Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1885-03-05
A SILVER FORK.

=
hustle of preparation than that for an
approaching wedding Not the kind
where everything is given into the
hands of the caterer and the florist,
to be arranged as these worthless con-
slider most proper, but another sort,
where loving hands accomplish every
thing needed for the gala occasion.
Where mysterious concoctions of cake
are made, weeks beforehand, and set
away to absorb weekly drink of good
old brandy; where the whitest of
brides cake, and the clearest jcllics,
and all sorts of toothsomo delicaces
come into existence in the mysterious
precincts of the home kitchen; where
dear friends are looked for, and in.
cluGed among the delights of the hap
py time, where the house is newly
swept and garnished, and running
over with flowers.
All this charming confusion was
taking place in the home Of the Le-
lands. Adelaide, the eldest daughter,
was to be married the following even
ing to Harold Fitzgerald, who might
have passed for one of the old Saxon
Kings, with his fair hair and eyes Of
blue. Adelaide sometimes called him
my King" and Milly, Adelaide's
younger sister, dubbed him Harold,
the Saxon" And so it had come
about that the younger members of
the family spoke of their new brother
as "King."
Millcent was in high feather. for she
was 10 be one OF the bridesmaids.
The cousins, Marion and Amy, had
arrived, and the three girls had been
kept busy all day in unpacking num-
bers of parcels and boxes addressed to
the bride. At last everything was ar
ranged TO their satisfaction, for this
was home wedding, where all the
friends were to enjoy seeing the evil
dence of esteem and favor shown the
young people.
"IIOw many strange and rare things!
1t seems that Adelaide's friends,
knowing her love for the beautiful,
have sought especially for the curious
and elegant" said Amy.
Tell us about this queer, heavy
fork in the velvet case; you said it had
n history, didn't you Milly P" ques-
toned Marion.
"Yes, indeed King values that as
one of his choicest treasures" an
swercd Millicent.
"Let us sit down and rest; there is
time now to listen to the story" said
Amy,
"Well," began Millicent, 81 don't
know where to begin, at the other end
or this end, or, in fact, l don't know
the beginning or ending at adjust a
piece, hundred years or so, in the
middle!"
"Why, how mysterious you are!'
said the listeners, with one voice.
"No, not mysterious; but l some
times wonder If there really is be-
ginning or end to anything!'
"Worse and wOrse!" cried Marion.
"Go on with the story, Don't stray
off into such an alarmingly large
field"
"I Isuppose," said Milly, thoughtfully,
"that I'd better tell you first about
Kings mother, for she it is, who makes
him the gift. Yol have seen her,
haven't you, girlsp You know, then,
what a lovely, high-bred old lady she
is. The day she brought the case here,
she told me its history, and said she
had always kept it for her eldest SON
and hoped he would pass it down tC
posterity in like manner. Mrs. Fitz
gerald said that her early years were
spent in small country town, and thai
as she grew older she became ambi
tious for more of an education thar
she could get at home. At last 1t wa'
decided, after many consultations as
to ways and means, that she should e
to an Eastern boarding school. Th'
school catalogue called for tho usua
provision of table articles, fork, spoon
ring, and so on. An old uncle of Mrs
Fitzgerald CHANGED to call one even
ing, when these wants were discussed
The next morning Uncle John, as sh'
called him, came In, and brought with
him this fork. 1t had been packed
away with other silver of the same
kind in an old chest for years. Uncle
John said, Now Mary, want you tc
keep this fork, for it is very ancient
and has passed through many strang'
experiences and troublous times
Years ago, when a young man, ! wa
in business in the South, spending ,
good deal Of time in New Orleans.
had no family, so took lodging in {
good nnu,,, owned by one of the OLE
Creole families, who were obliged h
let furnished rooms to add to their In
come.
"I wonder Il they were the kind DR.
Sewer lived amongP" interrupted
Amy.
"rhey must have been the poor an,
proud kind, direct descendants of tn
early Spanish settlers; but where wa
, ] in my storyP"
"Uncle John, lodging in a Creol
family" suggested Amy.
"0h, yes! He was not the onl,
A lodger, however. His neighbors o
the same floor were newcomers fror
, Santa Domingo, the eastern part q
> the island Of Hayti. He describe
them as young married people, wit
several little children. The elders Q
/ thr family wore great look Of sad
ness aud dcjrclion. Uncle John coul