Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-11-21
A CASE OF ADOPTION.

Lillian Reese was disturbed. There
was no doubt of that. Her lovely
brown eyes were flashing, and there
was a fine, faint, white shading
around the crimson Of her close-shut
dips, which came only when affairs
went very far wrong indeed.
She was standing in her pretty
drawing-room, facing tall and hand
some young man, who, leaning one
elbow on the mantle, was watching
her half amused, half sympathetic
smile playing over his bronzed face.
81 confess, LILLIAN, to being very
Obtuse," he was saying, "for [ can't
see that you are called on to shoulder
every charity in this town. I am sure
they don't need you as I do. I need
you so very much.
why do you talk so, Clyde? Don't
you understand that during these two
years you have been away, and es-
pecially since I lost mamma, all my
attention has been given to my chart
ties?"
fFNot quite all, my darling" he OBJ
jected to her question. you had time
to write me letters that my heart
lived on until 1 came back and found
you so wrapped up in other folks af-
fairs that you had no time at all for
mine"
20, Clyde!"
IT'S true, Lillian. We have been
engaged for four years, and now my
business is in such shape that it fairly
runs itself. I am we'll and strong,
ready and anxious to give my life to
make you happy. Yet you turn from
me, declaring that duty demands you
TO devote your life to others. When
Investigate, find the others are
home for old women, a society to i'm
prove the poor missionaries thous-
and miles away, a fondlings' home,
and heaven knows what else. I'm
sure 1 don't. I do know, however,
that your days are spent attending
meetings and your nights planning
more. You are running your health,
neglecting your friends, and, worse
Still, Lillian, you are cheating your
own heart"
L
have thought this matter over long
and carefully When you wrOt2 you
were coming home Miss Dennng t"re-
saw just what would happen wien
you arrived. We both decided it could
not be right for me to give my life to
you, at the very time when i was do
ing so much good Dear, take one of
my charities, and think of those 40
babies, and fancy them all turmel out
in the cold on night like this!"
Gracious, wouldn't they howl
thought" the young man laughed.
Lillian looked indignant.
Are you utterly heartless, Clyde?"
she cried. Don't you believe in charity
at all?"
Indeed I do, Lillian; but I believe
I'm more individual charity. L don t
think that the Individual should be
lost sight of in the class. Take your
foundlings' home, for example.
wouldn't it be better for those babies
to be in homes of their own than in
a common nursery?"
But they haven't any homes, Clyde.
There was a little baby which Mrs.
Barrett brought in yesterday. 1t had
been abandoned on her doorstep. Of
course she took it direct to the home,
where it could be cared for
''You should say, dearest, instead of
caring for it yourself, as she is abund
antly able, she turned it over to you.
And this very baby we'll illustrates my
complaint. My man David saw the
another leaving it on Mrs. Barrett's
step. He tells me she is sewing
woman who used to do all Mrs. Bar
Tett's sewing"
20, Clyde, was that Mrs. Flemings
baby? Why, Mrs. Barrett and I both
stopped having her, and have been
doing our own plain sewing, so we
could give the money. we saved to help
TO start the home. [ never thought
now she would miss the work.
NO." Clyde answered, "but you see
it would have been much better for
you to take work from the individual
poor and give it to public charities.
Lillian looked distressed.
80, Clyde, dear" she cried, 81 wish
you would quit Indeed, indeed,
am doing only what l think right.
Miss Denning says 1 would never be
happy in selfishly devoting my life to
cone man when humanity claims me"
Miss Denning be hanged" Clyde
Interrupted. Il believe that old maid
LIB at the bottom of this nonsense.
'She-'
You forget you are speaking of my
dearest friend, Mr.. Huling, and one
who is my inspiration in every good
work. Now let us end this matter
II you can prove, by practical de-
monstration, that private charity is
more wise than public benefactions,
you may claim all you ask. On the
contrary, if l convince you of the
pressing need of my public charities,