Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-04-12

sank upon the organ, and tears staine,
the red roses at my throat.
"Helen!" and my head was lifted
gently and Alan Leightons tender eye
met mine.
"Alanl" was all my astonishmch
could utter.
"My girl, you have suffered" h,
calculated, in tone of exquisite ten
derness. "Helen, my first and only
love, how we have been wronged.
only learned, an hour before l EN-
barked, that you were not the false
woman you had been painted to me
Mrs. Granger wrote me, eighteen
months ago, that you had married
Mr.. Dacre, and left with him for Cuba.
A subsequent letter, without date anG
signature, enclosing the tiny pearl pir
| had given you, left me no loom 70
doubt. left England forever, and
have heen on the wing ever since, find
ing no rest for my heart on sea OIL
shore. Helen, | suffered as few mer
suffer because of losing you, and be-
cause of you apparent falseness. But
| could not waste my whole life because
of woman's untruth, so tied up the
broken threads and tried not to look
back. 1t was by chance met Herman
Sloan, and in the midst of mutual con
tidences he asked me why had never
returned to America and to the beauti
ful Helen Preston, who had declined al
suitors, and was still unwed. Helen,
embarked that afternoon, and | an
here never to be parted from my
darling. When will we be married
swcet?"
"Married! Alan" and tho dreary
present recurring to me, | withdrew
myself from his arms, and almost
unconsciously my lips framed the
words:
/ ! had died for this last year to know
| YOu had loved me. Who shall turn on fate!
| | care not If love come or 60
| Now; though your love seek mine for mate,
II is too late.
"Too late! Helen, my only love,
explain your meaning, for PHYS sake
Then came broken, disjointed tale
of my sorrow and temptation when
heard of his handsome and high-born
bride; of my WEAKNESS OF the hall; of
Mrs. Granger; of myself; of Mr.. Dacrc' $
constant wooing, and at last of the lit
tic note only this night thrust between
the leaves Of his book, making Alan's
coming forever too late for my happi-
ness.
Rapid hoof-beats along the road, and
my courtly lover came in sight.
Saved! Alan" and my words came
thick and fast.
Engage him in conversation. Alan,
regarding the hall, Mrs. Granger, the
weather, stocks, etc, etc. | will escape
by the vestry door, fly to the hall!
secure the note! and then, o, Allan!"
"My darling, my bright darlingr'
but broke from his clasp and sped
away like Il chamois to the hall. did
not heed that the roses fell from my
throat, that II portion of my lace
tlOunce graced thornbush, or that
my hair, unlooSed from its fastenings,
hung about my shoulders. | think Il |
had possessed piece of paper should
h"'V ho'N ~ dlOll, duu ouOull Nave
shouted, A ieprieve! a reprieve
Shall | try to tell of how secured
the note and hid it in my bosom, of
how ran upstairs and pecped for one
moment into the mirror, twisting up
my shining hair, and trying to hush the
loud beating of my heart, of how
rapidly traversed the path leading to
the church, dodging behind an Usage
hedge to escape meeting Mr.. Dacre,
hurrying on AS soon as was free, to
be folded close to Alan's heart?
And you will not laugh at me
Alan?'
Laugh at you, my darling, and
wherefore?"
"Oh, for my mad flight, for the red
roses scattered all along the road; for
my unbounded joy at your return; for
proposing to run and steal the note,
and, and-things."
For answer came tender kisses pressed
upon brow and lips, and closed eyes,
and Mr.. Lord Lovel (Mr. Dacre) rode
forth from the castle gates alone.