Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-06-28

w llH SOlut tOIlSlutIUDlc ullHCull1 SHc
opened the front door, and then drew
it close behind her without absolutely
shutting it. To her delight she found
it would stay so without moving; this
would enable her to enter the house
again quietly. As quickly as swift feet
would carry her she hurried ont of the
grounds. She sawno cottages; so she
went on along the widest road, hoping
to reach some habitatiOn in time. TO
her delight she saw at last hedger
and ditcher trudging away to his work.
She ran after him and, almost breath
less with her quick movement and ex-
citcment, caught him by the arm while
she asked him her question.
"The doctor?" he replied. "Right
on till the cross roads, then to the
right; not more'n mile"
No more than mile! Nurse Har-
court started off on her way glcefully.
That soon would be accomplished, she
thought. Had she but known how
strange is the Cornish mind on the
subject of distances she might have
stayed to ask further information; but,
instead, she hurried away, leaving the
working-man TO stare after her in COM
plctG and bcwildGred amazement. The
cross roads were reached before long,
and then she turned to the right, and
hurried quickly along the lonely road
Al last Ada began to reflect on the
fact that she must have walked n great
deal more than mile since her meet
ing with tho hedger and ditcher In
fact, she was beginning to feel a little
puzzled and hopeless, for there was no
sign of houses. Still she hurried on,
hoping to meet some one else who
would direct her. Suddenly on her ear
fell the sound of laughter-high, clear,
hearty laughter. Odd, at this time in
the morning; but, nevertheless, the
sound encouraged her. 1t came again
and again, and guided her footsteps out
of the high road into II wonderfully
quiet lane. The laughter still went on
ahead, like mocking spirit, MS u will
o'-thc-wisp. But suddenly Ada found
herself close to II little cottage, every
Window Cf which was brilliantly illu-
minated from within. The lower win
dOws reached to the ground and stood
open, eNnlDltlhS all the Signs OF late
rcvcL Empty decanterS and bottles,
innumCrablc glasses, some packs of
cards on the lloOr-thcSc things caught
Ada's quick eye and made her wonder;
while leaning ON the gate of the cot
tagc was IN extremely handsome young
man dressed in white ilanncIs. He
looked ut Ada with the steady gaze of
astonishment. He was immensely sur
priSed at the sight OF n young lady in
gray, with an extremely charming face,
taking II walk at four O'Clock on a
misty morning. Without a second S
hesitation She approached him.
"Can You tell me where can find
the doctors ) house, she said. "A man
| met told me to come this way"
Her earnest tone seemed TO rouse
him and make him understand that She
was out ON business.
"Dr' frcre is the nearest resident
doctor, he said, land he lives about
six miles of, over there" pointing the
way Ada had come. But if there's
anything | can do, let mc help you. |
am q doctor
"YouP' said Ada, her gaze wander
ing from his smburncd face, which had
ON it the unmistakablo up-all-night cN-
preston, to his white flannel clad
figure, and then to the cottage beyond,
which looked so absurd, in the growing
daylight, with Il quantity of dying can
dies burning ON the tables.
Its all right," he said. seeming to
understand her pcrpleXity, I'm Alan
Browne OF Wmpole street, Im down
here for the boating, and Eve been
having bachelor party. Didn't you
hear that fellow laughing us he went
off Just now? | had to get four of the
others to take him away"
81 know your name, said Ada earn
estly' Come with me. am nurse
from MIR. Edgar home. I'm in charge
of Mrs. Mertoun up at the Hall, and
she's dying. If you dent come at
once it may be too late"
Whats the matter with herr" said
DR.. Browne. "Ive got apocket mcdi-
cine case here; shall | bring itP"
Nurse Harcourt leaned on the gate
and said something in q scarcely audi
bic voice; then she took out the bottle
from her pocket, and held it up for his
inspection.
"lmpossibleH' he exclaimed.
"Come and save her." said Ada,
solcmnly. DIR. Browne turned, hurried
into the cottage, and in littlemOre than
n minute reappcarcd with small case
in his hand. Seeing him ready to fol-
low her, Ada Immediately started off as
quickly rs possible on her return road.
Alan Browne hurried after her, leaving
the little cottage, with all its windows
open and its candles burning to show
its disorder to any passer-by who
might chance to wander that way.
"You are q very good walker" said
DR.. Browne, when he had got up with
her.
Il believe / am," said Ada, and went
quickly on without any further remark
These two, going swiftly through the
pale, ghostliko morning mist would
have looked strange to any one who
could have seen them. Both were very
pale: DR.. Browne had got rather bored
by his bachelor party, which had LASTED
too late for his taste; and then h,
had been somewhat startled by Ads
and what she had said. Nurse Har
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