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

came out surly, and getting on tho box
after Ada and her baggage had been
waiting some time in the "shay," be-
gan to whip the horses. This amuse-
ment he continued to indulge in until
they arrived mt the "Old Hail." taking
the horses at rapid gallop, up hill and
down dale.
The Old Hall stood high, with wide
lawn about it, dotted by clumps of fine
trees. On the way Ada was charmed
by glimpses of the winding silver
stream and the wooded hills about it,
All was very lovely, yet something in
the aspect of the Old Hall made her
shiver as she approached it. 1t was
very dark, only one window seemed
dimly lit; the front door appeared to
be hermetically sealed. But Ada cour-
ageously rang and knocked, and while
she waited for an answer filled up. the
timo by paying her surly driver tho
fabulous sum he demanded of her. At
last the door moved, it opened slowly,
and on the steps stood tall man.
care you the nursc?" he said.
Yes" answered Ada.
81 didn't suppose you could get here
tonight. "Well, come in"
The coachman whippedup his horses
in tho familiar style and ratified away.
A servant who looked like Il groom
came out and lifted Ada's box into the
hall. A lamp stood on n table there,
and by its light Ada tried to discover
NVhnt gnft nf hnnEn gln IN Clio
was standing in big, old-fashioncd
hall or house place. Opposite her, his
hands deeply buried in his pockets,
stood the man who was evidently mas
ter.
81 told the maid TO get q room ready
for you," he said. "The man Shall
light you up there, andyou can see my
wife i'll the morning. Shall he bring
you some SUPERB
"If you please said Ada. First
I'll take off my hat, and if you will al
low me I'll go to my patient at once"
"Nonscnse!n said Mr.. Mertoun, 'you
must sleep after n journey"
"But it is my duty to see her first, if
you please, sir"
Ada followed the man-scrvant up
stairs to u little bedroom, where he left
her, saying he would bring her some
supper. She washed her hands and
Combed out her bright hair. When he
came back she said; "Shall | find Mr..
Mcrtoun downstairS?n
"Hc's gone TO his own ROOM" said
the groom "and he says missus is
asleep and not to be disturbed
(Which is her room?" asked Ada.
Il must know, because Eve come down
to nurse her"
"I'll show you the door," said the
man. He led her II little way along Il
corridor, and pointed up short stair
case. "The door on the left" he said,
and Immediately hurried of, carrying
his light with him.
This is queer house." thought
Ada. However, she found her way
back to her own room by the glimmcr
of light from its doorway. Then, tax
ing her candle, she went straight to the
door of the room the man had shown
her She knocked gently; there was
no answer. So she quietly turned the
handle and looked in. A solitary can
die lit large room; she could but dim
| ly perceive that on the bed lay Il wom-
an who seeing her, started up us if in
terror, and then fell hopelcssly back
again. Evidently this was the sick
room. Ada shut the door, put down
her candle, and approached the bed.
"Don't be frightened She said; II
am nurse your sister has sent down
to take care of you"
81 thought you were Il spirit, said
Agatha Mertoun; 81 have had strange
visions to-day" Then she lapscd into
n silence, and seemed to forget Ada's
presence. After awhile she spoke
again: "I am dying" she said.
Ada went close TO her and looked
into her eyes. They were very strange.
Suddenly the unhappy woman was
seized with violent sickness. Ada, with
her quick wits, noticed some things
which made her wonder. When her
patient, weary and exhausted lay back
again on her pillow, she began'tO make
u tour of the room. There were a
, great many bottles in different places.
She took out all the cOrks and smelled
, at the contents. Suddenly, while thus
engaged, she happened to look toward
, the bed, and met Agatha's eyes fixed
on her with gaze full of some extra,
ordinary meaning or intelligence. 1t
, almost frightened even the brave Ada.
) She put down the bottle quickly and
: went to the bedside. But Agatha had
t closed her eyes, as if too weak to keep
them open. Looking earnestly at her,
Nurse Harcourt realized how wonder
fully lovely she was, in spite of the
, deadly pallor which lay on her face.
Suddenly the sickness came again; and
: then violent spasm.
"This is q queer sort of anNmia,
0 said Ada to herself; and, after q long
r look at her patient, began to smell at
D the physic bottles. Just then she heard
@ faint sound at the door. Hastily ap,
= preaching it, and opening it, she saw
Mr.. Mertoun disappearing through the
t opposite door. "Hc wanted to watch
I me-" she thought. "Now, what car
+ this mcan?" She locked the door in
O side, and continued her Investigations
o Suddenly she came upon bottle inside
o q cupboard, nearly empty, the smel
from which almost made her cry out
h But she remembered her patient anC
: refrained. She merely put the bottl,
0 into her pocket and then, without
o hunting about any more, went bacl
# to watch poor Agatha. Tho color o
:. her face grew steadily worse and hcl
it weakness was rapily increasing.
It "What on earth am TO don OK
IL claimed Nurse Harcourt at last" il
Q this out-of-the-way place? can't Sc,
her die before my eyes. If l could only
Z, get the doctor!''
1t She had spoken out loud, thinkin!
IS Agatha, quite unconscious. But she wa
II not. She opened her eyes and appear
If cd to express something by their earn
o est gaze. 1t seemed as if she under
s. stood Ada's words.
% "It's the only thing to be done, be
q love-" said Ada to herself; "and II
o do it," She took out her watch ant
looked at it-half-past three. Going t.
% the window, she drew the curtain q lit
II tic aside. There was faint gray haz
all over the world; but the light woult
i be enough to find ones way by, and ever,
S moment brought the dawn nearer. "If
II did but know the way" she thought