The Osceola times., 1878-11-16
OSCEOLA ARKANSAS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER l6, 1878


and that Provides@ had ordered The
turning Of Mr.. HigTins's black panta-
looms. ] also saw that he was OF 70
markable psllH, and that the muscles of
his face were twitching in an alarming
manner.
"How de do, Miss Eliza p he said.
"Where's your sister--where's Vplet !?
l hope / didn't frighten heI; she looked
so like them little things in the woods
they call after her, 10 sweet and fresh
like when the ssp's beginnin' to start in
the arlie,t spring, 70 meltin' with. :"
"How's your wife, Mr.. Higgins ?" !
said abruptly, to bring him to his senses.
But it only precipitated matters
''She's dead and buried, ma'am, this
six weeks and more, anu Betsy she's a
keepin' house for mt; and bein' quite
unstrung what with night-watchin' and
worry with one thing and t'other, it
seemed to me ! had to come, whether or
no; d says to Betsy, says |, "Mought
| 60? and she says to me, says she, You
mought, and the sooner it's over with,
the better and Betsy = sensible woman,
Miss Eliza, as you will allow"
"a very sensible woman, Mr.. Higgins;
and now may inquire the nature Of your
business with mef"
1.-The natur' of my business he re-
peated, sinking into a chair, twirling his
hat between his knees, and looking at
the carpet. "Why, hasn't V'let told
you? hope to the Almighty nothin's
goin' to upset me now. I've been sorely
stricken, and my head feels dreadfully
skittish. thought she'd told you-she
said she would. There amt no manner
o use shilly shallyirg. VPlet kin hev
stacks of money; she needn't raise hand.
You kin come and make 1t your home
year in and year out; and as for me, I'll
be her bounden slave"
"Mr. Higgins" began sternly; but
suddenly he raised his head and looked
at me aud | saw something in his face
that paralyzed the indignant words upon
my lips. The pupils of his eyes were
dilated; from pale he had be-
come livid. One rash word from me at
that moment might have cost untold in,
and trouble.
81 hope to tn Almighty nothin's goin'
te upset me now," he repeated piteously.
"Mr. Higgins" said, gently. "you
are not well, and Violet is startled and
You want to be gentle with
her, don't you?"
"Surely, ms'am, surely"
Well, give you my word, Mr.. Hig.
gins, that II you go quietly home again,
everything shall be right, and you shall
boo r-oc, U;olat vvsthAnt dalouO
Thank you" ma'am, he said, but
made no effort to move. "Why, here's
the very posy that fell out of her hair"
he said, taking it tenderly in his hand.
"You can take that with you," said.
ave must 90 now.' He was scarcely
fit to go alone. I'VE must go now," l
repeated, not without some misgiving !;
but he got upon his feet and went with
me out of the room. His steps were
shaken. / called a hack that was pass
ing, and catching my hat and water
proof from the rack in the hall, we rat
tied away just as / saw the tall form Of
Mr.. Baxter appear in the distance.
| racked my brain all the way to the
depot how to get this wretched man safely
home. He had been cold and white;
now he was hot and red his teeth chat.
tered. Never, never was one poor, dis.
tracted mortal 30 glad to see another, as
when put my delighted eyes upon Betsy
Crouch. There she sat in The corner OF
the depot, chubby covered basket by
her side, suggestive Of restoratives by the
way, her whole face be aiming with good.
will to her tell w-creatures.
"God bless you, Betsy l said.
Here is Mr.. Higgins. He is very sick.
How you will get him home | don't
know"
"Oh, bless your soul, I'll msnsge it.
took good care of that when we started.
He was so rot and determined to come,
nothin' would do but to humor him;
but we'll get along nicely now. The
train'll he here in a little WHILE"
sat down by Betsy's side, and waited
till she had given poor Higgins ZONE
domestic wine aud some drops from Il
bottle she had with her, and finding he
wa, quiet, l made good use of the few
minutes left US, and opened my heart
TO Betsy Crouch.
"For Heavens sake, Betsy" l said,
"put this wicked thought from his mind
at once and forever"
"There's notbin' to hinder bis mar.
ryin' sgin," said Betsy.
a. No, no." replied; but le: him be
careful this time to manage it hap
ply"
"Suray, Surely" said Betsy and
presently they steamed away.
When ! reached home Mr.. Baxter wa,
in the parlor with Violet, but she pleaded
h headache aud soon came up t, me.
"What did you 10 with him?" she
cried. al have been in al agony o
fear. believe he is out of his mind.
Every nesAs 80, Violet; but he is safe
with Betsy"
Then told her all about it, and tn,
poor child was wholly subdued for tn,
next thirty-six hours. Every ring o
the bell made her tremble, a tap at tn,
door sent the color from her cheeks
At last we got Dews that Farmer Higgini
WAS sale in bed with nervous fever the
issue of which Betsy left in her com
Portable way to Providence. Violet wa,
married the following month. and only
yesterday came my first news rom the
mountains. Providence was bountiful
His benifcence not only extended tc
prolonging the farmers life, but hisched
II to Betsy's Is happy % eguard for the
future.
"Its raspberry time," writes Betsy
"and the yield is most uncommon. The
hollyhocks Is as double as roses this year
and John and and the children and al
hands want YOU TO come up and stay al
long as you Ike without payin' no bosrc
Of any kind"
The good woman mentioned my favor
lie fruit and flower. | am sadly worr
and dissp;,ited. the hrs ,th of the rnoun n