Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-09-25
iat said in tone which was not quit

l
ii do not know what You will thinl
of us. confess | was for tho momeni
capable only of thinking of Miss Har
rington. You will forgive that, | know
| cannot tell you how grateful am tt
you"
'Indced! whyp" asked Hilda.
Although her words were abrupt tn,
voice in which she spoke them was fal
from being so. There was silky soft
ness in it that Juliet had never heard
before and which made her look quick.
ly at the girl who had spoken, while {
pain that was almost like knife thrus
suddenly went through her heart.
Hilda only glanced at Ernest Hol
brook as she replied, and he had no
given any thought TO her. so profound
ly was he absorbed in the danger which
had so recently threatened the woman
he loved.
When the two walked away agar
Miss Pcnryth turned into another patti
and walked rapidly toward the house
When she reached her own room sh,
sat down before the fire without re,
moving her wraps. Looking into the
burning Goals with an intent gaze hel
face gradually changed.
"What do owe to any man?" sh,
asked at length, in half whisper
"And, as for Juliet, she is a baby il
her feelings and will not suffer much.
At this moment some one knocked
She opened the door and Juliet stood
there.
MAY come IMP" asked the girl.
81 was just coming to discover if yor
were still frightened" responded
Hilda.
Don't speak of it," cried the other
with a shuddcr. Think of what might
have been if Ernest had not come! Ht
says he admires you for your presence
of mind although you are--Bul
how | do chattcr!" catching herself uI
with n blush. ale admires you Sc
much"
Even though am so plain" calm,
ly remarked Miss Penryth.
But l did not mean to tell you
that"
Hilda laughed, not bitterly to the
ear in the least.
"Oh! | don't mind it ALL" she said,
lightly. "l am plain, and | know other
people know it."
In her heart the woman was saying;
"llc shall pay for those words "
In the days that follow it would have
been curious study for one not vitally
interested to have watched the change
in Ernest Holbrook's manner toward
Miss Pcnryth.
This attention was not marked; on
the contrary, it almost seemed as if he
were desirous of concealing even from
his own consciousness the attraction
which she held for him, and which
she held for him, and which every day
he felt more powerfully.
Had he ever thought her face unprc.
posscssing? When Juliet reminded
him, one day, that he had said Miss
Penryth was plain, he uttered an ex.
clamation of astonishment, but he
made no other reply. His betrothed,
in q troubled tone, persisted in dwell.
ing upon the subject.
81 suppose she must be fascinating,
is she not?" she asked wistfully.
The mans face wore u strange smile,
He avcrtcd his eyes as he remarked, in
a harsh voice:
Fascinating! Yes, l think that
must be the word by which to describe
your friend, is she notP" asking the
question suddenly.
Juliet trcmblcd n little and turned
pale. She seemed to struggle n
moment with herself, and then she
said, family:
"Oh, yes, of course she is my friend"
The winter days ran on. Miss Pen.
ryth had come to stay with her friend
until the spring.
How did it happen that Ernest Hol-
brook could now sometimes come to |
the house, and remain, perhaps, for
couple of hours before Juliet would
come into the room? He always
scrupulously called for her the moment
he came, but he appeared to forget
that she did not come.
On one of those days when Juliet |
had not come, he had been strolling |
about the room in silence. Though he |
did not speak his eyes returned again
and again to the woman who sat on
the sofa. There was reckless re-
solve on his face, and that look was
mingled with something which could
not be interpreted, which any woman
might do well to fear even though sho
could not understand it.
He came and leaned over the girl.
His voice vibratcd, as he said:
"Nliss Pcnryth!"
She looked; light, bewildering and
enthralling was in her eyes, and
difluscd in II lovely glow over the
hitherto unloyely face.
"What would you say to me if | were
to tell you l love youP" he asked
qickly.
"Need answerPn she asked softly.
"Yes, answer!" imperatively.
"Then should say that l love you,"
was the low-spoken reply.
Something in the mans face made
Hilda Penryth suddenly rise to her
icoU Whio hoi iaoo Sio" Puhiau anu
the glow died from her eyes.
"You are mocking mer' she cried,
in q smothercd voice. "You do not
really love mcr'
"1'm thinking of a mana boy al
n most-my deaset friend, whom / loved
more than brothers usually love-" re-
turned Ernest in stern voice. "You
may recall BERTHE Faulkner. All, see
you do. You killed him that you might
be amused. Perhaps it was not manly
in me to resolvct to avenge him in some
slight degree. But did not think of
so base an action until fancied you
wished to play with me. l do not
love you. Miss Pcnryth, but can un-.
derstand how man might be infatuat-
ed with you. 1t was beneath me to
stoop to such u course as this. Idon't
ask you to forgive me-"
mo, no." said Hilda, her voice
husky and strange. "Do not ask that,
for / never could do So"
"And whyp"
"Because l love you. At last love.