Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1884-05-22

llldb NdlIN' NHlNHtNN'l lldu' MS UNltUN'
81 Suppose must say goodbye
now he said TO Florence. I'VE start
so early in the morning
Florence could not command her
voice, but gave him her hand.
1--WE shall meet again, hope? We
must meet again. Do you ever come
to town.
"Oh, do move on, Miss Molyncux,'
said Jane Morris, "you are keeping us
all standing"
Florence discngagcd her hand and
went upstairs. Her happiness was at
an end. They would never meet
again. and he had said nothing to her.
Nay, it almost seemed as if he had
avoided speaking to her. What fool
she had been to think he cared for her!
An unopened letter lay on the top Of
the pincushion. Who could he writing
to her? She took it up. There were
initials upon the envelope and Il motto.
The initials were ''L. c. the motto
True till DEATH" The worlS danced
before her eyes. 1t was his motto. 1t
was not dream, il was a letter from
Capt. Chichester She pressed ii to
her lips. then tore it open, and read
the contents as quickly as her agitation
would permit 1t began:
! have in vain tried to speak 10 you alone;
hut cannot leave You without learning my
fate. You must have seen that love YOU de-
yOtcdly. Can you give me any hope! | leave
early Tomorrow, hut my future movements de
,,,,,l IN n IYt
me- have few lines from YOU tonight, and
will return from Wcllwood with Sir Charles on
Friday. My room is the last in the gallery
MAY ask you 10 let me have a few lines there
from youto tonight. On your reply my happi-
ness depends.
Ever yours dcvotcdly,
l.. CHICHESTER.
Florence let the letter fall into her
lap; the rcvulsion of feeling was al
most too great. The bitter tears Of
sorrow and disappointment were still
upon her cheek, but some subtle chem.
istry had changed them to rainbow
of hope and joy. He loved her! he
had written 10 say so. And now she
had the delightful task of replying
What should she say? She could con
suit no one.
Florence wrote from an Overlooking
heart, without stopping to choose the
words, joyful and happy acceptance
of Capt. Chichcstcr's love. She went
to bed at last, not, indeed, to sleep. but
to indulge in bissful thoughts She
put Capt. Chichestcr's letter under her
pillow, and felt it from time to time to
assure herself it was not a dream.
At length, towards morning, she fell
into Il peaceful slumbcr, from which
She was awakened by the maid bring
ing her cup of tea,
Florence started up as her new
found happiness flashed upon her. A
letter lay on the tray. She snatchcd
it up, scarcely waiting for the maid to
leave the room ere she tore it open.
Yes, it was from him; she saw the we'll
known cipher and motto. The sound
Of wheels grating on the gravel reused
her. She ran to the window, and peep
inc from behind the curtain saw Capt.
Chichester drive away. He was gone,
but he had left letter, and she sat
down to read it. But the happy, ten
der smile with which she opened twas
suddenly succeeded by n look of amaze
mcnt, then by almost incrcdulous hor-
ror and despair. She pushed back her
hair from her face and turned the letter
over wildly, rs if in hope of discover
ing something to give her comfort. But
no! The words were not to be mis-
| taken.
My DEAR Miss MOLYNEUX: scarcely know
how To write to you. There has been some
great mistake or some one has cruelty con
triycd u plan to give us both great pain. Be
| licvc me feel II most deeply when tell you
| that never wrote the letter 10 which YOU al
! ludc nOrany letter 10 YOU. II must he forgery.
/ For your Kind expressions towards me, which
| II has drawn forth can only offer my SINGER
est thanks, for believe me | value your good
OpiniOnmOSt highly. You are not mistaken in
supposing that | admire and esteem you he
yOnd almost any woman ! have ever met. |
would say more, but ] am not free. am, In
honor bound to another. | thought this was
understood by Lady Brandon, but fear have
been TO blame, and that | have caused YOU
pain. II YOU have got the forged letter, will
YOU he so kind as to forward II To me at Well
wood! | have no doubt ! shall discover its
author, and he or she shall not escape punish
mcnt. have but one more word 10 add. My
dear Miss Molyncux, know you are sensible
and brave let no one know what has occurred.
This vile trick must be the work Of some one
at Brandon Hall. Do not let any one know II
has succeeded and We shall yet battle and dis.
arm our enemy | could say much moro, but il
Is better not, Believe me, with the sincCrcst
regard aud esteem, yours faithfully,
H. CnICHEsTER.
Florcncc's mind was in such tumult
of confused thoughts that she could
scarcely comprehend what had hap
pencd. She flew to compare the hand.
writing. No! they were not the same,
though there was some resemblance.
The envelope bore the same initials and
motto. Who could have done so cruel
an act? Jane Morris. 1t flashed upon
her like II conviction, but could it be
! possible? Could one girl act so bascly
by anotherP She inclosed the fatal let.
ter to Capt. Chichester, and then wrote
to her mother, begging her to summon
her home on any pretense.
So some months passed away, and
Florence heard nothing of her friends
she felt forgotten, forsaken, but one
morning she was awakened by letter
from Ada Brandon, announcing hci
approaching marriage with Lord Stone
leigh, and afl'ectionately inviting her tC
be her bridesmaid. At first FlorencC
shrank from the thought, but when she
read the postscript 81 suppose you
have seen Lady lda's marriage in the
paper" she resolved to go to Brandon
: Hall at is all over,n she said; she i,
married. | will go and enjoy the hap
= piness of others" But it was will
: sad heart that Florence found her
| self driving up to the well-known en-
J trance of Brandon Hall. All! how
: different it all was now, she thought
, as memory carried hor back to hel
, former visit There was no one wait
| ing to receive or welcome her, and will
a blank feeling she followed the ser
, want into the drawing-room, which wal
: deserted. As the door closed behinC
5 her she heard the sound of a quick
footstep on the grass without, mans
: figure darkened the light as he stepped
J in through the open window. Flor
ence's heart gave great leap, and th,
Q blood flew to her face. She turned to fly
A but her limbs were trembling so SHE
1 oould nnt mnvn and than eoma IN,