The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-05-21

of II year old Avis Linnell, the bright.
est OF the local high school students.
She had been baptized aud received In
TO the church By the young minister
and the old gossips Of the little village
considered them naturally attracted to
each other and looked for them to wed.
There was no formal announcement
OF an engagement. But Miss Linnell
had given up most OF her social diver.
sions and was spending nearly all of
her time In church work. She was the
right hand" OF the pastor in most OF
the events and took his part in DIS
pute that arose from his methods OF
preaching. 1t was Richeson's boast
that he always called "a spade II
spade" and his forceiul preaching, in
which he assailed sin in every guisc.
soon split the congregation in factions.
In April, 1910, Rev. Richcson resigned
and stated that hehad accepted u
charge In Emmanuel, Cambridge. He
had planned to stay there only n short
time and later to marry Miss Linucif.
according to what their friends under.
stood, and 80 to China as a missionary.
Then Avis Linnell. who had splcn
did voice. left the little country village
and went to Boston. She stated that
she was going there to study In the
Conservatory OF Music SO that she
might be better able to laid her hus.
band'' In his church work. At that
time she was wearing handsome dia.
mond ring. which II was understood by
lher people had been tho gift OF the
minister, "a
y Meanwhile Richcson had been In.
stalled In the fashionable Cambridge
church. Here his work was crowned
with success and lie became a .ravorite
with many members of the congresa;
ton who profcsscd TO be. charmed with
/ his plain talks from the pulpit. Ono
night at a church reception the young
pastor was introduced to Miss Viola
Edmands- She was the daughters OF
/ Moses Grant Edmands, one Of tho
wealthiest residents OF Brooklinc, and
reputed 10 be In possession III her own
right OF hall u million dollars received
from the estate OF her grandfather.
Miss Edmands was h different type
from the little country village maid
who had done SO much for the preach.
or down on Cape Cod. Proud and I'm.
lIIerlous In manner she was attracted
toward the young minister and soon he
was paying devoted attention 10 her.
In u short time he was her slave and
soon she told her intiinatess that slIo
and the minister were to wed soon.
Whether Avis ELinnell knew OF tho
other woman at this time Is not known
II Is certain, however, that early In the
summer she took the diamond ring
from her finger and wore It no more.
But there was no announcement TO the
home people that the engagement had
been broken md there were only n
fw people who knew that another wo-
man had come between tho preacher
and his little country sweetheart.
Miss Linnell went home in August
and shortly aftcrward Richeson also
came to HyannIs TO spend his vacation.
Prior 10 that time the minister had
been noticed dining IN Boston restau;
rants with Miss Linnell and in Hyau.
mis-, and in the old town the couple
were much together and the rumor
was soon aflOat that they had patched
up their differences and would cyentu.
ally be married.
In September RIcheson returned to
his pulpit and Miss Linnell went back
to- her music studies. At times. her
friends say, she seemed much dis.
Itraugdt and troubled. Finally on Sat.
urday, October az the yonng music
stndents told 'herg girl friends at The