Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-10-19

alone so us TO keep my part in mind,
and for the same reason went early to
the church, not TO be stared at and con-
fused, for this show affair was not one
bit TO my mind.
Just at the last moment Tom came
rushing in, followed blythe regular sex-
ton.
1--WE got telegram from Lettic, ~
said Tom, his voice quiyering "Shc
is worse and | must start at once Just
time to catch the train. Goodbye, old
boyl God bless you!'
I'm going, too; Just came to wish
you joy, Mr.. Bert said the sexton,
who had known me since | was lad,
"sorry | cant see you married. My
roads the same as your brothers, so
I'll 90 with him. and off they both
hurried, the door shutting with u sharp
click behind them.
The time for the arrival of the we'd
ding party drew near; | advanced to
the door that opened into the church,
designing TO open it and peep through.
Ii resisted my efforts. struggled
with it sharply; no use! the door was
locked.
Muttering 4 curse on the stupidity
of the sexton, | strobe to the other
door. In shutting the door it too had
become locked. and was as fast as fate.
Great drops of perspiration stood
out on my forehead What was to be
done? | asked myself the question,
and moppcd my face with an immacu-
late handkerchief. but failed 70 find the
answer.
Then flew back TO the inner door
and listened. The organ was playing
gayly, and 4 subducd hush told me that
Nellie was entering on her fathers arm,
and here ] was standing like a Gagged
rat.
Oh, how | tried to open that door!
My gloves split, and the pcrspiration
ran in rivers down my face and dropped
of the end of my nose; but not one inch
could bulge it,
have wondered since how should ]
have looked if had succeeded in burst
ing open the door and been suddenly
projected before the creme dc Ia creme,
with limp collar, torn gloves and dis
tended eyes. can smile now, but |
can assure you | saw no fun in it then.
tried the door till positively no hope
remained in that direction. Then |
New again to the outer door and pound-
ed, ard even shouted, but to no pur-
pose.
Utterly hopeless, returned to the
inner door once more. All was silent.
Should thunder on its panels and de-
mand to be "lct out?" Nobody likes
to look like Il fool if he can help it
and hcsitated.
/ glanced around. The windows
caught my cyc-why had not thought
of them? could at least make my es-
cape, and the ceremony might be de-
layed, and consequently awkward; still
Nellie would not be utterly put to
shame. Like the mailman was |
seized the table, dragged it to the win
dow, sprang upon it and climbed on to
the high and narrow window-sill,
throwing up the sash, | prepared to
leap out, but had rcckoned without
my host; the cord that held the weight
was broken, consequently the moment
my hand left the sash the window de-
scendcd with startling rapidity, striking
me full upon the head and knocking
me of of the narrow sill, dashing my
head against the sharp corner of the
table, and at last landing me full
length on the floor.
| tried TO rise; something warm rush
ed over my face; put up my hand TO
clear my eyes-my hand was covered
with blood.
felt giddy and weak, still | stagger-
ed TO my feet; then n black mist arose
around me and knew no more.
This was Thursday eve. Sunday
afternoon the sexton, returning to his
duties, found me lying on the bed hall
dead, wholly delirious, my face COW
cred with blood, and hole in my head
largo enough to let the life out Of any
man. That mine was spared was be-
cause / had fallen with the wound
down, and the soft pile of the carpet
acted like lint TO stanch the blood.
As soon as ! could control my
thoughts begged to know of Nellie.
Poor little girl! she had been quite
overwhelmed, When failed to appear
Kate's husband rushed out to inquire
of the sexton if he had seen me. He
was positive that had been there, and
equally positive that | had left again in
company with his brother-both
seemed in q great hurry, and had
jumped into carriage and been driven
rapidly away.
Messengers were sent to my hotel,
but without gaining clew to my
whereabouts; so after u mortifying
wait Nellie had been taken home, and
the very morning of the day | was dis
covered the whole family sailed for
Europe.
As soon as | was able to stand |
sailed in search of the woman | had SO
innocently humiliatcd. Not knowing
her whereabouts il was two months be-
fore found her. Al last, one evening,
wandering on the sea shore of n quiet
little English town, cspied her-and
alone.
That she believed me q most black
hearted william was plain, for the look
she gave me when she recognized my
presence was one of unutterable CON
tempt. Now that had found her !
was determined that she should hear
tho truth.
l
"Nellie," | cried hurrying TO her
and grasping both of her little hands
before she had time to escape.
"Well, sir" she replied, haughtily,
trying, but trying in vain to free her
hands.
"My darling" | pleaded, "you will
at least hear aman before you condemn
himp"
Her face flushed angrily.
"What can you say" She burst out
hotly, "that will make your conduct
less dastardly? Have you not made
me the object of everyone's ridicule
and contemptuous pityP Offering me
public insult no woman could ever for