Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-09-15
MARCIA ARNOLD.


The town Of r., in the State of
O., is distant twenty-five miles from
the well known city Of c., and being
beautiful village, is much patronzed
by the wealthy residents of the neigh.
boring city as summer home. 1t is
not merely Il place of pleasant but
transient resort, but many metro.
poliian families have permanently
located there, having erected ele
CANT mansions and establishc5
themselves as residents, the hus
bands, fathers, brothers and so
going daily TO and fro in the in.
terests Of business. OF course more or
less intercourse with the villages
would ensue, and as church and sOc.ll
relations were developed by time
friendly ties were woven and man
friendships cemented between th'
lowns-pcople and their city acquainJ-
ances. It was in this way that Marcia
Arnold, the acknowledged belle of r.,
met and won the attention of ROgey
Earle. Marcia was a sensible, hani-
some, conscientious girl. She had nay-
er been known to do Il mean thing in
her life. AS little girl, she was the
prime fayorite with both teachers and
scholars, a bright, ready pupil, lust
arbitress in all childish disputes, gen
crOus and affectiOnate, she was loved
by all her mates without Il pang OF
jealousy; and as the years threw the
mantle of grace over the young form,
the love remained undiminished. Self,
consciousness snd vanity were utterly
foreign to Marcias nature. Resolutely
on the side of right, hers would he a
leading mino in all stations of life;
and when | add that Marca's father
was one of the poteltates of our vii
lage, you may well think that we re-
garded her as a fit mate for any man,
however proud and naughty and satu-
rated with aristOcratic ideas.
Roger Earle met her a year or two
previous to the temperance excitement
Judge Earle, cultivated and stately
gentleman CT the old school, Chester
lieldian style, had retired from business
cares, and for five years had resided in
our pretty town. Part of this time
Roger had spent pursuing his studies
at distant college; one year abroad
succeeded this, and then our curiosity
was gratiled by a sight of the long
expected heir of "MOntrOse Hall" as
Judge Earles residence was termed.
'Courtly and distinguished was the
universal verdict. and when the Judge
threw wide his hospitable doors and
invited his friends and neighbors to re.
joice with him that his only son had
returned-fOl brothers and sisters
there were none in this elegant home
and the dear wife had long ago been
laid away under the brown earth-then
there was a delightful ripple in Our
village life till the anticipated evening
at last arrived. 1t was within the
luxurious walls of his own home that
Roger first met Marcia We saw his
dark eyes following her perfect figure
in admiration of its beauty; we saw
after the formula of an introduction,
the fascination that charmed him and
perforce compelled him to linger by
her side;w saw his arm offered when
the signal for refreshments was given
and |, who sat near at the glittering,
silver-loaded table, noted the look OF
pain that fitted over her beautiful
face as her youthful host slipped from
delightful glass the ruddy flame Of a
rare Italian wine. NO" she replied
when he pressed her to partake of The
bright and costly liquid; 81 have yet
to taste the first drop of aught that
conduces to mans misery and frequent
ruin Rogers face flushed deeply
but naught else betrayed the emotion
her reply had stirred. And from that
hour he had persistently sought her
while we humber and palmer girls
had no idea of disputing her chic
right TO his admiration, and were Meth
cr surprised nor enviOus when W,
iullllu lid uIlIllllullo oulNly hNla
Marcia's cheeks would flush and he
lustious eyes shine with added brillianc,
at his approach, and yet she evidentl,
avoided him just a little. Why, w
did not know, for we never banteret
her or tested upon the subject, our es
TEEN for her was too thorough 70
that. alone suspected-it was only
suspicion-that the memory of tina
wine cup, with its sparkling, rudd
vintage, filled her with nameles
dread of the man she loved. ha,
guessed that, too-her changing colo
had revealed much to me.
How all this would eliminate | of
en- wondered, but in the midst OF on
quiet calm, murmurs of the advancin
temperance tidal wave, of the "Mul
ply Movement" reached us, and in
few days thereafter the town was eleC
triiled by the advent Of an elOquer
pleader in the temperance cause.
Evening after evening the spaciou
town hall was crowded to its utmos
capacity. People laughed and weL
as the "roll of honor" heightened. Yt
there were many who, proud and SCI
sufficient, held back, among these wa
Roger.
Timidity had prevented raany of III
younger ladies' from going forwart
and still others waited Marcia's lead,
among the number, for when discus