Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-09-27

puChCI VI thC ONhCI III IcIuONIHH HIS
pocket handkerchief. The smaller pa
per had blown apart; it lay upon the
other, and its contents were so brief
that Ralph had read it before he had
taken it into his hand, and before he
was aware of what he was doing. We
have seen the paper before. 1t was
the brief letter in which Alice Amdcn
had dismissed George Fenby.
Ralph Warden stood for n long time
with his letter in haS hand.
Tve read it once; it can do no harm
to read it again. he said.
And he read it again-not once mere
ly, but dozen times. 1t seemed as il
he was trying to draw something from
the bit of paper which he did not lind
there.
After time he stopped and picked
up tho otherpapcr-a long, folded doe
ument; but the action was merely a
mechanical one. He did not open it to
see what it was; but, with his head
bent forward on his breast, and with a
very grave face, he went on his way.
He walked more slowly than before.
He sometimes stopped and talked to
himself from time 10 time.
He read Alice Arnden's letter again.
Then for the first time he looked at the
other. He turned it over and saw nj
once what it was-a deed from Brr
tram Kingsley, conveying cert, in lands
and buildings to George Fcnby.
Suddenly he stood still, and hot
fierce flush Crcpt into his face.
"I wonder if is true that hearts are
ever caught in the rebound AS they
sometimes say they are' | will"
And he clenched his hands and hur.
red on his way.
He did not stop again until he
reached home, where his mother and
sister were waiting for him, nor did
think his thoughts aloud any more.
With few words Of greeting, and a
few more of excuse, he put his mother
and sister aside for tho present and
went up TO his own room.
Ralph Warden drew long breath,
and the light faded slowly out OF his
face. In Il single moment he had seen
the whole secret of the misunderstood.
iug. Down went his head upon his
hands on the tabie-the winter sun
shine Shonc that day on no noblcr head
-aad lrCm his lips came those word.
Of which frail humanity has deepest
need, "Lead us not into temptation.
He thought it all out. Bcrtram
Kingsley owned the finest place in all
Marsham, or had until the deed was
made which conveyed it to George Fen.
by. Estela Kingsley, the daughter OF
Bcrtram, was beauty and something
of ilirt.
More than ono lady of MarSham had
quarrcled with her lover on Estclla
Kingsley's account. And last night
there he'd been u little gathering of the
young people in tho church, and cir.
cumstances had done their worst
seemingly. In the first place George
Fcnby came with EStella Kingsley; the
meeting was not OF character to make
it unkind for him TO leave his promised
wife to come with her father, rs she
had, but his coming with Miss Kings.
ley had been noticed by several. Will
the deed before him, Ralph Warden
had no ditlicultyin deciding why George
had been nj Mr. Kingsley's, and sub.
scquently why he had come rs he had
Ralph was we'll acquainted with {
young man living where the Kingslcys
had formerly resided, and through him
he knew of the engagement OF Miss
Kingsley 10 a gontlcman living there,
He had known this for Il long time
and knowing this had thought little o
events which might otherwise have
deeply affected him.
Last night, for instance, n laughing
group of gentlemen had spoken OF Mis-,
Kingsley. One had said:
"She is a beauty and MI heiross
Whoever wins her will have beauti
ful home. The Kingsley estate is tn,
finest one in Marsham.
Its my highest ambition to be thu
master of that estate, laughed George
land | have mado an offer which
think will be accepted. am to have
an answer tonight. If | succeed
shall bo supremely happy. If not
why, will do as other men have don't
failing of what | want, | will tax,
what can get"
Ralph could not remember whcr,
Alice Arnden had boon when those in
noccnt words had been spoken. Tha
she had been near enough to hea
thom was evidenced by her letter
which was before him; so he sat thci
and pitiod Alice Arnden for the faitI
in man which she had lost, as well n
for tho man himself VINO had been pu
from her.
Ralph raised his head. The tim
had not been long since he sat dowl
to think. But he knew it all. Tw,
proud and obstinate young creature
had been parted by fate. And he nut
tered with white, compressed lips:
II alone understand it all. | alone
of all the world can set it right Wha
u temptationm
We will not seek to follow hi
thoughts. What man does shoul
be the bases of our judgment, not whu
} he would do. If he thought of tn
curative effect of timc on suilerin
hearts, we can forgive him; if poss
, BILE future, in which happy home c
his own was the central figure, rose II
, to meet him, we can do no less tina
pity him.
The band of sunshine rested on hi
head like n golden crown. His fac
was almost gloritied rs he raised it t
the light again. And surely the angeI
, made record of second gift that da
coming to the lot of those whose live
fall for little time within the line ,
: our story, when he said aloud, ~ wi
: do right! Alice Arnden shall have he
| lover back again"
Evening service at tho little churc
| was over, Ralph Warden stood on tn
steps MS the congregation came on
, He looked happy,
5 If it be true that coming events ca,
their shadows BEFORE and that ''vi
, tue is its own reward" he was happ,
, He spoke cheerfully to this one an
D that as they passed. He did not loo
like a conspirator. One would nj
5 have dreamed that he had made pla
} which for audacity would find a fe
rivals, while for simplicity it migl
I find fewer.
. "It'sbetter to have it over as soon ,
0 possible" he said TO himself; "bettt
for them and for me-"