Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-02-10

cotton wool and disclosed--a baby
lying peacefully on a pillow and SUCK
ing bottle Mr. Higgins uttered
something very like an oath. Mrs.
Hnggins shrieked while Elsie stared
IN dumb and utter bewuderment.
Who has dared-what is thu
meaning of thiss" began he, but his
wife interrupted him.
Look, what's this pinned ON tn
SKIRT She snatched up a half sheet
OF strongly scented pink note paper.
on which was crawled In a villainous
hand.
| know your name and you know
mine.
| send YOU this FOR a valentine.
Julia
julia She sends you this! oh,
| see now. Oh, you--yuu pertidious
monster!" cried Mrs, huygins, who
was tormented by u constant jealousy
of her elderly spouse. and on whom
the name Julia" acted as an evil
spell, for six months earlier she had
dismissed young and not uneomely
cook of that name for flirting with
the baker.
Anna, is 1t possible you can sus-
pect me in this matter" rotorted Mr..
huggins, angrtly. Don't you see Il ID
low and disgusting hoax perpetrated
by some abandoned person."
Don't think YOU can browbeat
md IANniNn ptAth IA L. ,.,lR
powering him with shriller voice.
Don't remember how unwilling you
were for the hussy to go? How you
asked mo to give her another
CHANGER"
That was only because she cooked
50 we'll" said MIR, Higgins,
Cooked 50 we'll! AS II | should be-
licve that oh, have been blind too
long. To think should have lived
to this day, and SEQ child of yours
sent to you under my very nose" And
Mrs. Huggns began to weep MOSTLY.
1T Is no child OF mine, I'll have Il
taken to the workhouso this very mo-
ment. III track tho miscreant, I'll"
"oh, you may buster az you please,
you'll not impose ON me-" cried Mrs.
Huggtns, with glance OF shuddering
aversion ut tho infant. "Elsie, thia
house is no place for you. My poor
brother, whom he confided you to my
care, little he thought what monster
OF Righteousness was under the same
roof, Go to your room, my child"
and Elsie, clutohing her precious val
entine, gladly oboyed, leaving her
uncle to tho full enjoyment OF his.
How the battle ragged between the
husband and wife she never fully
knew, but 1t was surely an unfortunate
thing that Mr. Perkins. Mr.. Huggins'
fellow church warden, should happen
to call that morning. and should walk
unannounced, right into the dining
room, where by now bnby's wall
was added to the conjugal discussion,
for Mr., Perkins was an inveterata
gossip; and. though, OF course he had
the highest opinion Of Mr. Higgins, by
noon every soul In Mudbury knew OF
that gentleman's valentine.
The valentine was returned to tho
workhouse, where. however, II did
not long abide, being claimed by Sal
Skaters who had long and rambling
story OF how her offspring had been
stolen from her by dark woman,
whose name she did not know, while
she was just having drop OF comfort
inside bar: but II is n noteworthy
fact that later that evening Mrs. Stat
tiers was met by Rufus Murray In
dark lane just outside Mudbury and a
couple OF soverelgns passed from his
hand to hers.
Mrs. Higgins suspicious died hard,
and under their influence, and To
spite her husband. she gave her writ
ten consent TO Elsie's marriage to
Rufus. and from that fatal Feb. IA the
Huggins servants have been of alb
normal ugliness. while in all the
English language there Ia no word
which has for Mr.. Higgins such pain
full associations as the word--valen-
A.