Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-04-29
Hisrsispg,
SINCLAIR'S DECEIT.

The sun, rs a great round ball Of golden
red, was fast descending through the love
ly purple haze of Indian summer, which
melloEed the distant hills Of the Blue
Ride mountains, with an indescribable
charm, as Ralph Waldron drove up to one
of those old, but aristocratic, mansions OF
the Shenandoah valley-the home of some
of the best blood of Virginia. He had
been invited by its ho'pitable owner to
spend few days in quail.shooting among
its rich stubbles. The same day he came,
Harry Sinclair, young farmer from an
adjoining county, had also arrived ostensi-
bly, to enjoy the rare shootings of the
neighborhood, but in reality to continue
lis address to Blanche Randolph, the only
daughter and child OF their host and to
whom for twelve months he had vainly
declared his love. Ralph Waldron was
welcomed by the old friend of his father
in the ball, and, Ns the door of the stately
parlor was opened, Blanche. with face to.
ward the setting sun and back to Sinclair,
was heard to say in tender womanly
voice, mo, it can never be. The noise
Of their entrance attracted the attention
Of the two, and Col. Randolph at once
presented his young friend TO his daugh.
ter, and to the gentleman by her side. 1t
was an embarrassing situation tor her, but
recovering herself instantly, with exqui.
site womanly tact che hade him welcome.
Blanche Randolph was woman Of pecu-
liarly rare attractiveness for one so young,
combln ng almost faultless beauty with a
grace of manner that was irresistible,
These characteristics she had inherited
from long line of ancestry that had
lclaimed the iairest daughters, whose
beauty aud wit had been heightened by
frequent participation in the out door
Isports Of the country, and social inter.
C wie with the most gallant gentleman OF
the times. But the most unwelcome visit
or was Waldron to Sinclair. He had
hoped that in the solitude of the country
home, with no opposition, he would at
last persuade her to be his own When
he saw Waldron enter with such an air OF
culture and refinement, and of such a
prepossessing appearance, an indefinable
dread leaped into his heart-the future
stepped back into the present with pro.
phetc clearness-there was his rival.
i The evening passed pleasantly enough
for all but him. The colonel told, with
the rekindled fire of youth of the sports oI
former days, when every man was fox.
hunter-how he could stop the whirring
quail and silent woodcock, the music o.
the deep-bayed hounds, and the silent
stalk of the ever-watchful stag, until the
old time-pieca at the head of the stair,
warned them that it was time to retire
) As they rose, Blanche went to the mantel
took solitary bud from the vase, and
, SAID: "This is the last rose Of summer, il
shall be his who brings the larger number
Of birds tomorrow As the two young
men separated, each determined for him
self that he would win the prize. Wald
ron, as he lay trying to entice sleep to hi
eyes, recalled with the glow of younl
manhood the sweet glances he had caught
and the more eager he was to win he
love. Sinclair would defeat the city gen
tleman, and have her 6x with her owl
sweet hands the rosebud in his button
, hole before the very eyes Of his adversary
! Thus each lay with their thoughts till lonl
past midnight. Blanche thought OF them
too, for while, as young maiden would
!, and quietly dropped off to sleep, no
dreaming Of the profound rivalry she hat
melted. There is no deeper strain capa
bic of taxing the young breast of man
hood than the contest Of winning the ap
,, probation Of woman over the head of {
rival.
Morning came and with it Lowell,
,, autumn day, clear and bIacing. Blanch,
, stood in the hallway and bade them adie,
as each separated-one to the west ant
the other to the east. All day long they
!, hunted every field and hedge row, urginl
to the last degree their willing dogs. Ii
, the morning Waldron shot with nervous
ness, the effect of his sleepless night anC
, inward excitement, aud missed many bird
that In n calmer moment he would hav,
killed in the air. Sinclair was steadier
, but by no means in his best form. A
evening drew on Waldron recovered from
his uneasiness, and, thanks to the untir
ing and indomitable energy Of his Irisl
. setter, who was apparently better than il
the morning, made up much Of his loss
. while his competitor failed instead Of i'm
/ proving. Twilight came too soon fs
each-the birds were all afield, until a
slast, in rising, the shooter had TO drop +