Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-12-28

wants me Tor dad dOn KNOW as
it's anybody's business but ours"
"And he is my own dood papa Ben
the child affirmed from her perch on
his shoulder. as Ben carried her
through the crowd of men into the
long eating room where the table was
laid for supper.
What on earth, Bradley, have you
got there?" both the cook and fore
man asked IN surprise. Thought you
told us when you came here, that you
wasn't married"
$50 | did" said Ben stoically.
"And | know that you hain't got
married these last six months either,
said the cook.
That's So" repeated Ben.
"Yet whose child is that?" demanded
the foreman.
Mine"
"Yours?''
Yes, ask the kid"
Hes my papa. | fnded him, an !
wants my supper. Has you dot any
mix for Rhena?" and she turned
towards the cook.
Not a drop, you blessed baby, we
don't have mix in the Camps, but /.
fix you up something good in a min
ute" and h vanished into the leanto
of the shanty, which was the kitchen.
Ben put the child down by the table,
and when the men stopped joking he
told all he knew about her appearance.
Each and every one had a different
theory, a few believing that she was
Bens, and her mother had taken that
means of sending her to her father,
and quite a theory was formed about
his deserving his wife and child.
But that version of the child's APP
pearance amused Ben nightly. He
had always been such a hater of
women, that he had never spoken to
one except when obliged to since his
earliest manhood. Children he had
never noticed at all, but the striking
beauty and helplessness of this little
one. as well as her adoption of him,
had aroused feeling of affection, and
by bedtime he had made up his mind
to keep her until her parents should
be found.
She'll have to sleep with you,
Ben" said the foreman, "for she won't
go to anyone else. Can you undress
herr"
Ben looked at her helplessly. She
was a drowsy little heap in his arms.
81 wouldn't know how to unbutton her
shoes" he answered.
The foreman had investigated the
valise, and held out a dainty little
night robe. This child belongs to
welloff people. l know enough about
children's clothes for that; and be-
sides. she is of good blood, no common
breed about her. See how delicate she
is. like a fine piece of china, my wife
would say. Bradley. I'll tell you what
I'll do, for I'm sure my wife will be
willing. Well take her home, and in
case her folks are not found, adopt
her. for she's just the age of the little
girl we lost. you know"
Ben felt a sudden tightening Of his
heart strings. Il thank you kindly,
Mr.. Brown, but-but-well you see it's
THIS way. I never Hdu hOlhS' h'S
sent to a children's home, and stayed
there until big enough to work, with
nobody, no woman or child to care for
and nobody to care for me, and now
I'm 90 years old, and this little thing
is the first one who ever said she
loved me, and you heard her say that
tonight. Aud so I've kind of made up
my mind that if nobody claims her.
and | hope they won't, I'll keep her
myself. The old lady that boards me
viii look out foor her too, | guess, for
the sake of the cash"
You're n queer one, Bradley. Not
many young fellows would adopt
kid like that. Hear the wind rise! II
tomorrow does not bring a whoopin9
blizzard then I'm no weather prophet.
"And if to-day had not been spring
instead of winter this kid would nave
died left as she was. Curse that Belle.
Brown. if you ever come across her, do