Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-02-14

cotton wool and disclosed baby
lying peacefully on pillow and suck
Ing bottle. Mr.. Higgins uttered
something very like an oath. Mrs.
Higgins shrieked, while Elsie stared
in dumb and utter bewilderment.
who has dared-what is thu
meaning of this?" began he, but his
wife interrupted him.
Look, what's this pinned ON ita
sklrt?' She snatched up half sheet
Of strongly scented pink note paper,
on which was crawled in villainous
hand:
| know your name and you know
mine,
I send you this for a valentine
Julia.
Julia! She sends you this! oh.
see now. Oh, you-you perfdious
monster!" cried Mrs Higgins, who
was tormented by a 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 uncomely
cook of that name for flirting with
the baker.
Anna, is it possible you can sus-
pect me in this matter" retorted Mr..
Hugglns, angrily. Don't you see it is
low and disgusting hoax perpetrated
by some abandoned persona"
Don't think you can browbeat
and deceive mel" cried his wife, over
towering him with shriller voice.
Don't remember how unwilling YOU
were for the hussy to go? How you
asked me to give her another
chance?"
"That was only because she cooked
so well,' said Mr.. Huggins.
Cooked so we'll! AS if should be-
lieve that. Oh, have been blind too
long To think i should have lived
to this day, and see child of yours
sent to you under my very nose.' And
Mrs. Higgins began to weep noisily.
1T is no child of mine. I'll have 1t
! taken to the workhouse this very mo-
ment. I'll track the miscreant, I'll"
"Oh, you may buster as you please,
you'll not impose ON me-" cried Mrs.
Huggins, with a glance of shuddering
aversion at the infant. ''Elsie. this
house is no place for you. NY Door
brother, when he confided you to nv
care, little he thought what a monster
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS was under the same
roof. Go to your room, my child"
and Elsie, clutching her precious val
entine, gladly obeyed, leaving her
uncle to the full enjoyment of his.
How the battle ragged between the
husband and wife she never fully
knew, but it was surely an unfortunate
thing that Mr.. Perkins, Mr.. Higgins
fellow church warden, should happen
to call that morning, and should walk
unannounced, right into the dining
room, where by now baby's wall
was added to the conjugal discussion.
for Mr.. Perkins was an inveterate
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 the
Workhouse, where, however, it 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 a dark woman.
whose name she did not know, while
she was just having drop of comfort
inside bar; but it is a noteworthy
fact that later that evening Mrs. Stat
ters was met by Rufus Murray in a
dark lane just outside Mudbury and a
couple of sovereigns 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
Higgins servants have been Of abb
normal ugliness, while in all the
English language there is no word
which has for Mr.. Higgins such pain
full associations as the word-va1en-
fine-MOdnrn Society