Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-12-19
f Christmas Caprice
By Mrs. w. Howard Brown

the value of my chef. He showers me
with these food memoranda as if they
were poet cal gems"
IT'S a kind of poetical justice, my
dear" croaked an ancient voice at her
elbow.
A tall old woman, with curled black
hair, heavy black gown, and the gilt
ter of many rngs on her bent fingers.
came through portiere, with quick
step, and paused before the speaker
with a smile that grew from geniality
to grimness. There was a certain
Grabbed cheerfulness in this lady
countenance and manner that made
her interesting to people fond of char
acter study. But her niece, though
slightly startled by her entrance, lost
nothing of her cool Indifference. Miss
Van Spuytentuyfel was evidently not
;ll-pleased to observe her niece's in
voluntary chagrin at being caught at
the cigarette smoking. Not that Amy
Price would condescend to conceal any
| foolish habit she might choose to
adopt, but great Aunt Van Spuyten-
| tuyfel was aware that the young wo-
man would prefer to have her learn of
it from hearsay, a form of information
to which the discerning dame gave lit
| tie heed In her own keen eyes and
! ears she placed. her sole reliance for
the study of her race. They were eyes
and ears versed in every variety OF
worldly knowledge.
"Poetical justice demands that you
help to bear the burden if you share
the reward
Miss Van Spuytentuyfel packed to-
gethcr a pile of letters as if
she were new specimen OF
mail box. "Why shouldn't the mistress
bear a part in the servants cares and
qualms, dangers and agements,
as she reaps the benefits Of all his
triumphs in the f1attery of her gorging
guests.
"Gorging guests, Auntie! Your
phrase smacks, so to speak, OF me-
diaeval banquets, Forest Lover sort
of thing BY the way, if you want
any Forest Lovers, help yourself.
! nave received seven IOudy.
! 81 suppose they are drug in the
market to you?"
mo, hardly. Lovers have never
appealed to me; not even when it was
proper that they should. We're not
exactly a deeply loving family, such a
family as would tear a passion to tat
tiers, are we, Auntie dear?"
Miss Spuytentuyfel gave grim
chuckle, as upon this soft, slow speech
her niece arose and seemed to float in
her long lavender peignoir, to lean a
moment over the hearth fire. She
! delicately f1icked down into it her hall
smoked q cigarette, and offered to her
Aunt by a gesture, though without the
least attempt to place it for her, an
easy chair that stood between them.
81 have not heard that any of our
race ever went mad for love, or for
that matter ever missed a meal on &C
count of it,
Declining to be seated, the old lady
was turning over the trinkets and
examining the cards affixed to them.
NO" she reiterated, examining an
exquisite photograph of divine
mother and child, eve have none OF
us been willing to die nor to live for a
relations sake, nor can any OF our
names be written down as among those
who very ardently love their fellow
men. There seems to be some spiritu-
al impeachment that prevents our being
heroes or heroines in the strife
II wonder what is the chief cause OF
this spiritual impeachment" drawled
Amy, smiling at her reflection in an op-
Dosite mirror.
Il should say" replied Miss Van
Spuytentuyfel, slowly measuring out
! her words, II should say that the chief