Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-02


| her father come unsteadily around tho
from favorite lounging place where he
had spent the day, the snow was binding
and the cold had almost conquered the
feeble efforts of the kitchen stove.
"Wcll, air We goin' to the Officer
asked Haven in somewhat liquor
weakened voice.
"No; there is no paper on Monday
morning, you know" replied the com
| positor.
"That's so, forgot about it. It's
mighty cold here; what's the mattcr?"
"The coal is nearly gone. Didn't you
get some Yesterday"
'Didnt nave no money, an now I'm
out of n job, can't get none. What'll VIC
do, Madge?"
"I'll have my months wages soon, and
then it'll be all right"
81 heard somcthn' ter-day."
"What was it, fathcrl"
"That lIOrris told on me, so rs TO get
my job. Said to the comp'ny that was
u good-fcr- nothin' an got me discharged
I'll get even with him, doggon his dog
goncd picter," and the man clcnchcd his
hands angrily. Suddenly his face
lighted up with strange expression.
CHE comes back tonight from the Gulch,
doesn't hc3" he blurtcd out, and then
went to the door. The wind was still
fcrccr, and the air was fairly white with
snow. The thermometer had been
registering below zero for two hours and
now was drawing near to the twenty de-
gree mark. No church bells could be
heard; indeed that Sunday is to this day
remembered rs one upon which no even
ing services were held, on account of the
terrible storm. Up from the stream to
which the steep banks, separated from
the house by the narrow wagon road, led,
came the roar of the waters ms they
dashed eastward, ms if getting good
Roadway for their long sluggish journey
across the plains to the sea.
"Ill fix him." the girl heard him
muttcr in his half-drunkcn frenzy, and
taking lantern from the closet he went
with it out into the night.
"What can lie be doing?" she thought,
and waited with brcathlcss anxiety for his
return. 1t was long time, but when he
came, it was without the Highland with
clustering and blowing that told he had
been facing the storm.
"Wherc is the lantern, father?" she
inquired.
at went out, and had to drop it to
hang on to myself" he replied with n
lcer.
She is not satisfied, nut can get no
Dthpr 81 81 e.. :. 4.
the bitter cold is creeping over her flesh,
she goes to the single upstairs room of
the swayng cabin, where she prepares to
sleep. Before doing so, she peers through
the curtainlcss windows. She can see
nothing, but can feel the d,ist-lik snow
silt against her face as il is driven through
some crcvicc in the wall. All is blacl,
outside. Just us she is turning away.
however, she thinks she sees n twinkle of
light toward the river. She looks again.
Yes, surely it is there. Can traveller be
abroad in such a tempest? Surely not,
for the light remains still. She puzzles
over it II moment and then a thought
comes to her that makes her tremblc.
1t is the lantern which her father has
hung out-why? There can be one an
swcr-to misguidc his rival, who must
force his way through the storm tonight
and bring through the mail and stage
from the Gnlch. The light will cause
him to turn to the right and throw stage
driver and horses over the bank, and send
them rolling to death plunge in the ice
filled river below
''ln his drunken fury he is not HIM
self, " she thinks, in excuse Of the deed,
and determines to undo the crime which
was about to be committed
Hastily wrapping Il cloak around her
shivering form, she crccps back to the
lower room. Her father is sitting before
the stove, apparently brooding over his
coming revenge. AS noisclcssly rs posi-
bic she opens the outer door; and though
the man turns and sees her slipping
through, she has vanished into The black
ness of the storm before he can call TO
her.
In an instant he recognizes her GRAND;
tine thought of the slight, girlish form
battling with the fearful tempest, sends
the blood back from his heart and makes
Il sober man of him in flash.
Nv iHaico w VIC uOOr ana Calls {.
"Aladge" with all his strength 1t is of
no use. Nothing but the wind and the
roaring Smoky reply. Putting on his
ovcrcoat, which, ragged as it was, would
afford some protection, he starts to the
rescue. He turns the corner of the house,
and rs the blast strikes him, he is almost
driven back. But he struggles on and
reaches the spot where he thinks he left
the lantcrn-nonc is there, nor can he find
trace of the daughter whose body is
somewhere being driftcd under the snowy
covering. Back to the house, reached
with difficulty, he takes his course, and
in agony, alternately upbraids himself
and mourns the absent child
y >
"Blcss me, driver, but this is hairy
sort of night" and the only passenger
of the Red Gulch stage drew his ulster
closer about him and even then shivcred
little with the cold.
"Yes, we'd orter hcv stopped back
ycnder until mornin', but the mail haz
ter go through if we kin git it. Yc see,
they is awful pertic'lar about it an /