The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-05-17
Jacob Higgins
and Peaches
BY Hi Akers


Copyright. 1917, by w. G. Chapman
Matthew Dakin came out of the Ag'
ricultural college considerably Inn
pressed with the practical knowledge
and sound sense of Jacob Higgins lee.
ture on peach growing. AS rule, Mr.
Dakin did not attend lectures. They
generally bored him; also theoretical
farming was to him of little account.
1t will be inferred that Matthew Dakin
had yet, in spite of his fifty-five years,
much to learn; but so has anyone who
allows himself to become prejudiceG
and to run in nice, smoothly worn ruts.
He had inherited comfortable for
tune, mostly in real estate in large
western city, and the care and manage
ment of it had kept him busy; but for
the past ten years he had given more
and more time to the culture Of his
garden and orchard belonging to his
pretty country home a few miles from
the city. The work became so alluring
that he had decided to go into fruit
raising on large scale. For this rea-
son he sought all the information on
the subject he could find, and having
been told that Jacob Higgins was a
great authority on peach culture, he
went to the lecture. Before he came
out he had arranged with Higgins for
private conference concerning his
venture.
Dakin's other great interest in life
was his daughter, Sue. She was all he
had. Her mother had died some ten
years before and Sue, having been
graduated from an Eastern college,
was now in Chicago studying illustrat-
ing, for which she had considerable
talent and liking. Her father was anx-
iously looking forward to the time
when she would again be home with
him. Marriage for his daughter was
something he had not yet considered ;
or, if it did fit into his mind, it meant
her settling down near his home and
within easy reach.
The conference with Higgins result
ed in Dakin asking him if he would go
with him and take look at a large
tract Of land which had been represent
ed to him as especially adapted to
peach growing, and which he intended
to buy for that purpose. Higgins went
with him and, after a careful examina-
ton, convinced him that it was neither
the right soil nor location for peach
raising, and Dakin did not purchase.
The owner, who had hoped to sell, an
grily denounced Higgins as graft
err" with something else to sell, but
as no proposition was made to Dakin
he was more than ever convinced of the
honesty and integrity of Jacob Hig-
gins.
He promised Higgins he would look
him up the next time he went East, as
he wanted very much to see his peach
orchard. Sue always spent the holi-
days with her father, and this time she
seemed in particularly happy, though
occasionally distracted frame of mind.
Finally it came to the knowledge Of
Papa Dakin that something had hap
pened of which he had not been in
formed. The suspicion was something
of a shock, but he determined to know
the worst, and set himself to find out.
Yes, it was true-Sue was in love.
"He is wonderful" said Sue. 81 know
you'll like him.
II don't know about that" demurred
Dakin. They're all wonderful be-
forehand."
II suppose even you were, Poppy"
She looked very demure and inno-
cent, but the quip did not defect her
father from his purpose.
whats his manner?
Gerald Fielding"
"Huh! Sounds like a paper-back
novel;"
"a man can't help his name"
II suppose not. What does he do?"
"He is in the profession-an actor"
Dakin nearly jumped from his chair.
"Great Scotty' he snorted. "Do they
call that a professionT
Poppy, dear!" expostulated Sue.
"You are terribly behind the times.
People now consider it one Of the
greatest in the world"
'They can; but don't. True, few
men and women have been ornaments
to the stage-have lived good lives and
become famous but the ordinary run
why, it's such a haphazard, go-as-you-
please, impecunious kind of a life
the last kind I'd want to see you tied
to-"
"But, daddy, they're not all 'haphaz-
ard or impecunious.' Gerald isn't"
"How do you know?"
"He said he had enough for us both
to live on comfortably"
"Huh!' shifted Dakin incredulously.
"Where did you meet 'GeraldY"
"At Grace Welby's."
Bohemian studio, cigarettes, beer"
'sNov" broke in Sue. Sat her own
home, with her father and mother.
They entertain some Of the best people
in Chicago Sunday evenings"
"How long ago?
"Nearly three months ago. He was
playing there, and"
What theater?"
SIN vaudeville. It was"
vaudeville! !" shouted Dakin, with
intense disgust. Il suppose he whacks
a fellow with a stuffed club and calls
it comedy"
mot at ALL" protested Sue, now al
most in tears. Its a beautiful little
SKETCH"