Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1879-10-02
JHBreRanp.
MORE THAN HER MATCH.

| MORE THAN HER MATCH.
| Long shafts of moonlight were shooting
down through what seemed an almost i'm.
penctrable wood and quivering on the
green MOSES. A faint wind dalled with
the foliage. Wild flowers hecked the
ground.
Here, in this sylvan retreat, sat Miss
Barron, and she was very much out OF
humor, for every now and then she drove
the point OF her parasol INTO the unofiend-
ing MOSES. She looked and was down
right disgusted with everything and cv-
erybOdy. The belle Of three seasons, dur
ing which she had escaped heart whole,
she was now caught, and all because of Il
three weeks solourn at country villa.
To be sure, moonlight, sitting through
vines over rustic porch, has something
more intoxicating than the glare of gas
jets; a wandering, scented wind Just off
from the meadows, has rather a finer APP
peal than air vitiated by cut flowers and
gas; drives over grass-grown roads that
are fledged with wild vines and are over
hung with branches are just trife differ
ent in effect from the London parks in
landau or phaeton; and that animal, man,
who, in town, is so carefully dressed, is,
in the country, where one would suppose
geological specimens would thrive better,
something more human, in tweed and felt
hat. At any rate Madge had found it so
Madge had never been off her guard be.
fore. Hitherto she had visited fashona-
ble watering places, but this year she had
come to a quieter place, and had met
Lyndhurst harrington. She did not yet
know, however, she was in thraldOm.
She only knew she was cross and lone
some; and so she sat punching the little
blossoms and pouting. She thought Bar
ringtOn exceedingly companionabe, and
that the other four gentlemen stopping at
the villa were little better than wooden
men. As for downright, earnest love,
why, her intentions for three years had
been never to venture her heart at sea,
but only to glide along the shore, flirting,
safe to disembark at any time. Yet she
was now thinking Of Lyndhurst Barring,
ton in way many would have termed
love. But she would not admit this to
herself. He was n delightful summer
friend, that was all, she said. She liked
summer and flowers, and hazy atmos-
pheres, and birds, and quiet Irritation,
but when these went, the season brought
new enJoyments and fresh flirtations, and
Darlington could go with them. Were
there not others, pray, who could read
Tennyson, and sing tenOrp But now,
Just this moment, it was rather lonesome.
If he only would come!
He had gone to town the morning pre-
vious, promising to return in the evening.
She had walked with him through this
wood-path, on his way to the station. He
had fingered moment at the stile be-
yond to tell her how beautiful she looked
how the fresh morning air had bright
ened the color Of her cheeks.
"Come this evening as far as here to
meet me-" he said, won't you? The
path will be a horrid labyrinth without
YOU"
"You will surely return?" she had ask
hobgoblin when 90 back alone"
"Return, indeed shall think of moth
ing all day but put out my watch to see if
1t is time for the train"
Then he caught her hand in quick
way, thought moment, bounded over
the stile, and fastened down the path,
turning often to look back at the pretty
picture she made, listlessly leaning on the
stile, with tinge of regret in her face.
At turn where she would soon be hid
from sight he had dared to wave her
kiss.
Madge was now waiting, according to
annointment. and she had taken care TO
concoct ravishing toilet.
But all her little preparations were
wasted. Lyndhurst harrington did not
come. Still she waited. 1t seemed so un-
reasonable. so cruel to disappoint her.
Perhaps he was only trying to tease her,
had got out unseen, and would surprise
her directly by his appearance.
A doleful sough Of wind coming from
the dark recesses of the wood, sudden
shutting down Of night, made Miss Bar
ron feel something like fear, and she start
ed nervously to return. As it grew dark.
er her dread became terror. She fancied
strange noises were about; her feetscarce-
ly touched the ground; she skinned on,
futtering at heart like some low-hying
bird belated from its nest.
What wonder that she vowed that night,
us she brushed out her hair, never to for
give Mr.. Barringtonp What wonder that
harmless little bunch OF yiolets, which
he had gathered for her the day previous,
and which she had treasured in vase on
her dressing-room case, she now found fad
ed, disagreeable and oderless, and that
she tossed them pettishly out into the
darkness from her window?
Il detest himand his violets," she cried.
"He may stop in town till dOOmsday, for
aught | care"
Miss Barron did not sleep we'll, and rose
in the morning with little dull weight on
her feelings.
Perhaps" she thought "he will not
even come to-day"
As she dressed for breakfast, he was
constantly on her mind.
perhaps he did it on purpose" she
said. Perhaps he didn't, but lost the
train. But he had no business to lose the
train" she added Grossly. perhaps he
was i'll; perhaps some woman had asked
him to remain. Well, if so, don't care"
she added. "He shall see | am happy
enough, and not even piqued, when he
comes"
Still the day wore on, Madge found the
ladies Of the company provoking and the
gentlemen more uninteresting than ever.
Mechanically towards evening, she donned
the same toilet as on the night previous,
and took circuitous route through the
garden that none might be cognizant OF
her movements, Emerging out of sight,
she struck straight for the d.path; and
here we find her again listening for the