Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-01-31

on either side of the solitary, railed.in
road.
All at once old Pomp gave side
wise start--his ancient idea of shying
and then | saw man, pale, dusky
and tired-looking, sitting on fallen
log; was like mother who would
never let the shabbiest or meanest-
looking vagabond go past our house
without 4 draught of milk, or piece
OF fresh, baked pie, or n slice of her
famous homemade bread-cake and
without stopping to think, | drew in
old Pomp's rein.
Are You going toward Lennox Cross
Roadsp" said |. "YesP Then jump
in I'm going in that direction too, and
I'll give you lift"
He thanked me in a silent, dropping
sort of way, and seated himself on the
board at tho back of the wagon, to.
ward which pointed with the handle
of my whip"
"You look i'll, said /.
Il am not ill.," ho said, with a
smoth1red cough. "Only tired with
my long walk | didn't know it was
so far to Lennox."
II suppose you are going for work.
said |. deacon Briefly has a good
many hands just now in his tobacco
factory"
"No," said he; 81 am rot going to
work"
| asked no more questions. did
not like the idea Of mans shrouding
himself in mystery in that sort of way
and as | glanced around once more u
sudden revelation came across me like
u blaze of light. 1t was the same man
who had eyed me so keenly on the steps
of the Park Hotel. Then | remem-
bered my mother words of caution,
Leeman's reiterated exhortations, the
landlords friendly words of warning.
And, in spite Of 1t all, had delibcr-
ately thrust my silly head into the jaws
of danger. There was only one thing
remaining for me to do--to get out OF
the scrape as well as | could.
cast about in my mind how to do
this, and presently, with beating heart,
| dropped little paper parcel of blue
ribbon into the road.
"Oh," / cried, checking up Pomp,
"rve dropped my parcel! Would
would you mind getting out after it?'
"Not in the least, said the stranger;
and he climbed laborously out of the
wagon.
He had scarcely set his feet on the
ground before | laid the whip on old
Pomp with q will, and ratified away
over the long, straight road at n pace
that seemed positively marvellous to
mu and Pomp both.
So VIC left our passenger behind, in
tho middle Of the Red Swamp.
could SEQ him staHding there, blank
and astounded, the sole tignro in the
long perspective, rs ventured tc look
back; but | only whipped Pomp the
harder; and never let him bate his
pace until we were well out of the Red
Swamp.
"Ive out-generalcd him." said to
myself, "and I've saved Lceman's
twenty-four dollars. I'm sorry about
the blue ribbon; and it was only n yard
and II quarter, after all, and can trim
Ills hat with something else"
They were delighted at my prowess
when | related my adventure at home.
Leeman declared was capital little
markot-womau; mother shuddcred at
tho idea OF the desperate tramp alone
with me in tho tangled wilderness of
the Rod Swamp; Lii declared thaliI was
heroine.
"Wasn't it a good idea for Kate to
drop the blue ribbon, and send him
after it?' said she.
kate was 4 goose over to let him
get into the wagon" said Leoman,
knitting his brow,
kate mustn't 60 by herself such a
long distance again, said mother.
| drank my cup OF tea and rested
my self, and went out afterward to see
the new brood of darling little yellow
chicks which Old SpeCko had brought
of the nest during my absence.
was on my knees in the hen-house,
feeding them with scalded meal from
tho palm of my hand, when | heard
mother calling mo from the house.
kate! Kate! come in at once! Col.
Hay has arrived" "
"Col. Hay?"
started up, looking with blank dis.
may at my calico dress and the meal
stains on my hands.
However, there was nothing for it
but to obey the summons, so went up
to the house. A sort of blur seemed
to come before my eyes, as | entered
the sitting-room, and heard mother
SAYING
Col. Hay, this is my eldest daugh-
ter, Kate"
And then the blur cleared away, and
| knew the man | had twice before
seen that day-the pale, tired traveller
whom had so recklessly Abandoned in
the middle of the Red Swamp.
IL beg your pardon, Col. Hay"
| cried out impulsively. "I thought
You were thief"
The burst OF laughter that followed
from every inmate of the room effect.
ually scattered all embarrassment.
That was my adventure and Col
Hay has long since forgiven me that
unkind deserton of him. In fact-this
is quite private and confidential, mind
we are to bo married soon, and am
going with him to Florida, to try the
effects of southern climate on hi,
health, That is all Isn't it enough?