Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-12-29

Had it been in reality SO, l should
not have been more astonished than |
was to see Johns wife stealing like a
shadow into the room, clad in her long,
snow-white night robes. "Great heav-
en-" l murmured, "what can this
meanp Is the woman troubled with
fits of lunacy? Is it not my duty to
summon assistance for fear she may
injure herself?" 1 certainly would
have spoken to her, but surprise
chained my tongue. She carried a
small lamp in her hand-paused for
an instant after crossing the threshold,
and listened. Then, as if satisfied that
was sleeping, she advanced softly to
the table, picked up my iewelry, and,
without looking again at the bed,
darted swiftly out of the room.
Great drops of perspiratiOn stood
upon my forehead, and it was fully ten
minutes before my brain again began
to act coherently, so spellbound and
shocked was |. But as soon as pOsSi-
bic l got up and went to the table,
hoping that it was all a wild dream.
No, my eyes had not deceived me. My
watch and pin were both gone, and the
door ajar. l opened it cautiously, and
looked out into the hall. There was
no one visible-not a sound to be
heard. l again closed the door, this
time taking good care to lock it, and
returned to bed in 10 enviable state of
mind, asking myself over ant over
again what il could possibly mean.
Could it be that Johns pretty q nc
complished wife was thieGY
l shuddered at the thought, and yet
what else could decide upon; | had
seen her enter the room at the deai
midnight hOur-had seen her pause
and listen-had seen her glance anX-
iously arouAd, as if fearful of detec-
tion-and, worse than all, had seen
her appropriate and secrete my yalua-
bles. l had heard of such things be.
fOre-of kleptOmania in ladies rich
and high in station, and at last was
forced to the conclusion that my
friends wife was a victim of this I'M
fortunate disease. What should | do?
Ilay awake until nearly morning ask
ing myself the perpleXing question. Did
John know Of the-fatal habit Of his
wife? Did her sister-her sweet sister
Kitty? Was it hereditary in the fam
lily? The thought was horrible, especi-
ally to one who had had his heart
touched by her l0veliness and win
some ways rs mine had been.
But what was my duty? ClGmly to
inform John; and yet how could !
do SOP Certainly lie would doubt my
word-his wife woulAi deny it, and he
would believe her. Never was man
in a more perpleXing situation. ! fell
asleep without having formed any def
mite plan, and was awall ened ut a late
hour by a loud rap upon my door, and
the CHEEKY voice Of my friend John,
telling me that the second ieli had
rung and breakfast was waiting-ihat
| outdid the seven sleepers, and that
he wanted to see me.
"What do you think of my wife,
was his first question "Isn'J She
matchless perfection Beautiful nc
complished, and"
"Certainly Il wonderful womn,' |
replied; and then instantly resolved
that ] never would mieceiye so trust
ing and happy 4 hcmt-tllat lie should
never hear of the questionable proceed
ings of the previous night, but that |
would quietly bide my time for an cx-
planation, even though the loss to me
was a great one
When we entered the brealifast.rOom
Johns wife came forward and greeted
me just as cordially as she had done
upon the previous evening. There was
not the slightest hesitation, no deepen,
ing Of color, no trembling Of lip OF
voice when she asked me, in the most
natural manner possible, if l had rest.
ed well and had sweet dreams. The
question sent all the blood to my face
which fortunately was unnoticed, save
the laughing remark from John, that
"he never thought l WIS so bashlul q
man."
"What hardened and cOnsummatt
actor your wife must be-" | thought
as | turned TO speak TO the blooming
Kitty, who came in mt the same mo-
ment, dressed in a pretty morning.robC
of azure silk, that set off her blonde
complexion to the greatest advantage
In an instantmy blood was in u gallop
and then surged back to my heart
Was she, too, al dared not think fur
ther
But poor John! Some day he wOult
learn his disgrace and her guilt-sht
whom he worshipped with such blint
alteration. 1t would be terrible t
such heart as his-wOuld crush hin
; to the earth. Never did food choke
me so much as then The forced at
tempt to appear cheerful was torture
and l was very glad when the meal wa!
finished and we went out together, hC
happy in his mdisturbed love, and
, , wearing milestone about my heart.
We returned in the evening, JOIN
: laden with packages, holiday gifts, ant
| too sad to have been even mindful O
Kitty. Johns wife met him in thC
hall with the kindest of words ant
, sweetest of kissps-a serpents tOnput
/ and a Judas kiss, as | could not hell
/ thinking. did not envy him the en-
dearments of the arch traitoress whit
could rob his friend under his owl
8 roof-wbo had no doubt invited hin
! there for that especial purpose.
( Kitty did not come down to dinner
S Her sister said she was not well. Tht
D feast, for it was one in reality, was t,
t me distasteful, and it was relief t
| me to adjourn with John to the library
, light our cigars, and talk over old col
/ lege days. We passed an hour thus
0 the first PLEASANT one during the day
Y then John was summoned by his wifi,
g to attend her on little shopping eXpe
dltion, and was left alone again Il
Q my sad thoughts. But was not t,
+ long remain thus. There was a sof
4 tap upon the door, and Kitty Manver
l entered. Her face was white as mar
BILE, her beautiful eyes red and swollel
with weeping, her form trembling con
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