White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-02-24
CHAPTER XIV.

Murk Davenport was prosperous in all
his undertakings. His position in the
school did not give much scope to his
ambition. but the salary he received was
ample enough to pay his expenses, while
the duties were not so OnerOus as to en-
gross all his time. All his leisure was
gwen to literary pursuits. He had many
times thought he would relinquiSh the
drudgery of teaching, and support him
self by his pen but he remembered the
maxim of Scott-that literature was a
good staff, but poor crutch, and he stuck
to his school. As he grew into a prac-
ticed writer, he became connected with
the staff of daily newspaper in the great
city, furnishing leading articles when cal
led upon, and he soon acquired position
of influence among his associates. He
had maintained a correspondence with
Mildred, and was looking forward to the
time when he should make visit to his
native town. hoping then to be SO well
established in the world, that he might
be able to bring her back with him as
his bride. Every thought centred in her.
He coveted fame, wealth, position. only
for her sake; and stimulated by this
thought, he had madoexertions that would
have broken down a man less vigorous
and less resolute.
He received letter from Innisfeld one
day. after long interval-so long that
he had become uneasy, and imagined ev-
cry kind of evil as the cause of delay.
He broke the seal it was not from Mil
drod, but from his cousin Lizzy. These
were the contents -
MY DEAR MARK suppose you may
have been anxious before this, at not hear
ing from us but the truth is we have not
had anything pleasant to write. and so
have put of sending to you. Father is
by no means well or strong. The lawsuit,
which is nov likely to go wrong, has
troubled him very much. He has grown
thin, he stoops as he walks about, and
by night he coughs terribly, l rarely
hear him sing as he used to. Then Squire
Clamp has complained of him before the
church, and you know father is over-sen-
sitive about his relations with the breth-
ren'-even with those who are trying to
ruin him. He is melancholy enough. [
hope he will be better, if he gets through
his difficulties otherwise am afraid to
think of what may happen.
"You wonder. probably. at not getting
letter from Mildred. Don't be surpris-
ed when / tell You that she has left home
and is staying at Mr.. Affords. Mrs.
Kinloch has for long time. wanted her
to marry that hateful Hugh Draining.
and became so violent about it, that Mil
bred wss afraid of her. Lucy Ransom,
who lived there, ran away short time
ago. very mysteriously. 1t seems that
the girl had stolen something from the
house, and, after Mildred had plumply
refused to marry Hugh, Mrs Kinloch
charged upon her, that she had induced
Lucy to steal the papers or money, or
whatever it was. Mrs. Kinloch acted so
like an insane woman, that Mildred would
not stay in the aonse. but ran over to Mr..
Affords with only the clothes she wore.
She passed by our house yesterday, and
told me this hurriedly. / have heard.
too, that Squire Clamp is about to marry
Mrs. KinIoch. and that he actually has
procured the license. It's a very strange
affair.
ITO gil out the account Of disagreeable