Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1881-07-21

The stern, grave face of Ernest Dar-
rell was sterner and graver still-even
Lillian might have shrunk from it then
and Marian, the woman who had
blighted his life, fell at his feet.
"Ohl Ernest, my husband--my
much-wronged husband-forgiye me"
she cried. 81 have suffered deeply
ever since that day l left YOU"
Suffered" repeated Ernest, in cold,
rigid tones. "IIave you ever thought
of what suffered?'
"Yes, yes; ter thousand times" re-
piled Lilian's mother, in voice we'll
nigh chOked with emotion. "But mine
has been the mdying worm of an ac-
cusing conscience. Oh, Ernest, have
been justly punished for my wicked
ness. But / never knew how dearly |
loved you until | lost yOu-until | had
sacrificed that which | would have
given the best years of my life to bring
back. Remember what | have always
been--a spoiled, petted child, with new
er wish ungratifed, and it seemed 50
hard to face poverty, even with you.
| was very young-only seventeen, re
member, Ernest-and all through the
dim vista of years that lay before me |
saw nothing but want, penury, and de-
priyatiOn. | fled in a moment of mad
ness, dclirium, anything you like to call
Iit-leaving behind me that cold note
in which | bade you never seek me. |
did not go home, for my parents would
have Immediately communicated with
you. | went to an uncle that loved me
only too well-sinful wretch that |
was--and told him a lie, that you had
deceived me, and that married beg
gar whom believed to have been rich.
lie was a bachelor, and lived secluded
life, away from all relatives and
friends. think | was the only crea-
turc he loved on earth, and we two
lived alone.
"At his house my little child was
born, and it was then | began to think
and long for you. | wrote and told
my parents ts-as soon as was able-Of
what | had done, and babe them seek
you and bring you back home. They
wrote | know, but never received any
answer; and so | thought you had
treated me us ! deserved, and had re-
solved to forget me forever. When
Lillian was three years old my uncle
died, leaving me his heiress, and took
this house in which | have lived ever
since alone-quite alone, with my
child. Oh, Ernest, how | have longed
for you, and prayed to heaven to send
you back to me! | have seen your
name in the newspapers sometimes,
and know that us an artist you have
risen to fame. And now, Ernest, for
our child's sake, forgive me-taka me
back, and try to think of me as lenient-
ly as possible. | know that you can
never love me again. | don't expect
you to; but"
"Indccd Marian, you are wrong;
have never ceased to love you" inter-
ruptcd Ernest's cold stern voice. 81
have been as truly your husband in
heart, all through these bitter years,
as if we had never parted. | have
wept for you and prayed for you, too,
over and over again. But"
"But you cannot take me back. No,
nor exclaimed Marian, weeping. 81
was wrong TO ask it; only Thought for
Lily's sake"
"And, for Lily's sake, w'J' said
Ernest 81 love my child .rp wei, {.
part with her now. RiS Marian, 'uy
wire-my beloved Wife. wal shall
be forgotten; blotted out ls t.lug II
had never been, and we w. begin oul
marriage life again"
81 am not worthy. o. EUwaI
have never deserved such D.Hl. ,hIs.
said Marian, as she was Cl,p0I 90 hel
husbands embrace.
"You shall make yours ~ .ving
it is all in you hands nov l"u.ahnr'
he said, with grave tenderness, nu
looking into the depths ot h,I 'cauli
full eyes.
How long they rcmaw"d 'bus 81
happy silence they Nigh uHnl hus'
known had not u littn hand, tht
touch of whose lirg.s Ernest
Darrell had felt before boon placed
within his own.
lie looked down and me. the up
turned gaze of his child, Mpnomcn
she also was gathered 20 lS arms
while blessing fell upon he tain youni
head,
} And as she had fallen like q sunbeam
D across his path in the beginning, st
l did she continue to tHe end, mt
through the happy year long after
e ward he could only look back, with 10.
and thankfulncss unspoahable, To th
:, day on which he had me, her hy Tn
side of the brook, carry0" her has6e
l of water lilies.