along, that poor Mrs. Higgins had a
fairlsh bit of money and a nice strip Of
the adjoining land, and / could plainly
imagine how sour face, weak back
and scolding tongue were no hin
ORANGES to the bargain.
"She's been failing awful this year OF
so back" said Betsy, "and John Higgins
can jolt the daylights out of us all, bu-
no spinal renovator won't do her nt
good. He must be powerful anxious tt
get home. am all of a jelly"
| knew his anxiety was chiefly bego
| by Violet's love of fast driving, but WI
did indeed find the poor woman tucker
ed out, as she said, when we reached
home In spite of the spinal renovato
she grew worse day by day, and on Sat
urday she took to her bed. Betsy hat
to put by her shears and attend to tn,
house, and though the scrubbing anC
securing were somewhat abated, Their,
was wondrous improvement in the do
nestle atmosphere. All the place eve
wanted to make it paradise of homel,
comfort and cheer, was peace from