Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-07-24

| uauShlcr Oh tnc ncau partner IN u well
known publishing firm. Poor Mary!
she had fallen victim to the genius
OF which she was so proud, had sat
my mind on the boys marrying her,
and | believe he was really fond of
her; but what aspiring author could
resist publishers daughter! Here
was an opportunity of never again be-
ing declined with thanks Fancy the
reams of rubbish that II fathcr-in-law
would swallow. What go-betwccn
loving wife and daughter, and per-
haps eventually sturdy granGchild.
could hardly blame Augustus.
Mary did not say much, but she left
off eating as far as was consistent
with keeping alive; and she put away
the books of poems and ceased to sean
the newspapers. Indeed, she lost her
interest in everything. Her only COM
fort seemed TO be in singing broken
hearted little ballads, always about Il
a dcsolatc girl who forgivcs her faith
less lover, and never rcproachcs him.
but rests her weary head upon the
sympathetic bosom of his mother.
"One day | was startled by Mary
rushing into the room, pale and trem-
bling, an open letter in her hand.
"'Oh, arutie, she cried, 'let us 90
to him at once, something dreadful
will happen, feel sure. Oh, come,
comet
81 took the letter from her while she
rushed of and brought down my bon
net and boots and shawl and gloves,
all of which she thrust indiscriminatcly
on my head, and feet, and hands, till |
said testify
keep your senses Il minute Mary,
till lscc what it is that has happened
Nothing has happened yet, please
heaven; but ifyOu stand there like n
marble figure, your boy will die.
81 thought no less than it was Il
summons from the doctor to say he
had not Il moment TO live; but no it
was from Augustus himself, and ran as
follows.
"DEAWEsT MARY:
"Nly engagement is broken Off. She whom
tried to love Uhat friod to love was n real
stroke Of genius, the only one my poor boy
! was tNNl GNlllN on HIS UTONCu US lhlst ~ me
as was To another | dare not ask you to pity
me; have not deserved it. Alone, fricudcss,
pcnncss, there remains but one course for
me. Farewell. Comfort my mother, and for
get your wrctchcd, brokcn-hcarted
AUGUSTUS"
81 did not believe in it. No, | did
not believe in that letter. In the first
place, | could not imagine any one
contemplating really desperate step
and writing sach II carefully wordcd
cpistlc. Secondly, it would have been
to me, not to Mary, he would have
written, unless he wanted something
more from her than merely kindly
remembrance after death. 1t looked to
me much more like returning sanity
than the madness of sclf-dcstruction.
However, Mary was in such whirl of
terror and agitation that there was
nothing for it but send for cab and
take the first train to London. If |
hadn't been afraid she would think me
very hard-hcartcd, | would have
pointed out that if he actually intended
to make away with himself, we should
arrive rather late. But | didn't feel
many misgivings on that point.
1--WE reached his chambers at last,
and Mary rushed up stairs too per-
turbcd to speak. | followed, but
paused moment before entering, and
looking through the half-open door,
bchcld Il tablcau which made me think
he had calculated to nicely the mo-
mcnt of our arrival. At table Uttered
with books and papers sat Augustus,
his hair very untidy; his eyes upturncd
to the ceiling; one arm thrown over
the back of his chair; in the other
hand he grasped Il pistol. At the
noise of our entrance observed he
made an elaborate attempt TO conceal
the pistol under n very small piece of
blotting-paper.
"Mary dropped on her knees ut his
feet. | felt inclined to ring for the cur
tain to descend twas with difficulty
kept myself from applauding
"'Oh Augustusn sobbed Mary, 'how
could you be so cruel? Come back to
u.s. Your mother has forgiven you;
have forgiven you. Oh! come back, and
let us all be happy once more
ale put his arms about herand wept.
As for me, | could think of nothing but
pistol; it fascinated me. | felt so utter
lysurc that it was harmless that | was
not able to resist the temptation of try
ing it. Pointing it at Mary, exclaimed:
"'Sooncr than you should give your
self to one so worthless | would see
you dead at my feet
Mary screamed. Augustus did not
even change color, but taking the
weapon from my hand, asked calmly:
"Arc you mad, mothcr?n
"Oh, my poor boy! am afraid it is
you who are going mad, when you con-
template committing suicide with an
empty pistol.
"Ilc changed color then; but before
he could answer, Mary did Just the
most sensible thing that any girl could
have done under the circumstances
she tainted right away. The hurry and
excitement and reaction had been too
much for her. So we had enough to do
in trying TO revive her; and when that
was effected thought the best thing
was for us all to have lunch, which we
accordingly did;an it was quite touch
ing to see Mary's pretty ways with
Augustus. She was as anxious for him
to forget the past, and try to be happy
in the present, as if he had been in no
way to blame.
$50 there was nothing further for me
to do but persuade the silly boy to
come home with us, and make prepara-
tions for the wedding, and support
them both until Augustus could hit up
on some business where his intellect
might have scope to work, and where
he could make money at the same time.
The business has not been discovered
yet. In the meantime, Mary is quite
proud of being the wife of genius,
and looks important every time he
takes out sheet of paper, and frowns
If / move, or if the cat sneezes, while
he sits nibbling his pen. However, its
turned out better than | expected at
one time. Only, my dear, don'tlet me
hear you wish that again for your lit
tie innocent upstairs. It's not every
one gets out of the mire so easily. I'm
less he has fortune to spend, time to
waste, and no ones heart to break,
don't wish him to be genius"