The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-06-25
THE VILLAGE BELLE.


THE VILLAGE BELLE.
She was very beautiful No one could
ccnscientiously dispute it. or course, there
were many who did dispute it,though, more
especially those of her own sex. Unsuccess-
ful applicants, also, TO her hand and heart
pronounced her "nothing out of the com
mon" after, rot before, you may be SIRE
they had met with firm rejection at her
hands.
Yes, Clara Moore was very beautiful
girl. Such Good Of golden hair, such reg.
ular and exquistely chiseled features, and
such beautiful complexion.
She held only humble position in life.
Her mother kept the first shop in the vii
lOge, kind of general store, where you
cou d purchase anything and everything
from ball Of string to box of pills.
The village in which she dwet was very
small but very pretty. Every one seemed
to take pride in his particular cottage, and
endeavored to vie with his nelghbors in
maintaining picturesqueness and cleanliness
Through this charming little home stead
ran trout stream, and hither occasionally
in the summer months would resort some
lover of the rod and line-an importation
from some crowded scene of tumult and
money making,
IN the village Inn there was not accom-
modstions for more than three or four visit
tors-that is to say, they purposed ying
all night-but at several cottages apartments
could be obtained.
Mrs. Moore was among those who could
furnish comfortable rooms for gentleman,
and few summers went by without her
apartments being let.
II was on bright morning in the merry
month of May when Francis Cox knocked
at the private door of Mrs Moore's residence
lie was very good looking fellow at first
sightj just the sort of face that would take
with woman. But when YOU came to look
into it, it betrayed great amount Of weak
ness; and the eyes, though not unprcpos
sesslns altogether in their expression, were
set too closely together.
Mrs. Moore was busy in the shop; Clara
had been looking after the household work
and she it was who opened the door to Mr.
Cox.
"Haw /" he exclaimed in an affected and
somewhat domineering tone of voice. "a SC,
you have rooms to let; wish to look al
them"
"Will you step inside p responded Clara
who was rather nettled at his manner Of ad
dress, and consequently did not say "sr
which she otherwise would have done.
"Doooid small, amt they ?" said Mr.. Cox
putting up his eveRlass and surveying Clari
"ith half astonished, half-inlignant air.
"Thcy are naturally small" answered
Clara, "this being but cottage"
"iiaw Of coursei one cannot expect
palace il an out.ol the.way place like this
he responded.
The remark as to its being an out of the
way place was intended either to ammo,
Clara, or to impress her with the idea tina
she was addressing one @hu was accustomed
to the grandeur and Importance of cities.
1t Jailed, however, in both Instances.
"There is another thing" observed Clara
(which will probably render them unsu.
able to you they nre connected with tn
shop"
CONNECTED with the shop ?" excaimet
Mr.. Cox, in an evident state of perplexty
Yes" said Clara, "the door you kuocke,
at is the private entrance to the same build
ing as that with which the shop is connect
ed"
They were now standing in the small sit
ting room. Clara pointed to the door at tn
other side Of The passage,
THAT door" she exclaimed, "leads int
the shop which mother keeps. Now do yo,
understand? ?"
"oh haw Yes, understand"
A slight pause followed, during whic
Mr.. Cox surveyed the room through his eye
glass. He then said
"That wouldn't matter at all if the room
suited. What is the fgure?"
"Two dollars per week, including attend
anoe."
"Haw May look at the bedroom9"
"Certainly."
He followed Clara upstairs.
dts considerably larger than the sitting
ROOM" observed Mr.. Cox.
eyes it is over the passage as well.
Exactly and only four dollars a weel
including aitendance?"
1.-TWO dollars" said Clara, looking at hin
1.-Two dollars! Two dollars only surel
you must bo mistaken"
"No, am not mistaken"
Excuse me but how on earth can it pa
your"
oh, people can live on So little in an out
OF the way place like this" answered Clar,
liaw r. exclaimed Mr.. Cox, vino coul
not repress slnllei every good. alway
thought rustic life blunted the understood
ingj I see am mistaken. / hope you di
not think me Intentionally rudo."
He made hisapology in such a nice man
ner that Clara's animosily began to tax
rapid flight.
"oh, dear, no. she said, aud then sh
conducted him down stairs.
"Weil, ifyou'n have me-" observed Nj
Cox, whose different manner seemed to con
vert him into nuiia annlhar narsor, ar ahal