Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-09-14

ready mcutioncd-iu helpless fright.
He started up, and, with what 1 then
thought admirable presence of mind,
exclaimed, angrily: 1'How dare you IN
suit my wife, sirl''
"This strong language had the desired
elect, and the man seemed to shrink
into himself, and became as quiet as
lamb. / suppose believing me to be the
wife Of somebody else shattered his
hopes"
Here again tho rare, sweet smile lent
new charm to Louise's face.
"Try rs | might" she continued, 'T
could not prevail upon him to take back
his watch, and at the next station the gen
tlemau who called me his wife gave my
admircr, with his watch, into the hands
OF policeman as mad. That was the last
we ever saw of him, but we heard later
that he was Pole aud incurably insane.
The old lady in the coupe with us looked
inquiringly at my rescuer. who laughed
and murrnured something 1 did not
understand. / thanked him rs dc.
scended ut my destination, never dream
ing that he was to cross my path again.
Some weeks ago, one afternoon, my
uncle called Inc from mending Tommy's
stockings, and told me friend wished
TO see Inc III the drawing room. /, who
hau no friends, was much surprised. Nor
did this surprise lessen whom / was pre-
sented to the man who had silenced the
crazy Pole that day in the train. His name
was Mitchell, and he turned out to be
an old friend of my unclea.- 'Rich as
Crrsus and bachelor, my uncle said to
me, with knowing wink when our Wis
itor had departed.
81 took great dislike to Mr.. Mitchell:
in manner and appearance he was most
rcpugnant TO me. But thought very
little about him one way or another
why should interest myself in man
Older than my father2-until, week
later, Uncle Thomas informed me that
MIR. Mitchell wished to marry mo-"
'Prcposterous," exclaimed Owen.
VI don't often laugh in the presence
OF Uncle Thomas, but when he told me
this laughed heartily This made my
uncle very angry. Why should make
game of the ollcr of man of whom l
might be proudl I, who might be in
the workhouse If it were not for the
charity of my relations"
1.-THE brutcl"
'lf | was so silly ns not to know on
winch side my broad was buttcrcd-it
was often difficult to tell-hc would turn
bring ME to my senses. But why need
tell you the particulars of this and many
another painful scencl | was silent and
undecided for while, and Mt last found
courage to tell Mr.. Mitchell that could
not marry him.
sic listened with disagreeable smile,
and replied: My young lady will not
find refusal so easy ms she Thinks"
lowing TO the rusty conduct on the
part Of your aDliablo uncle" intcrpolated
Owen
vi believed this was his meaning until
the next day. Then my aunt informed
me calmly that was already married TO
Mr.. Mitchell"
SIS that good lady sub ect to such fits
of mental alteration n
81 stared ut her in amazement when
she proceeded to explain to me that. ac-
cordinS to Scotch law, if n man in the
presence OF witness says woman is
his wife, and size does not deny it, it be.
comes legal marriage. There was Il
witness in the train that day-thc old
lady mentioned-Mr. Mitchell is
Scotch, and was determined to have his
rights.
al could not believe aunt was in earn
est, but it seems she was and what is
worse, they all bcset Inc every hour in
the day with speeches to the effect that
it is OF no use to try and escape my des-
tiny; MIR. Mitchell has the law on his
side, and the sooner, for appearance
sake, | consented to another marriage
ceremony in church, the better.
II have asked you to meet me hero
this evening, Mr.. Stanley. to tell me
truly if there is any ground for their
saying am Mr.. Mitchell's wife"
1T is the most preposterous, cowardly
lie ever heard Of" exclaimed Owen,
quite boiling over with Indignation an
some parts OF Scotland, long ago, some
such rubbish as they tell you might be
true; but we are not in Scotland. To
have this rich mans money in the family,
your rcprobate of an uncle is trying to
play upon your innocent ignorance,
knowing or believing you had no one to
en'ighten you. He ought to be exposed
and prosecuted for his vllainy."
ooh, I'm so glad and thankful YOU rs.
sure me that this dreadful man has no
power over me p said Louise, with pro.
found sigh of relief.
"iou poor little friendless thinp!" AS
if of its own accord Ovens arm encir
cled the girls waist, and he tenderly
and reverently kissed her unresisting
lips
"And now I must fly back to the
house. Dear me- the half hour is long
past"
''For heavens sake, don't let them
persuade you to commit any rash folly.
Trust in Inc, !" said Owen, taking another
kiss in farewell.
Arriving at his lodging, he found two
letters awaiting him; one from Travers,
special chum in the old luxurious days,
and the other-hc could hardly believe
his eyes-from Uncle Raymond.
lie dashed into the pcrusal of this last
Mt once, and discovered that, after year
and month, his former friend and benc-
factor, his fathers only brother, was on
the track of the fellow who had com.
mitted q certain forgcry--a crime of
which Morris Raymond, in hot, sudden
anger, had accused his nephew. Strong
circumstantial e'idence against Owen
was not wanting, and thus, suffering
for the misdeed of another. he was
thrust out for n rough struggle against
the world