Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-12-22

hand on his friends shoulder. "LoOl
here, Brad Johnson" he says, I'VE are
going to find that wife and those chill
dren pretty soon, | suspect. Ant
you've got to keep cool. Dye hear p
"What do you mean?' gasps the
sailor.
The eye of Mr., Halliburton Todd is
quietly lifted TO the window of the
second story opposite. His friends
eye follows, and falls on the picture
we saw Il little while ago-thc mother
intent upon the book. the children in
tent upon the mothers face,
There IS no Outcry, but the father
lifts his hands, as if to heaven, stag
gers little, and then plunges across
the street Mr.. Todd is after him
and seizes him by the collar just as he
reaches the foot of the stairs.
"IIold on, man. he says, decsiyely
"You mustn't rush in on that woman
in this way. You'd kill her, She's
none too strong. Wait here a few mo.
ments, and III break it to her"
"You're right" answers the father
pressing his hands against his temples,
and steadying himself by the wall,
"But you won't keep me waiting long,
will you?'
"Mr. Halliburton Todd knocks at the
door and is let in by Ben.
"Oh, Mr.. Todd, how good you arcl
Thank you a ahundred thousand timcsl'
cry both the children at once.
"Well, Pm glad if you've enjoyed my
little gifts" he answers. "But I've
been thinking that your good mother
ought to have a little of the cheer Of
this Christmas as well as YOU
"Just what we said" answers Ben.
Mrs. Johnson cOlors Il little, but be.
fore she can speak, Mr.. Todd goes on.
pardon me, madam, but what your
minister told me yesterday of your
affairs has led me to take IL deep inter
est in them. How long is it since your
husband left hOme?"
"MOre than two years answers the
lady,
"YOu have had no direct intelligence
from him since he went away?'
"None at all, save the painful news
of the loss of his vessel. with all on
board"
"lIave you ever learned the full par.
ticulars of the shipwreck?'
mo; how could I?' Mrs. Johnson
turns suddenly pale,
BE calm, beseech you, my dear
lady. did not suppose that you could
have heard. But l met just now, in
the street, an Old friend OF mine-and
of yours-who knows Il good deal
about it. And l want to assure you,
before be comes in, that-that the story
as it reached yOu-was-was consider.
ably exaggerated, that is all. Excuse
me, and l will send in my friend
Mr.. Todd quickly withdraws. The
color comes and goes upon the mothers
face. "Merciful Father" she cries,
"what does it all mean2'
She rises from the chair; the dOol
that Mr.. Todd left ajar gently opens,
and quickly closes. We will not open
it again just now. That place is toe
sacred for prying eyes. 1t is great
cry of joy that fills the ears and eyes
of Mr.. Halliburton Todd, as he goes
softly down the stairs and walks away
to his hoter
"Isn't it," ventures Ben, timidly, as
if the words were a proclamation, "isn't
it about time for dinncr2"
"Indeed it is, my boy, answers his
mother; "and I'm afraid our dinner is
spoiled. Open the oven door, Raby.'
Ruby obeys, and finds the poor, for.
gotten chicken done to a cinder. "Nev.
er mind" says the mother. "0ur din
ner will he Il little late, but We'll lnd
something with which to keep the
feast
Just then, there is Il knock at the
door opening into the new neighbor's
apartment.
"What can they want?' says Mrs
Johnson. perhaps, my dear, you had
better answer the knock. They are
newcomers to-day"
Mr.. johnson pushes back the bolt
and opens the door. The room is hung
with profusiOn of Christmas green's
A large bright fire blazes on the
hearth. A table in the middle of the
room is loaded with smoking viands
A smiling colored waiter with napkin
on arm, bows politely when the door is
opened
"Ef You please, sab, dinnah is ready
sahw
"Whose dimer?" demands Mr., John.
son.
"Your dinnah, sab. De folks din
nah n dis yer front room. 1t was or
dered fO' dem,"
"Where was it ordered2'
"Copeland's sah."
"Who ordered it?"
"Gem'pm'n with gray liberated coal
on, sab; | seen him kim up to youl
room bout n hour ago. | was to gil
it all ready'n' call you jes' half-past
two
"Another of Todd's surprises" eX
claims Mr.. johnson. "Well, my dears
the dinner is here; and we should b'
very ungrateful not to partake of i
with thanksgiving"
By and by, when the cloth is re
moved, and they are seated around TIN
open fire, Ruby says, musngly; "Papa
did yon really and truly know Mr.
Todd when you were boy?'
Certainly, my darling, why do yo'
ask%
81 can't quite Think" says the girl
"that he is a real man. / seems to mi
as if he must be All angel"
While she speaks, the angel is knock
ing at the door. They all fly to him
) the father hugs him; the mother kisse
his hand; the children clasp his knees
"Help! helpp shouts the heart.
lumberman, 81 didn't come here to b
| garroted."
Then, with much laughing and cry
ing, they tell him Ruby's doubts con
, cerning him.
t "Well," he says merrily, 81 may b
an angel, but if so | am not aware o
{ it. Angels are not generally addicte
8 to the lumber business. And yo
needn't make any more speeches to mt
for haven't time to hear 'em. Fac
. ID this has hpnn the very rpddeSt of al