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

there might be something oIse, and nov
he knew there was.
Pretty fair weather for the time O
year." he at length said, after an awl<
ward silence in which the measured tlcl
Of the old clock seemed to gain il
volume at every swing.
He would not have said even this hat
he known what the weather was, for ,
strong spring shower had been gather
ing, and was about to break on the cot
tage. A moment later it did break, and
what to do or say next the old man did
not know.
When he came in they were about to
spread the table for dinner, and after
some delay country manners demanded
that they should proceed Farmer John
watched them closely, hoping third
plate would not make its appearance on
The snowy cloth. But it was placed
there, and when dinner was ready Mrs.
Baldwin with Il pleasant smile asked him
TO sit up and eat with them.
In vain the old man declared he was
not hungry he had just eaten u
very late breaklast-and that he hadn't
very good appetite anyway The rain
kept pouring down, and in spite of him.
sell Farmer :. Ohm found himself seated at
table with Helen and hor mother.
AS soon rs they were seated Yrs. Bald
win glanced quietly ut her ncighbor.
and then proceeded to ask IL plain, old
fashioned blessing. Farmer John sad
asked bles,ings-but that was before the
new barn was buit-for somehow dur
ing the hurry and worry of the time.
blessings were often left out, and finally
dropped altogether. To be sure they
were renewed the spring little rcn's
sleeping place was changed from the
warm room of the kitchen to the narrow
bed in the old orchard, but only for n
year or so, and now it was never done.
Perhaps the old mans conscience was
disturbed by this omission we cannot
say as to that-but somewhere in his
crusty heart there was lingering respect
for those who did not omit il that ave
thcma warm corner where warm corners
were exceedingly scarce Nor can we
say whether it WINS this or the desire to
shy something in the right place that
caused him ut the close of the BLESSING
to astonish his hostess with n very hearty
amen.
OF course Mrs. Baldwin and her dauph
ter were puzzled rs to the OBJ ,cct of the
old mans visit. Mrs. Baldwin thought
possibly it was some matter of business
but his evident embarrassment about in
Producing it was inexplicablc.
Helen, who never thought of john
Sanbourn except in connection with
Will Sanbourn, feared his visit BODIED
no good for the absent boy.
But they had not long to wait
81 do know but might jis' IS soon
tell yc what ! come for first rs last
faint no pleasant job, | know, but ]
felt s though ! didn't do list right
toward ye in the matter bout will, an
want to tell yc that Pm ashamed NV my
self. Il was too hasty altogether"
This was not exactly what he had meant
10 say, but it was all lie could saw. and
it had to do.
Mrs. Baldwin, greatly astonished.
to say thai there was nothinn
for him to he ashamed of. They ALWAYS
believed he did what he thought would
be for the best, and had no reason tc
think he had done otherwise in thu:
matter. Helen WAS too much overcome
10 speak, but when the old farmer OK.
tended his hand and asked her TO over
look the past and he would do better by
Will, the dark eyes filled and the girlisf
form shook with emotion.
Farmer John had winked back II good
many tears in his day, but this proved
little more of that kind of work than
even he coul'l manage, and one afte,
another the great tears rolled down his
face.
Mrs. Baldwin was about to make some
further remark, when step on the front
stoop attracted their attention, and in n
moment more Will Sanbourn stood be-
fore the astonished trio. Helen sprann
toward him first, but Farme. John wa,
a close second, and grGspin@ him warmly
by the hand, extended n most hearty
welcome.
An hour later the sun broke through the
clouds, and shortly after two men could
be seen dodg ing the puddlcs along the
road leading by one of the best farms in
Central Wisconsin. One of the men was
a little bowed, with one hand resting ON
his back Just where two wide, knit sus-
penders met. The other little taller.
upright and strongly built, was trying
to keep up with him. Which was the
happier OF the two it would be hard to
tell.
1t is Just four years to-day since then,
and VIII, with strong hired man, is in
'i0 o"hic pnVk Helu, menulng the old
pasture wall. The other boys are away
at school, and as we are passing so near
the old farm house, let us peep into the
open door of the long front room.
The two elderly ladies by the window
we have seen before. And the restful
peace on the face of one of them tells
that the time when "twill be all over
with has really come
A young woman with dark, earnest
eyes is fitting back and forth to the
kitchen helping the girl with the
dinner, while every step is taken lightly,
as oil and on furtiye glances are cast to-
ward the well-worn lounge in the corner.
For don't you see chubby two.year-old,
with pair of gold-bowed spectacles in
his dimpled fist, has fallcnasleep ON grand.
pas arm, and grandpa is slee ping too9
We did not intend TO say anything
about the baby's name and will not. But
you can always tell when The thin locks
are pulled little too hard, by the way
the old man says-"Johnny - Youths
Companion.
Vhn Nouhfho I ,,,,..1