Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-04-14

beth. He should have relinQuished it
to her. He had given Miss Prim rea-
son for hopes he never could realize;
and Mrs. TOmpkins certainly.
At that moment he gave start.
The door opened, and there entered
Mrs. Tompkins herself inpersOn-Mrs.
Tompkins alone.
"I'm first, Ideclare," said Mrs. Tomp.
kins, in stage aside. "No, I'm not.
There is Mr. Tobit. How my heart
palpitates.'
"Dear me-" said Mr.. Tobit to him
self, "this is dreadful. 1t is as | fear
ed" And he would have flown from
the spot, but that the terrible widow
at that moment seated herself at his
side, and actually put her hand upon
his arm.
"How nice TO be alone together
said Mrs. Tompkins.
"Ye-e-e.s," stammered Mr.. TObit.
"But don't you think people might
talk, and-and say things that weren't
so, if-if they were to know it,"
1--WE wouldn't carc-wOuld dwe?' said
the widow.
1-I should" said Mr.. Tobt.
"Yes, know you would" said Mrs.
Tompkins, "if il was anything that
would trouble me. And 50 would |,
if it troubled you, you dear old Tobit." ."
T-I-I-oh- --ah," stammcrcd Mr..
Tobit.
"YOu are my dear old TObiu, ain'i
you?" said the widow. "At all events,
you shall be. When shall ii come off,
Tobit?"
"W-h-h-at~ gasped poor Nh Tobil,
"The wedding, of course" said the
widow. "Sha'n't it bein church? chg
T--oh! THAT is"
"Of course your feelings oyerpower
you,' said the widow. ut might as
well be soon, for you are forty and
am thirty, and we haven't much time
to waste. Let it be tomorrow TObit,
dear. Oh! there's somebody. | can't
meet cm. Goodbye, dear" And off
she ran, whittier poor Tobit did not
know lie was too terribly shaken,
and too unutterably Mortified. And
just then a long lean hand in Isle
thread glove dropped upon his shoul-
der, and looking up, Mr. TObit saw Miss
Prim.
"ITow glad l am to see you alone '
said she.
"Thank ye,' said Tobit, family.
ave been impressed to seek 70 pri-
vate conversation with you for some
time" said Miss Prim II cant but
have read your feelin's, and | sympa-
thize with 'em. True. there's twenty
years advantage on my side, but don't
mind that. Whenever you see fit to
step off, we will. Only Id like to feel
certain you'll hire pew high up in
front, for I'm little hard Of hcaIn'.
That settled, we'll agree
81 shall have one very fan Mck,
ma'am," said Tobit, in desperation,
"Well, trles sha'n't part us" said
Miss Prim. 81 knew I'd have to speak,
because you are so bashful. AIS SET
tied now, and I'm glad ont. Bless me,
I've left my specks ut home. must
90 after 'cm. All is settled, You re-
member. Wen he married about the
eend of the month, and 90 TO brother
Silas' folks for our trip
Poor Mr. Tobit sat spccchlcss. lie
had brought all this ON himself. Bat
it was dreadful.
"Nlr. Tobit," said new voice, and
there stood Miss Fox, smiling, show
do you do? How lovely you are look
ing tonight"
"Thank you," said Mr.. Tobit. 81
don't feel very WELL
"Don't you?" said Miss Fox. ~
little agitated, perhaps"
"Ye-es," said Mr.. TObit. "Eyents
have transpired which"
"0h, know what it is said Miss
Fox. "It's the sight of me. Don't
your heart go pitapat, and your brain
60 whirligig? Mine does"
IL haven't got any heart" STAN
mered Mr.. Tobit. 81 hope no one
thinks | have"
81 know-you'ye given it all to me, y
said Miss Fox. shaking her head. "Oh
you naughty man! We'll, since you
will be so persistent, you may ask pa.
If you hadn't tormcnted me so I'd
never have consented always said
never meant to marry"
81 beg you won't do anything yor
don't like on my account" said Mr. TO.
bit.
"Oh, but-really you have such {
way with you," said Miss Fox. "IIush
there's a step. Pm going to hide
Don't say I'm here. I'm so confused
you know" And she vanished.
This time it was Maria Elizabeth
She stood before Mr.. Tobit, and looked
at him u moment. Then she giggled
Then she spoke:
"Mr. Tobit," she said, Historically
"would you please to have me? II
would be so delighted. I'm dreadfully
in love with you, as you know. Ant
your attentions have been 50 particu
lar All sorts of hopes have beer
awakened in my bosom, and I'll be
quite blighted ifyou say no. /"
But then Mr.. Tobit, seizing his hal
in one hand and his umbrella in the
other, darted towards the door lie
had borne as much as he could, AMI
fight alone remained to him. But lie
was not allowed to fly. There in the
doorway stood Miss Prim and the wild
ow, arm in arm; behind them Miss Fox
with hand on either shoulder. And
at the instant the curtain which hung
before the platform was drawn back
| and Mr.. Tobit beheld all the ladies Of the
Sewing Circle, with handkerchiefs tc
to their mouths. From among then
: stepped Mrs. Tripper, as spokeswoman
"Mr. Tobit," said that lady, "you'v6
had four offers to-day. If you thinl,
: you've awakened false hopes in any more
of our bosoms, we are all ready to give
you a chance to say NO Perhaps you
may think the trick we've played on
you n hard one; but after this you'll re
member that it is rather dangerous tC
take things for granted. Find out that
a woman is in love with you, or thinks