then a hypocrite, then a thief and
iiaally the wolfish monster that
knew no reason and respected no
law.
Richeson's early history shows
him to have been axrlever, earnest
student. Spiritually inclined and
delighting .in oratory, he natur
ally accepted the ministry. He
preferred the society of women,
but was inclined to disrespect
Avis Linnell.
fdminine confidence early in life.
At least one scandal scarred him
while at Newton seminary, but he
was ordained and accepted a call
to the Baptist church at Hyannis,
Mass.
- The talli slender, dark Virgin
ian, with the features of an Apol
lo, sombre in his sacred garb, was
the man of the hour. Nn wnndw
that whole-souled, -meny-eyed, 1
laughing-lipped Avis fell under
the spell of the fascinating suav
ity of the man, as moody as a
poet, overflowing with tender
sentiment, sensitive and always
the actor.
She was 17 when she met him.
Her mother was a Virginian. To
Avis the man was the personifi
cation of her mother's idealiza
tion of a courtly southern gentle
man. Avis Linnell got acquainted
with Richeson when he perform
ed the marriage ceremony for her
sister, Vida, and William Mac
Lean. Avis was bridesmaid.
The first suspicion that she
and the minister were fn love
came when, by degrees she lost
some of her care-free manner and
grew deeply religious. In a few
weeks the girl seemed transform
ed into womanhood, discarding
her outdoor sports for serious
study and guarding her confi
dences closely.
Even in these early days of the
romance the passionate pastor
had evil in his heart.
The diamond ring that he put
on Avis' hand was taken from the
hand of another girl to 'Whom his
marriage proffer had been as in
sincere as was this betrothal to
Avis. And this same ring was
later taken from the Hyannis girl
and bestowed upon Miss Violet
Edmands, the Brookline 'heiress,
to marry whom the minister mur
dered Avis.
While the tragic romance was
yet in the bud, the yotjng pastor
of the church at Hyannis, Mass.,
became -known to his parishion-
4-aiii
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