Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-15

| l"ihhhhS lSntS oil tturltOn Top anu
hear the merry voices and gay laughtcr
!, Of the group on the bank from which
they had Just escaped. Arch smiles hnd
passed between its members rs They had
seen Dorothy Vincr and Jerome Fleet
we'll stroll or arm in arm 10 where the
little boat was moorcd.
The women had almost ceased To he
Jealous Of Dorothy-or to ask where lay
her charm. When she exercised her
destinations men bowed before her
first from necessity, then from choice.
But, though her victims were counties
shc was twenty and Dorothy Vincr
still. However, this time she had en-
countcrcd (hcr little sister sai,D focn,an
worthy Of her steel. What she was
among men, Jerome Fleetwood was
among women. Therefore, seeing these
two brought beneath the same roof and
thrown into daily intercourse. rumor wns
rife, and speculation awaited results with
hated breath. Meanwhile the liltlc boat
tloatod calmly ON the surface of the
| lake.
''AIiss Viner Dorothy"
1t WAS the first word either had uttered
i'll full ten minutes. She looked quickly
up at the speaker.
Miss Nincr," he repeated, calmly,
"did you know we were in dnngcr!"
''ln dnngcr9"
The dreamy look faded from her face,
the color deserted her cheeks and, slivcr-
ing heavily, she glanced up at the blue
vault where sailed so mnjcsticully thu
Goddess of Night--down into the dark
depth oi the waters, only iu seq tho
sivery moons brilliancy reelected there,
around, about her. All was peaceful.
''No, he said, in answer to her look,
''not from any of these. The moon, tho
wind, the waterfall are our friends To-
night. We are in danger from cach
other"
Oh, how she prayed the moon might
fail to make apparent the instant flushing
of blood to her check She felt il glow
like warm crimson rose, even while
she raised her little heal almost dcIlnntly,
ms though to hurl challenge nj his au-
s'acity. Men had made love to her in
many forms, but always II. suppliants.
This mm dared to suppose her in equal
danger with himself
"lou deal i'll riddles, Lieutenant
Flcctwcll," " she returned coldly. al am
accustomed to plain speech"
'lsathcr say that plain speech is to you
an unknown tongue, and that | am the
first man who has dared 10 speak frankly
Would You have me speak palmer still!
You shall have your wish. a week
longer under the same roof with YOU, II
week more Of exposure 10 your fnscinn-
tions and my slip would go 10 wreck and
ruin on the bar; unlcss"--hc leaned
nearer, his voice grew softer, more full of
tender feeling, and his hand fell on hers
very lightly but with carcssing grnrc--
"'mlcss, Dorothy, you would let il llont
your pcnnon and guide il into the safe
harbor Of your love"
She had been wooud many lines, in
many climcs, by many men, but nothing
had ever moved her MS this wooing, on
this moonlight night in October. Yet
this soldicr-this mnn-tlnrcd tell her
that in another week this all might come
to pass.
"a week hence" she said TO herself
bitterly, ''nnd the flame might singc him.
Now his wings are all mscorched. He
does not say: Il love yonr In time
| might love your Was he then To win
81 easy II victory Never"
"Lct us go home" she interrupted in
n constrained voice. at is growing
chilly"
"Dorotly, is this my answer"
"Your answcr2" with an assumption of
surprise. al was not aware of any qucs-
! ton"
''You shall moi hayc even This excuse.
Will yom bc my wifc?"
Ills voice WAS coarse an,l stern, and
his grasp frightened on her hand
"You hurt me Lieutenant FlcrtwcIl, :"
she complained pctulnntly, making an
effort to withdraw her fingers.
I Instantly he released her.
'I see that | hurt you," he returned
co,rtcously, and took up the oars.
"Pardon me" he continued, al will no,
do ii again
A few bold strokes and The boats keel
grated on the shore. Ten minutes Inter
and the two rcappcarcd in Mrs. lIurton's
beautifully appointed salon. On the
partcrrc beyond, shown the red light
from mans cigar II was still there,
still cleaning when she mad gone up 10
dow To pull down the shade, but stood
minute, fascinated, motionlcss.
"Aftcr tonight he will forget me,
she murInurcd, sadly. "And IL shnll
remember him-fOrcvcrw
Then, MS though Il sudden truth had
burst upon her, she drew down the
shade, to throw herself, with n quick,
impctuous motion, upon her couch, and
weep the first heart tears she had ever
shed.
"It is all ovcr-Miss Vincr has re-
fused him." That was the general vcr-
dict when, twenty-four hours later,
Jerome Flcctwcll badc his friends adieu,
and withdrew to town on plea of sudden
business
The news soon reached DOrothys car
'T have not refused him, she said aloud;
"not even that satisfaction is mine, )" she
said to hcrsclf-"nor ever will be! 1t
was only 'thc might have bcen.'"