Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-02

CfCiy "oiu WHICH WTlto CotuoS from |
heart prompted by the purest of motives.
to give you a timely warning. and to ask |
| that you will lose no time In removing
your daughter and my dearest friend |
from this place. In doing this you will |
avert an evil which at present threatens
her young and innocent life. Before |
closing. ask that you will not let Clara |
know of this letter. at least for time. !
Hoping that you will regard these words
with the sincerity with which they are |
writte'. and trust me as contidingly. at
present. as you have ever done IN the |
past, | am yours in truth,
LIMA MAYNARD
OF course the character of this letter |
SO stunned Mrs. Morton at first that she |
hardly knew what to think She could |
not think that her darling would be
guilty OF anything wrong. and she was
almost angry at Lima for insinuating
such a thing. Here she read the letter
over again, then thought about it. turned
the subject over in her mind in every
way that she could to reflect little
light upon what seemed to her such a
mystery. Suddenly it occurred to her
why Lima had written this letter and she
sprang up from her seat, went to the
window in order to get her breath. for
the thoughts which now forced them
selves upon her mind seemed to sutiio-
cate and unnerve her almost completely.
Yet IN few moments she regained her
cemposure, and 1t was with grateful
heart that she blessed Lima for her
womanliness. "Good, noble girl; how can
l ever thank her enough for her kind
consideration for mine and my dear
child's happiness" So that evening Mrs
Morton startled her husband with the
unexpected request that he would 60
with her the next morning for Clara;
that she could not spare her any longer.
MIR. Morton looked pleased at the pros
pect of having the fair young girl. with
her sunny face and laughing eyes. at
home once more. yet he hesltated for
several moments before making bis wife
any reply, and then he said:
My dear. would it not look a little out
of place to leave home just when we are
looking tor my boy?'
But" said Mrs. Dupont, "it we
leave on the first train going out in the
morning. and make the right connec-
tions at the right time, we will get home
the same night Of the day on which
Eugene arrives"
But suppose we are detained day"
said Mr.. Morton, smiling ut her egotism
AIN that case" replied his wife, 81
will so arrange everything that your
darling will be just as comfortable as if
we were here
That seemed satisfactory to the hus-
band. and the next morning they LETT by
the earliest train for Georgetown.
The morning after the picnic Tracy
Myrle found that he was unable to ge,
out OF bed. On examining his ankle. he
found it very much swollen and in.
famed, and he knew that it was
sprained. and this, he said to himself. is
what got by meddling with that girl
but 1 will get even with her yet. mind
if don't. He knew it was not done
when he fell from the buggy. because
he remembered distinctly after getting
, !, up, when Lima pushed him off the stone
that he felt An aching twitching sensa
ton, but he did not at the time think i,
was anything serious; and he was sc
confounded at the idea of having to be
cooped up in his room probably tor s
week on account of this unfortunate af
fair that he thought he would get W
:, anyhow; but every attempt to raise him
self caused him to suffer such excruciat
:, ing pain that he would only fall bacl
, on his pillow and groan aloud. He wal
compelled to humble himself. and sent
for his sister, and implore her to dc
something to assuage the extreme pair
-, that was now tormenting him. Mrs
), Dupont called in the assistance of DR.
Cheatwood, and in a little whil'
the affected ankle was bandaget
and Tracy was sleeping some
what easier, though propped up will
g pillows in his bed. He also had tn
!. i satisfaction of hearing from the doctor
owns lips that it was a bad sprain. AM
u if he was not careful OF himself. b
u would not be able to walk one step tor
whole month. and probably longer.
This certainly Is not encouraging to
s man who is desperately in love with
pretty girls money. particularly whc
:, he feels that he is losing a great deal b
It absentng himself from her presence.
Lima never rejoiced in the suffering
of any one; vet. in her heart. she wa
thankful that something kept Trac
IL Myrle from Clara's side; for she wa
confident from her very silence this
n Mrs, Morton was already on her wa
r there for her daughter. Tracy ha
It been in bed just five days. during whic
time he had not seen Clara for a mr.
l ment. This evening he dressed himsrl
t and with the greatest difficulty pre-
It sented himself. to the surprise of all.
8 the drawlng-room. just as the famil
Y were in the very act of going out to SUP
Il per. In the meantime there was a rim
at the door, and before any one wa
aware OF II, Mr.. and Mrs. Morton wer
smiling in upon them. and Clara foun
u herself clasped IN her mothers arm!
All this time Lima stood apart from tn
. rest awaiting tor Mrs. Morton to com
u to her; tor while 1t is true that she be
y lieved her friends mother to be sensibl
: and discreet. yet she did not know e,
aetly in what light her letter was RI
Q garded, but if she entertained any dou
in regard to that lady's confidence
!, her, she was presently reassured by tn
affectionate manner in which she re
g celved her. tor the silent pressure of 1h
a hand. and the grateful look coming. in
d medlately. as it were, from the depth {
e her thankful heart. revealed to her wha
r language in its richest. purest eloquenc