Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-06-01
MY BEST FRIEND.

| was twenty-one, the possessor OF
eighty Thousand in cash, and owner OF
a handsome residence on one of the
most stylish thoroughfares of our emu.
lous city. No governor, no guardian,
no maiden aunt, 10 bachelor uncle, to
object to my disposing of myself and
means according to my fancy.
She who gave me being, had departed
from this world of chance and success
sion ere l could remember. My re-
naming parent, engrossed in merchan-
disc and bank. stock, had no time to
spend in looking after his heir; cOnse-
quently was placed altogether in the
hands of a nurse, and, as soon as my
age woald permit, was bundled off to
an institution to be "crammed." But,
before my majority, | received a tele.
gram to hasten home, my father hay
ing been Frustrated by an attack of
apoplexy which his medical attendants
pronounced fatal. l reached there
just in time to see him breathe his
last.
Having received no special marks of
affection from him, and having seen
him only during the, to Inc, exciting
intervals of the different vacations, my
days of mourning were soon over.
returned to college by direction of
my guardian, finished my course, and,
as stated above, had my fortune, when
l was twenty-one, at my own disposal.
had no idea Of following in the
wake of my defunct gov'nor, as l ex-
pressed it. l had horror of business.
In my mind it was associated only
with care and anxiety. l cherished Il
recollection of the yearning had in
youthful days for an exhibition from
my parent of the affection l had seen
lavished on Others of my own age. My
memory was still alive with the re.
membrance of how | had run to his
knee longing to be clasped in his arms,
and had my heart stung with cold
repulse.
"Why not enjoy life while l canP'
was the mental cogitation, as l sat
alone in my room. "When youth has
passed, and manhood is on the wane,
it will be time enough to clog indie
pendence with the membranes of
life"
| reached the handbook from the
table before me and examined it again
tn make sure all Waa ri rht
"Yes," said l, as 1 closed it and
pitched it back; 81 have eighty-thous-
and placed to my credit"
l Joined a club.
AT the close of my initiation speech,
rendered champagne supper to my
companions. They were too polite,
certainly, not to do me the honor of
accepting.
When the supper came off l was
cheered and toasted again, and was
unanimously pronounced "merry
good fellow"
To be up to the times | found it was
assuredly necessary to purchase a
fancy team; and to evince my fraternal
feeling must give my friends, now and
then, turn around the most popular
drives. Besides, l must visit the
"course" and "stake" on certain "favor.
ties" Also, engage in an occasional
game of "poker" in the club. If
lost, which was nearly always the
case, l must not vince or utter a
regret.
All this I did and kept it up for a
year. Then my eyes were opened; but
not in the same manner quite as the
Deacon's kitten-by knocking out my
brains.
1t happened thus:
l met a young lady with whom
fell in love. No young lady, l was
sure, as 1 surveyed myself in the glass
on the evening determined to pro-
pose, could resist my suit. A hand.
some form, reputation obtained
through my club of being a great deal
Weather than 1 was-as if they didn't
know my fortune to dime-and po
sition in society that any one might
envy--indeed, was the comment, no
sensible woman would refuse such an
alliance.
= But my vanity received q mighty
shock.
was refused; and so decided was
the refusal that l felt there was no
hope.
Irushed from the scene of my disap.
pointment in madness; entered my own
reside .ce; shut myself up in my room;
walked the hoor until morning |
was desperately in love-and, even
then, was at home to no one.
remained all day, Notwithstanding
a trot was to take place that afternoon,
on which had bet large amount.
cared nothing for the result, and enter
tained some serious thoughts of making
my will.
While meditating on the subject the
thought entered my mind that possibly
l might have a rival. My curiosity
was excited to see how he looked, SO l
concluded not to make my will yet.
The second forenoon after the re
duction of my vanity-for 1 began to
feel myself very insignificant in my
own opinion-I ventured forth. / dis.
played a negligent aspect and haggard
countenance which contrasted sadly
with my former scrupulous neatness
and happy appearance. saw a nuna.
ber of my club associates; but they
seemed to avoid me, as they would
cross the street, il coming toward me,