Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-01

Croffut.
Get in--get inf" he commanded;
and then, as Dave climbed ia dazedly: |
'tMr. Wilson insisted on getting the corn |
for me. He Il bring it directly"
"Dont let's waltz cried Miss Kirby. |
"We can unharness the horse, and he |
can eat grass"
She gave him light tap with the |
whip as she spoke, and the buggy rat
tied away.
1t was growing dark when it came
rafting home.
The picnic had not been a striking
success. Mr.. Croffut, to be sure, had
appeared to enjoy himself. He had not
made any sketches; but he had eaten
sandwiches and cold apple pie unceas-
ingly, and he had monopolized Folly to
his hearts content.
But DAvs-Dave's behavior had been
most peculiar. He had been exceedingly
nervous; he had fallen into frequent
gloomy reveries; his face had indicated
the most acute mental suffering; and his
strange conduct had cast a gloom over
the party.
He had driven homo at frenzied speed,
his face grown positively haggard.
They found the house in an uproar.
Mr.. Dawson was pacing the front
walk and looking agitated; Mrs. Kirby,
with anxious face, stood on the porch
and Mrs. Wilson rushed to the gate with
her apron to her eyes.
| II don't know nothing what's become
of your pa, Polly" she gasped; ''he
hain't ben around all the afternoon
I'm nigh crazyp
1--WE have searched everywhere" said
Mr. Dawson. ''It il a strange disap
| pearance.
Nobody noticed, in the excitement
that Dave had, with rather CHASTITY
smile, leaped from the buggy, and was
fastening towards the back yard.
''There amt but one thing could "a
happened to him." sobbed Mrs. Wilson
''he ben waylaid and murdered, Polly
my goodness"
Her eyes had fixed upon Dawes ad-
vancing form-Daye, with Mr.. Wilson's
arm grasped in one strong hand
HE was in the courthouse" said the
young man, rather family VI must
locked him in there myself, not mot
knowing" And he led Billy to the
barn.
With slow smile, Mr.. Wilson looked
around at the group. Then he repeated
the operation, bestowing particular at
tention upon the boarders. His smile
broadened into grin, and ended in Il
ehuckle
Mr.. Dawson looked alarmed.
"He has not lost his reason?" he sug
gested, audibly.
Mr.. Wilson regarded the speaker foi
several moments, with amusing interest
Then he took Oh his hat and wiped hi,
forehead.
I'm powerful hungry" he observed
There were occasions, during the fol
lowing week, when Mr. Dawson's sus
picion seemed likely to prove correct.
For Mr.. Wilson, once the calme5t of per
sons had suddenly develop a startline
fund of eccentricities. They appeared
oddly enough, to be in some way di
rectly connected with the boarders TIL
sight of Mr.. CroIlut assisting FOLLY with
the churning seemed to strike him az
exquisitely humorous; Mr.. Dawson sort
ing his dried grasses, or Mrs. kirb,
quietly crocheting, produced strang,
spasms of merriment; even Miss kiroy
and Dave, in pleasant conversation O.
the parlar sofa, called forth series o
explosive chuckles.
1t was not to be supposed that sucl
conduct could pass unnoticed. Nohod3
was in the least surprised when Mrs
Kirby, having endured Mr.. Wilson
peculiarities with polite patience for I
week, signitied her intention, at break
fast one morning, of returning to til
S city the next day; nor when Mr.. Daw
son, with gentle cough, observed the
he had been contemplating the sam,
course nor when Mr.. Croffut, with
tenderly regretful glance at Polly, sal
l it was really time he was back in hi
studio-the sole effect of all which upol
Mr.. Wilson was to send him off into al
5 uncomfortable fit of laughter.
, Il don know what to think of You
pa, said poor Mrs Wilson, wiping he
eyes over the dishpan, an hour later
} cts all his doing; they wouldn t 4
: thought Of going so soon if he hadn
{ acted so crazy like. And to think 0
the way he took it-latfed! do beliey
he is losing his senses"
oily was SoDerly silent. LYerythln
Il seemed hopeless middle
4 I'D got it all reckoned up" Mrs
Wilson went on, tearfully. IF they
q a stad three weeks longer, I'd a ha
IS enough to get new carpet and rock
ing chair, and new paper for the sitting
room.
There was sound of hurried foot
It steps and strange voices proceeding fro
y the parlor.
t What's that2' said Mrs, Wilson
T. sharply; ut don't seem as though
could stand much more"
r. She wiped her hands YEARLY, an
fastened inside, followed by oily
II The scene which the open parlor doc
le framed was altogether the most remarN
he able they had ever beheld MI
a. Dawson, with heated face and with tn
y signs of recent struggle in his Ripe
~ coat sleeves and disarranged collar
sd with his hands fastened behind him i
{, iron bands, stood glazing before then
4, Mr.. CroGaL rather more composed-
ID meeting Pollys gaze, in fact. with sal
r. castically aiectionate smile-but wit
he his hands in the same position from
ne like cause, lounyed against the mante