Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-05-24

was bowed, and no fresh water found !,
way back over the hill TO the boys.
Thus an hour pas cd. Then old XII
who hao stopped chewing and wit
il drowsy eyes was living over colthoo
days. was suddenly brought back to til
present by the old man hurricdly gettin
to his feet.
"Beats all beats all what I've bee
thinking about all these years !" he burs
out. We've had enough an'tcr spar
for the last fifteen of 'em and here | an
working 'cm al to death, m myself, to-
-for-well, for nobody knows what
I'll stop it, yes, l declare | will, Mary
too old to work this way, an l oughte
seen it before. Pll turn overa new leaf
see Il dont-half do zen of 'cm. vii
son can have that forty CT he wants it
nm If only dared to, Id go clear down
ter Widder Baldwiu's an tell 'cm In
ashamed of myself, blamed if
wou!dn't"
Here he stopped a moment for breath
then went on: "p'raps faint list the
thing ter 80 pokin' down there 'thoul
bcin' asked, after ALPS been said but
then I'll go. yes, l will. They can't
morc'n tell me ter leave
Here the old man hurried out of the
door, and casting Il side glance at the
sun, mt once set out for the Kitchen door.
mo mistake" he repeated as he
walked along. al was little too hard
on the boy Will worked hard and was
good TO me. always was. l took n poor
girl when | started, an I've never seen n
rich one I'd trade her for, >" and on Inc
went up the cool back steps into the
kitchen.
"NIary"
eyes. john" came from the cellar.
way, whence Mrs. Sanbournc was bring.
ing large pan of potatoes, II half dozen
turnips and Il cabbage
"What did you want, Johnl" she
asked, placing the future dinner on the
table, and resting her hands on the sides
of the pan.
sob, nothin'. Only wanted TO know
where yc was, kinder, and then, seeing
the worn look on the once handsome
face, added:
"Ain't yer pretty tired. Mary"
swell, no, not more than usual, but
somehow, John. I'm always tired nova.
days"
well, Mary, yc look tired, that's
sartin; but Il" Here the old man
found it hard to proceed, for visions of
the Mary in tho past and the Mary now,
OF the little Will and the Will of to. day.
came too wildly before his troubled
gae.
Mrs. sanbourn, noticing this, fastened
to ask ii anything was wrong
"Oh no. donos there is. Thought I'd
stop in an rest bit. Somehow don't
seem ter stand as much this springs
common. But rs rs goin ter say. Pm
I'm goin' ter turn over new leaf,
Mary, an'-an' Will-Will didn't do so
very bad, after all. You know I-I"-
Here tho old man chokcd up again,
and seeing the great tears starting to
Mary's faded eyes, caught up the big
dippcr, and saying something about Il
cool drink mt the spring, hurried out.
When he got to the spring, he didn't
drink at all, but leaving the dippcr on
the stones, passed out of the biz gate
into the road. Here he stopped, looked
up and down the way, went on little,
then stopped again.
wonder # I'd better: Can't hear
from Will # don't that's sartin." Then
after moments pause, "Ycs. l'll go-go
nowl II it's put of 'twon't be done,
that's all | can tell 'em list how it's.
Mothers dyin' ter see Will. an'-wcll,
yes, an am, too. for that matter. III
tell en- twas l made the rumpuss.
They'll know where Will is, an pll
know. too, fore this road sees inv boots
agin, see T | don'tl'
With this he gave the old h..t vigor.
GUS Jam to gain courage, and started of
with long strides toward the clumD of
NAPLES that hid the widows cottage.
Good mornin, Wilson," he called to
a passing neighbor. I'D like ter speak
to yc iista moment"
With puzzled look the driver stopped
and gazed earnestly at the old man.
"Well, Wilson, how bout that forty
acres-want it yet"
WANT it2 l supposed you knew
wanted it badly enough. But what's the
use. l can't pay all down, and you can,
So OF course you'll get it,"
"Well l do know bout that, Wilson,
1t would square out your sixty, and
make We an even hundred. Ye oughter
have it, an can for all me- I've got two
hundred now-an' it's goin' ter kill me
an all the rest Of 'cM ter run that. An
bout the money-ef ye ain got nutT why
have. an jist's soon let ye have two or
three hundred for year or so S not. I'm
somethln' OF hurry, Wilson, but mind,
| mean what say. Good mornin'."
Good morning, repeated the aston.
ished Wilson, as with open mouth he
looked after the retrcating figure of the
farmer.
"What under the suns got into him
can it really be the old man !" he thought
to himself. Yes. there was no mistakine
those home made suspenders both fast.
ened to one overworked button.
Though Neighbor Wilson was com
pletely thunderstruck, and rode with his
head twisted round looking after the
object of his establishment till he was
nearly thrown from his wagon by bad
stump, he was still the happiest man in
all the badger State. Then he turned and
drove furiously back home to astonish his
family with the glad news.
All this time the cause of his past
misery and present happiness was making
good time toward the dreaded inter,
view. He had not intended to stop again.
but CHEEKY "Good morning, MIR. San,
bourn: from the yard of n poor renter
near the naples. broke the current of
his thoughts just rs he was preparing
himself to meet the worst.
"rhat you, NIarthal We'll, rood
mornin'. Pm in hurry. bnt olod va