Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-09-27
ave found it an easy task to make q
- Il L


Ralph Warden's lips moved slowly
as ho seated himself beside Alice, but
we will not try to determine what he
said to himself in that crisis in more
lives than one.
II admire your cloak and hat" ex-
claimed Ralph, "though tho saying
may be as much 4 compliment to my
sisters as to your own taste. Hers
are like them, are they not?"
Very nearly; not quite. But [
didn't know you ever noticed what
your lady friends wear
81 don't very often. | did to-day,
Would the masculine eye detect the diff
fcrencGs?"
81 think not. But it is pity to talk
of dress on such Il night as this. What
a strong and helpful sermon we had
this evening?'
ayes" said Ralph.
They made It turn in the road, and
there was George himself only few
yards ahead. Alice put down her veil
ut once. Surely, fate was on the side
of Ralph Warien's plans that night.
"Get in, George. won't take 4
refusal"
"Who is with YOU Your si7ter?"
Yes" said Ralph, with prompt
ness which should be admired and par
doncd. "Sit on this side" said Ralph,
rs George got in; "l will sit between
you. The night is beautiful, isn't it?"
VERY beautiful
Very 1cautifulm said George, who
really had not thought of it before.
"You needn't 20 homo ut once. |
will turn here, and we will drive over
toward the shore"
He had turned his horse down the
road leading in that direction before
either of his companions could say Il
word. The two lovers were gazing ON
thpsccnc they had looked upon in the
morning. Tho moonlight may have
sOftcncd the harShncsS of it little,
but the man between them heard a sob
from the woman at his left, and saw
the moonlight sparkle suspictuu-ly on
the cyeIashcs of the man on his right.
And he thought grimly of himself as
the image of fatc--fate. with the dps-
Tiny of two human boiug3 in his hand.
Il found pnpcr OF yours this morn
ing, said Ralph, slowly, "and here it
is. could hardly help seeing what it
was. congratulate you on your bar.
gain. You have bought the finest es-
tate about here, George. 1t is remark.
ably cheap at the price. believe the
deed was signed last EVENING"
"YpS.'
Mr.. Kingsley had not fully decided
to sell it until then, had hu?'
"NotfuIiy. lie told me his daughter
might decide to want it herself when
She Is married. Mr.. Kingsley will, Of
course, give her Il handsome residence
somewhere whcn that event takes
place, for Mr.. Jones, who is 90 marry
her, has no fortune of his own
at has been our highest ambition to
own that estate, hasn't it?'
Certainly. wanted the finest
place here
"You ought to be 5uprcmely happy,
You said last night you would BE- when
you owned tho place.
Yes
The answer was short. Ralph could
feel the strong man on hi, right
tremblo in spite of his efforts to con-
trol himself, and he knew that the
woman on his left was crying softly.
"You said something last night about
your ambition to be master cf that
estate. Do You remember what twas?'
"Ycs, | think | do. Something
boaStful, was il nOt?'
George Fcnby was beginning to I'M
dcrstand dimly why he had received
the letter he had.
"Worse than that Did you ever
think that one Ovcrhcarng ii might
think you meant to marry Miss Kings
lcy?'
"Neycr until now. Oh, what have
done ~
mo matter. Did you ever intend to
marry her? Not a word of objections.
You've been led into answering too
much already to stop now. demand
IN answer, George. Did you ?"
The eyes of the two men met. In
Ralph's there was the determination to
know, and perhaps something more,
In George Fenby'S there was surprise,
which changed 10 satisfaction and in
dignation, which gradually faded out
"Ncvcr, ON my honor" he answered.
Ralph Warden stopped the horse,
They hal driven far to the south, and
had now turned back towards the vii.
lagc again. In front of them was the
level sweep of fro2on marsh, but furth-
cr on was tho peaceful village with its
lighted windows, and with its fringe of
Shrltering wooded hills behind it. On
the right was the sea, calm and bright,
lie stepped into thcroad and placed the
roins in George Fcnby's unrcsisting
hands.
Bring the horse home when it is all
right" he said, "but take all the time
you wish. Here is another paper OF
yours which / found this morning. Be
thanktulto.night that SO meddlesomo n
man found it. Alice Arndcn and
George Fenby, | give you back your
future-and my blessing
He spoke to tho horse, and obedcnl
TO his word, it dashed down tho road
and left him alone.
There is no more need of following
the lovers, TO be sure that all came
right, than there is of following the
rushing mountain stream to be sure il
finds the sea.