The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-10-19
MISS HIGGINS MAN.


twas fear that impelled that death
like research or a fatality that was
beckoning her to her fate. / know
not. Itwouldkeem. however, to be the
former. for she had often been heard
to observe: "That ofall the abomi-
nations on earth, q man was the
most abominable-'
Indeed at the informal tea-drink-
inrs of the allied forces OF Chester
vile. the three Misses Wheeler and
the two Misses Jones, she had often
excelled them all in the withering
tone which she would repeat Man
man y and no one could breathe
greater defiance at this foeman than
She. 1t was at one of these tea par
ties than they had entered into a
solemn compact that, in the event
of Womens Rights giving either Of
these allies sovereign power OF the
nation, an Eastern law was to be I'M
ported and improved. and husbands
buried with the dead bodies of theil
wives.
As Eunice Higgins well remark
ed: THAT would put an end to the
widowers pretty lively" And with
this remark the Hyson flowed, and
the wassail went on-with such 8
spirit that Aurelia Wilder, the most
radical, added another clause That
the children of widowers should be
thrown in too, and not be bother
in other women" This was also
well received.
Now if any one thinks that Miss
Eunice Higgins was woman deyold
of virtues and womanly graces, |
pity them-they are so utterly mis-
taken. She has assisted drunken
father through the world, till he
made his exit-sustained and sup
ported a feeble mother-and three OF
four. older but more helpless than
she. till the mother went home to
her reward. and the children had
found flourishing b ONES for them
selves, with the exception of the old
est son. who had followed his faith
er's footsteps literally. Indeed,
when one contemplates the speci-
mems of manhood she has been ia,
miliar with. her aversion to the sex
does not seem so wonderful. She
was not shrew-eyed, but good and
kindly looking. No home was
brighter than hers. No farm was
better managed.
The night on which commences
my humble history, Miss Higgins
went to her room in usual good hui
NOR. She had had a tea party.
The allies had been present, and ad-
mitted unanimously that such fra
grant tea, such snowy biscuit and
honey, such golden butter, such
cakes and sweetmeats had not been
partaken Of that season. The scene
of her benign victory rose before her
as she took off the little switch of
hair at the back Of her head, and
pensively rolled it up ere she put it
to the top bureau drawer.
She saw again the sinking sun
shining in, through her house plants
in the window, upon the drugget OF
the dining room the snowy tea ia
bic, with its silver and springed CHI
ma ; the admiring faces other friends
as they took Of her delicious food.
Bnt no memory disquieted her. She
almost mistrusted her rlemon extract
was losing its strength-the frosting
on the fruit cake did not seem to be
favored quite enough" But this
haunting memory was softened by
the tho't that she could get a new
bottle tomorrow.
By this time she was arrayed in
her long white night dress and cap,
She folded up every article of cloth
ing, laid it down TO right angles, she
looked up at her breast-pin, and
then impelled by fate she calmly ad-
vanced to the side of the bed and
raised the snowy valances-gave
one shrek, and fell back on the ca--
pet, hitting her head as she did so
on chair rocker. There was her
man under the bed.
Miss Higgins had often fancied
how she would awe such a robber,
such a burglar, with her fearless and
searching glances how she would
defend her property with her life.
Let US not be too hard with her
she is not the only one of US who
has found that it is more easy to
dream ofgreat achievements than to
accomplish them. She is not the
only one who, at the first shock, has
shrieked and tumbled down before
adverse fate.
But Eunice Higgins was not the
one to wither away before calami-
ty. Not long did she lie there but
as short as the time was, when she
lifted her head the man confronted
her. He was very small man, in
deed, not more than seven years old,
and small at that, very good looking
and well clothed, although exceed
ingly disheveled and uncomfortable
in appearance.
How came you here, under my
bed ?"
This was the first question, but it
was repeated before he answered,
with dropping head and glances
I've runned away"
Run away from where ?"
From our folks"
"Who is your folks ?"
Father"
Here the dialogue terminated
suddenly-Eunice Higgins became
suddenly conscious that night
gown and night cap was not the
proper raiment in which to entertain
so small man. Out in the sitting
room, beneath the warm light of
the kerosene cleaning through rose
geraniums, and the keener light of
Eunice Higgins eyes, the inquisi-
ton was continued. From which
these facts were CLEANED
That the boy, Johnny Dale. had
been so tried with his father because
he wouldn't let him go TO the circus,
that he ran away. 1t was early in
the morning, he said, and hehad got
ride with teamster, and rode
with him till afternoon, so he must
have come some distance. After