Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-03-06
CURING A CRANK.

Lizzie Silver beseechingly. you
know l love you. You are the only
friend / have in the world, and IL you
were to die what would become OF me?"
Il suppose young Guy Cheevers
would console you for my loss" said
Mr.. Maddox, grimly. cat any rate
don't care. l will end my troubles
and sorrow tomorrow at II m"
And with these fearful words he
strobe out OF the room, leaving Lizzie
sobbing with her curly black head
resting on dinner plate.
Whats the matter now. Bess? Has
the milliner disappointed you in your
love of bonnet?" asked n warm,
hearty voice, which was the property
of 'young Guy Cheovers," as Mr..
Maddox called him, rs that gentleman
strobe into the room.
"Oh. Guy" sobbed Lizzie. "Uncle
Cyrus is going TO die tomorrow at II
o'clock."
"How do you know?" asked Guy.
ale said So"
Dub llOW AOtS TIC huOW.
He's going TO kill himself"
$50 as to make himself true
prophet, eh?" asked Guy, laughingly.
'Oh, Guy. don't joke" cried Lizzie
tearfully. ale will ii know ne will"
IL doubt it." said Guy, skeptically.
''But he tried to commit suicide
several times" persisted Lizzie, fear
fully. "Once he tried to smother
himself with burning charcoal, but h C
forgot to stop up the keyhole, and l
smelt the smoke and got some neigh
bors to break open the door and save
him. Then he tried TO hang himself,
but the cord broke; and he fired u
pistol at himself, but he forgot to put
ball in it, so that failed; and
then"
"Gracious" cried Guy, as Lizzie
stopped for want of breath "what a
determined man he must be! Such
Have you any idea what plan he will
try nowP"
''l'm sure don't know" said Lizzie,
mouruiully. something dreadful. /
suppose.
''But what does he want to make
away with himself for?" asked Guy,
wonderingly.
''Why, he says he is a miserable
man. burden to everyone, and that
life has no joys for him, and that he
is weary of this world"
"And so would like to try the next?"
said Guy. perhaps he won't find it
30 pleasant as tho one he is quitting.
What an unreasonable man he must
be! he is rich. talented. healthy, and
has a very pretty niece" and here,
in moment OF abstraction he allowed
his arm 10 wander around Miss Silver
waist-''and what more can he want?
But some people never are satisfied.
1t seems he is determined TO pry into
futurity, and it seems pity TO dis
appoint so laudable an ambition. but
duty-duty to myself-compels me To
interfere. l dislike any scandal or
excitement. A coroner's jury would
cause both, therefore we must balk
his little game"
'But how?" asked Lizzie curiously.
"A prudent general" id Guy
haughtiIy, never conAdes his plans tC
his army, particularly when the army
is of the feminine gender; SO excuse
me, NUNS the word. But rest assured
my dearest Elizabeth, that unless you
worthy unclo shuffles off this morta
coil in surreptitious manner before
IL o'clock tomorrow he will not do i
afterward-of course, / mean illegally
Farewell till tomorrow"
Having concluded this address, Guy
strobe OFF in a tragic manner, leaving
Lizzie greatly surprised, but still quit,
treasured, for in her opinion what
Guy couldn't do wasn't worth doing
The next morning Mr.. Maddox mad,
his appearance very saturnine auC
gloomy. and ate his breakfast with
mouraful air that was terribly impress
sive. Having finished he then tool
leave of his niece in feeling manner
diu dOOuO W lOdNS you, bdtu III
mournfully. IL am about TO end thi
life OF misery. l hope that you ma,
be happy"
"Oh. don't go!" said Lizzie. fearful
clingiug TO him and looking into hi
face pleadingly.
"Irs useless" said Mr.. Maddo
firmly. My mind is fixed and moth
ing you can do can persuade me to re
iiuquish my purpose. But you. m
dear child, shall not be unprovide
for. intend to make my will in th
few hours that are left me and you wi
not be forgotten. Good-by, my de.
child, farewellr' and then. after en-
bracing his niece fervently, Mr. Mad
dox rushed from the room franticall
and securely locked himself into hi
own room and began to prepare him
self for his last journey.
mine o'clockp' he said to himself
looking at his watch. Three hour
Yeti Enough to do all / have to dc