Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-04-30

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Now, John, do be reasonable.
How should feel, announcing at the
next rehearsal that must be excused
Mr.. Coleman was not willing to
have me connected with the operetta?
What would Mr.. Lynde think?"
"Oh, if his opinion has more weight
with you than mine, will retire
'John, you're too absurd. Can't
you see how ridiculous it would look
for me to throw up my part the mo.
ment you came home? People would
say you are jealous of Mr.. Lynde."
"The jacknapes!'
"And that you were blue-brd
John, I'm not sure but they'd be
right
"lf I'm tyrant, Rufclle, you're an
amazingly fearless Fatma." D."
81 don't propose to be your Fatima,
john"
What did Rue intend by that? The
wrinkle in Mr.. Colcman's forehead
deepcned into a trench, his brown
face flushed like an oak in October
please lay aside paradoxcs, Ru-
fclle. Do you mean you don't wish
to marry me? Rumor has told me MS
much.
In truth, Miss Rue had meant moth
ing ofthc kind, but her lovers insulting
tone eXasporatcd her into silence.
wink without first consulting his lord
ship, Her blue eyes flashed ominously,
the steel hook in her fingers dartcd in
and ont of her crotcheting with muir
derous rapidity.
'Rumor has told me rs much,'
repeated Mr.. Coleman, rs i'm.
prcssiycly as if he had been addressing
Il jury.
And you let people talk about
me, John, and listen to what they
say p
II might have known that girl
who would not respect my dig
nifty could not value my esteem.
.Tyrant or not, Rufellc, at least I've
no desire to rivet calling fet-
tcrs. Hcncetorth you are free to
smile upon Mr. Lyndc or any other
gentleman.
Had he omitted the last sentence,
allectionate. kindly little Rue could
even then have "made up with John,
hut this was too much for her
temper. Snatching the golden cir
clet from her engagement finger,
she flung it at her lover, with cheeks
ailamc.
Take back your ring" she cried;
"the girl who wears it should be saint
or simpleton, and I'm neither Good
bye, John"
Auburn head erect, chin in air,
she swept out of the room with
all the stateiness psssible to Il slight
girl of five feet two. She felt hers to
be righteous Indignation. John had
no rcasOn-no earthly reaSon-to
treat her so. She would not persOnatc
patient Griseda for the amusement OF
the village.
John wants to bend the whole
world to his will, mused she, angriy,
poeping through her chamber blind,
as he stalked away chewing his black
mnstache; "he wants to bend the
whole world to his will. and won't
be bent. Our engagement is broken,
and I'm glad of it. "
For full fifteen minutes she was un,
quvocally glad.
John Coleman thought that he, too,
was glad. Walking iierccly on, he
squared his shoulders, and told him
self that the engagement had been a
mistake-an error of judgment. A
grave self.madc man of thirty should
have been wiser than to trust his hap
piness to the keeping of gay, capri
cious maiden. Why had he been so
dotingy fond of the child, so hood
winked by her coquetries? Blind drive
ling idiot that he was, the sooner he
was buried again in the law the bet
ter. The mans soul was hot within
him. He reviewed his lonely, joyless,
orphanhood, his sharp tussel with the
world to wiring from it his present
competence Not until the latter had
been secured had he allowed himself to
think of marrying this bright young
beauty, who as a school girl had first
captivated hls imagination. To have
asked Rue Haywood to become his
wife while he had no adequate means
for her support would have been in his
opinion dastardly and contemplate.
No; he had awaited the time when he
could offer her name and q position.
lie had woocd her honora9ly, and
from that day to this had hardly so
much as glanced at any other girl.
That he had not wanted to glance at
any other girl had no bearing what
over upon the case, yet tho lawyers
stern eye moistened as he thought of
the three months of happiness which
had been his before this brilliant new
organist appeared upon the scene with
the graces and accomplishments admir-
ed by ladies, and scorncd by himself,
matter-of-fact John Coleman. From
the outset he had distrustod the win.
some galant's influence over Rue,
with what reason the sequel had
proved.
Shocked at his partners i'll looks,
Mr. Riggs in greeting him asked if he
had had a chill.
"Yes, something of that nature"
was the grim reply. GLOW about the
suit of Ingalls, rerSHs Wade? | find
flaw in the indictment"
Mr.. Coleman was in the mood for
finding flaws. His habitual self-con-
troll had deserted him. Once he nearly
annihilated Mr.. Riggs for casually
mentioning Mr.. Lynde and his reported
engagement.
"0ho! | recollect now; Coleman
had n lien on the young woman him
self Queer | should have forgotten,
mused the discomtitted advocate, dip.
ping his pen in the ink.
That night Mr., Coleman had q chill
no metaphorical heart ague, but a
genuine physical bone-shaking rigor
that demanded blankets and hot bricks
and u heroic dose of quinine.
"He's caught malaria from some of
those confounded western bog-holes,"
said the doctor aside to the landlord.
"Unless VIC break it up he's in for
fever. See that he has good nurse.
I'll be round in the morning"
The landlord himself sat up with the
patient, and busy night he had till
daybreak, when Mr.. Coleman sank into
n browse. The weary watcher i'm
proved this opportunity to steal away
for nap, and sent his son to take his
place by the bedside. After an hours
sleep the sick man awoke refreshed,
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