Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-07-15

| you leave me so!
1t was not strange that that other time
should rise vividly before her; that day
six months ago when, in this very room,
in first blissful realization of their mutual
passion, he had fallen on his knees before
her, and solemnIy affirmed that, come
what would, no power on earth should
ever separate him from her.
"If ever a woman was sure Of mar, Sal
dee, you are sure Of mel"
What music the words were, though
neither of them could foresee the future
and the sore test that awaited them. All
seemed bright ahead; they were to be
married IN six months time, and she. was
to go away with him TO Brazil, where he
had secured government appointment.
There seemed no need of the passionate
protestations, this solemn oath of the fond
lover; their truth was to be tried. In the
fifth month of their engagement, Aunt
Ruth-of whom Saidee was the especial
pet and protege-was thrown from her car
riage and received injuries which, though
it was not believed they would prove fatal,
left her in very critical and apprchensiye
state.
True, the wedding day was named and
Wilfred must go; true, there were loving
hearts besides Saidcc to care for poor Aunt
Ruth, but it seemed to her tender nature
most Il crime to leave her, at least, until
danger was positively past, And when
one morning the old lady drew down the
fair face to hers and whispered, implor.
ingly, "You will not leave me, pet, while
there is II doubt of my getting well?" she
promised unhesiatingly that she would
not.
Perhaps if she had known Wilfrcd Hare
better she could not have promised so
readily. But she knew him only as the
tender lover, the man who had sworn that,
come what would, no power On earth
should ever separate him from her. 1t
could be easily settled, she thought, He,
as she, would feel very sad and disap-
pointed, but he, as she, must see the i'm
possibility of her going now, They could
be married, and as soon as Aunt Ruth was
decided out of danger she would go to him.
All this in full trust and faith she con-
fided to Wilfrcd Hare. She was i'll pre-
pared for the reception her words met,
the imperious workings of this mans will.
What right had she, without consulting
him even, to make n promise to any one
that conhicted with her own to himP His
love gave him the right to command her;
if she loved him she would obey. She
must marry him and 90 away with him,
else their present relations must cease.
In vain she pleaded her promise, her
tender affection for Aunt Ruth; he would
yield nothing to an old woman's whim.
So he remained imperious, persistent;
she troubled, yet hopeful, thinking that
finally he must yield, neither believing
that separation was possible when the
testing time should come.
Saidce strovc to smile; she took up her
wOrsteds and continued sorting them, as
| if thus to begin dsciplining herself for
the burdens of her new life. 1t could not
be otherwise, she tbought-she could not
break her promise to Aunt Ruth--she
cnuld not leave her now. And us Wilfred
willed, she must submit. Amid her pain
arose u sudden keen feeling of disappoint.
ment; it vanished almost immediately In
a realization that was born from it,
81 am so glad" she said softly, "that l.
am not one OF those who think perfect
object is necessary for loving; do not
think perfect object is test OF love. |
am not blind; Wilfred is very tYranmcal,
selfish, very, very unkind; but, as never
till to-day have fully realized it, so never
has he been so dear to me"
This realization awoke tender resolve.
81 can never let hlm go away SO,
must prove to him how dear he is and
must ever be 10 me.
From this came the tender note that
found its way next morning to Wiltrcd
Hare:
81 cannot let you go away, dear, with
out one little word. know you are
angry with me, and am very, very, un.
happy, for never, since our engagement,
have | loved you as to-day. My little
word is that must always, always love
you, and that | will never marry any man
but WilIred Hare. Perhaps some day
you will understand and forgive me; and
then you will be glad to think of this"
There was u great hope in Saidee that
this last would be. But it would not be
yet, she knew. He would 90 away; he
would not write to her. Very sadly she
dropped the tender little note in the mail
box, very dreariIy she went back the fa-
miliar road to her home.
1t seemed but yesterday that she had
walked here with Wilfred so happy and
confident. How sad and dark the road
seemed now! So absorbed was Saidee
that she did not see the man walking
ahead, who suddenly turned and paused,
as if awaiting her. She started as she
drew closer and perceived hhs; her first
Impulse was to flee; she shrank from the
sad face that she felt now was 50 much
like hers.
But it was too late. lie had retraced
his steps to meet her, and was now walk
ing at her side,
"Saidee," he said softly, "there are not
many days now. Do not send me away
from you"
lie made no effort to cloak his tender
ness, either by word or look. He had
loved her from the happy time when, as
children, they had walked this road to.
gethcr; she knew it, and it had once been
the great sorrow of her life that she could
not return this love.
| Despite the sting Of his words, there
! awoke in her heart pity for him, such as
she had never known before; n wild, re-
grettul longing that she could not have
loved him; sudden, strange realization
that she had wasted her affection, that
this mans staunch, loyal heart was
worth hundred such as Wilfred Hare's.
This last she battled quickly down; not
Lao tha ,,,t., Tho lan-,xa. t~o,,e,al,