Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-07-05

box, her brother Tom was despatched
on horseback to tho boat, and in a dis.
turbcd state of temper and nerves Mrs.
Prindlc seated herself at the breakfast
table
~ wouldn't worry about it, Phcbc, -
said her mother; 'Tt'll be all right if
you left it in your stato-room."
But Tom shortly came galloping back
with the information that the statc-room
had been searched in vain; not box of
any kind was to be found.
"Thcn that maid must have taken it, t"
Mrs. Prindc declared. "Shc had to go
rummaging among my things last night
for my bottle Of salts, and dare say
the handbook took her eye"
"AIorc likely it slipped overheard
when they were bringing your traps
ashore, - remarked Tom, with boys
repugnancc to having people suspected.
But Mrs. Prindlc, convinced that the
bantlbox was in the waiting maids
possession, insisted on going herself to
see the captain.
Tho captain who had just risen from
breakfast when the carry-all stopped at
the gate, listened TO Mrs. Prindlc's
story with courteous patience. Mrs.
Bates had been on the boat for thirteen
years, he said, and ho had never had
cause to suspect her honesty; but he was
moro than willing to investigate the
matter. 1t was possible that Mrs. Bates
had taken the box to her own room
simply for safe keeping, ho suggested.
But Mrs. Bates, who had just finished
putting i'll order the statc-room Mrs.
Prindlc had occupied, denied all
knowledge Of the bandbox, and was so
indignant over Mrs. prindlc's implied
suspicion that the captain had some diff
Guilty in preventing n scene.
cts very strange" said Mrs. Prindlc,
siillly, as the captain helped her over the
gang plank. "a box like that couldn't
have gone Off without hands. Some
body must know something about it,
and il il isn't the maid it must be some
of the passengers.
But all the passengers had left the
boat, and Mrs. Prindlc herself had to
admit that Ia cnnd n ec,rc', ,,,rro,,.
after them would be an understandable
proceeding. Beyond question the bon
net was lost, and she returned TO Hutch
invillc feeling that the pleasure of her
visit was already Mt an end Even the
fact that her travelling hat was pretty
affair, anil not Mt all out of style,
afforded her little consolation. Still.
She could have worn the travelling hat
in more rcsignc state Of mind had the
weather been such as 10 make the other
seem tr:flc in advance Of the season;
but from the hour of her arrival until
she turned her face homcward, scarcely
" 'N"i hi"Iicu INC serene azure OIL Inc
skies. Tho mir was full of subtle hints
OF bursting buds, and robin songs filed
the pcriumcd dawns, while up and down
the streets from morning ill night the
merry children trundlcd their hoops,
and high above the trcc-tops scared the
inevitable kite; but to Mrs. Prindlc, be-
rcft of her bonnet, these unmistakablo
signs of spring served only to intensity
her sense of loss, and she was scarcely
sorry when the time came for her to re-
turn to town. The loss, trifling in it.
self, took the beauty out Of the velvet
lawns.
Jack. like the dutiful spouse that he
always proved himself 10 be, was at the
landing to meet her the next morning,
and on the way home she poured into his
sympathetic ears the story OF missing
bonnet.
"You are sure you took it with you9''
he asked, when the recital was ended.
"Jack! OF course I'm sure! You don't
suppose I'd have gone off without it,
after buying it on purpose to wear it
when ut homcl"
'IIardly; but never mind, dear; all
you have to do is to go to Madame lie
Grades and duplicate it," said Jack,
eager to comfort her.
81 may 90 to Madame lie Grandc's
and order another, bu. shall not dupi-
cate it" said Mrs. Prindlc, with much
dignity. 1--WE no wish to have my
bonnet companion piece to Mrs. Bates.
That woman ought to be brought to JUS
tice, and as soon as were through break
fast, Jack, | want you to take dcscrip-
ton Of the bonnet to some detective and
put him on tho watch for her."
Jack barely succeeded in supprcssins
n whistle.
"Wouldn't it be better" ho began
but the stODninr of the street cor in