Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-06-16
"The old man wants to see you
about that Fairweather business"

"Ille OLD man wants 10 see you
about that Fairweather business"
"Show him in. Don't look so dissa-
pointed, love-" he said, as the grizzled
head disappeared; 81 shall not be de-
tained three minutes, and the horses
are at the door,"
Mary Everleigh never troubled her
pretty little head about business mat
ters, so she never looked up as the
halting sound of old Mr.. Raynesford's
cruch echoed on the carpet. But the
instant he spoke, she started as if an
arrow had smtten her, and stood with
her eyes dialated, and her slender hands
clasped together, listening as intently
as though her life depended upon hear
ing every word The old man was
pleading and sorrowful, her husband
politely inilexible. At length Job
Raynesford turned TO go.
"Well, sir" he said in a subdued
tone, 81 don't know much about law
and law-books, but it does seem hard
that an old man should be turned out
of the home that has sheltered him for
sixty years, and all of no fault of his
own. They say you are u very rich
gentleman, sir-$j,OOO may seem a
small sum TO you, but it is my ALL"
Mrs. Everleig's soft voice broke the
momentary silence that succeeded this
appeal. walter, come here one min
ute--I want to speak to YOU"
He obcycd, somewhat surprised; she
drew him into deep recess of the
staincd-glaSs bay-windoW, and standing
there with the rosy and amber shadows
playing about her lovely brow like
some pictured saint, she told him how
twenty years ago, Il wearied child and
its mother were fed and sheltered by a
kind-hcartcd stranger; how he had CIV
en- them money and kind wishes, when
they were utterly alone and desolate in
the wide world.
"But, my love, what has all this TO
do with my business matters?"
"NIuch, Walter! | am that little
child"
"YOu, my dcarcstw
al, my husband; and the noble man
who, am pursuaded, saved my life
that night, stands yonder, with gray,
bowed head and sinking heart"
MARY, you must surely he mistak-
en-"
~ can not be mistaken, Walter; |
should know him among Il thousand.
You said you loved me this morning
now grant me one little boon"
"What is it, dearcst?'
Give me that note he spoke Of"
Mr. Everleigh silently went to a small
ebony cabinet, unlocked it and drew
out a folded paper, which he placed in
her hands. She glided up to the old
man, who had been gazing out of the
window in Il sort of a reyerie, and laid
her hand on his arm. ado you re-
member the little gOldcn-haircd Mary,
whom you found, with her mother,
wearied out on the roadside twenty
years ago."
ado remember her, lady? 1t was
but this very morning | was recalling
the scene"
"And don't you recognize mc?' she
said, smiling up into Lis face, as she
drew back the dropping curls, 81 am
little Mary"
lie stood in bewildcred silence; all
of sudden the truth seemed to break
upon him, and he laid his hands upon
her head with cheerful blessing.
".lnd your mother, my child?'
"She has been dead for years, but it
is my dearest task to be theinstrument
of her gratitude. Here is the note you
endorsed-my husband has given it to
me- scc"'
A small spirit lamp was burning in
one of the inches; she held the bit of
paper over the flame until it fell a
cloud of light upon the floor.
"
"Well?"
Mrs. Raynesford met her husband at
the door, at the instant his crutches
sounded or the graveled path.
"Why don't you speak? Of course
| know you've nothing but bad news to
tell, but | may as well hear it at once.
Have you seen the gentleman? What
did he say
"IIamah," said old Job Raynesford,
slowly folding his gloves, "do you re-
member the ten dollars | gave that
poor, young wanderer a score of years
ago."
"Why, of course | do; didn't | re-
mind yOu of itnot twelve hourse since?
What has that to do with our troubles,
pray?"
"Just this-to day | received pay
mcnt-principal and interest"
"What do you mean, Job Raynes-
ford?'
"The little gUlden-haired child that
sat beside our hearthstOne that June
evening, is Lawyer Everleigh's wife,
and have seen her burn the note that
has hung around my neck like mill
stone for years. She said it was but
discharging sacred debt of gratitude,
but heaven knows | looked for no such
reward"
There was a moments silence The
old man was rendering over the past,
and Mrs. Rayncsford was so taken by
surprise that she really could not
speak"
"And now, wife, what have you to
say about my financial mistakes" ask
ed Mr., Rayneslord earnestly.
She came to his side, and hiding her
old face on his arm, humbly said
"GOd be merciful unto me sinner
How We Were "Buttonholed.
"Iook here | don't want to button
hole Won with any nOlitical Intentions.