Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-16
BLENDA,

''Thc woman has behaved so badly, so
shiftily; those grccn-cycd women are al
ways shifty."
The speaker was Il tall fair, liorid
youth of some twenty-four years of age
the locality was a smoking-room in the
house Of Mr.. Horace Ashton, the we'll
known surgeon, and the hour to be pre-
else, WAS five O'Clock on Il dull November
evening.
'Yon sec, she first Of all encouraged it.,
and led me to believe that she and her
husband would be very glad to see Tina
married to me (shc is only 'l'ina's step
mother, you know, and then, when my
big brother came on the scene and began
making up To my li!:c girl--;ls lie does
every hciress-whv, then Mrs Fowler
cooled OH, like the snob that SIR is, and
told Tina that she wasn't to dance 50
much with me, and that-in short, it
wasn't to he. 1t was a horrid shame I;
don't You think so, lIoracc.n
at sounds rather unfair. But perhaps
Cha!loncr doesn't really want To marry
Miss Fowler"
sob, yes, he does. lie admircs her
immensely, to begin with, and then she'll
have five thousand Il year. He'd marry
witch for two more. Yon know what
he is; he doesn't care for Tina: he
doesn't care for anyone, but himself,
while l.
"But | don't quite sec what I am To
do, what part am io play, or how can
serve You by coming to this supper party
tonight interrupted Horace, sharply.
lie did not mean to be unsympaihctic,
but he was very tired ana he had heard
so often how much, how very much. his
young friend, Hon. Humphrey Challoncr,
cared for the beautiful Miss Fowler
swell, want your opinion and your
advice, which you cannot give until YOU
have seen the family. | want You TO
take particular notice of Mrs. Fowler.
and to tell me what you think of her
She is years and years younger than her
husband; and some people admire her
Immensely. She is awfuiiy vain. |
should add, and more accessible 10 fiat
terry than any one I've ever met, and [
believe that you might talk her over,
Horace, if You would only take the
trouble. You see, you are clever and
I'm not, and Challoncr is IN elder son
and Niscount, and I'm younger son
with nothing; and Tina is only eighteen,
and docs not come of age until she is
twenty-five, and she says it'll kill her to
wait so long, and-and altogether we
haven't hundred to one chance of ret
ting married unless somebody or other
intervencs in our behalf. Captain Fow.
Ter wouldn't oppose us, I'm sure, if he
were left to himself; but his wife i,
against me, and he is mere lump OF
clay in her hands"
"All right I'll come to the supper
then, as You are so anxious about it,"
''And you'll be there by 11:30l"
"Gool.n
And, true to his word, ut the houl
named Mr.. Ashton presented himself al
the door of Captain Fowler's residence,
small house on the east side of Davic.
street, Berkeley Square. He did MOI
look forward with much pleasure to In,
evenings entertainment, for he dislikct
strangers, and he hated supper parties
but he was glad to obligc Humphrc,
Challoncr, of whom he was very fond
Upon entering the dining room Mr.. Ash
ton found himself in the midst of yer,
lively party that numbered among it
members two pretty Americans, tx,
wealthy young Guardsmcn-to whom TIN
Americans were laying sicgc-the Fowlc
family, and Captain Chaloner, whose nc
count OF the family Mr.. Ashton soon pro
nounced to be correct
Mrs. Fowler was distinctly pretty wo
man, but not pleasing one Her cx
preston lacked frankness, and her man
ner suggested an almost morbid vanity
She had little air OF making spcccl
every time she opened her thin lips Mis-
Fowler was simply lovely, and far to,
charming to be married for her money
Captain Fowler was palpably under hi
wie's thumb-a chinless being who's
huid character evidently took the imprcs
OF the strongest hand that grasped it.
"a hopeless case" thought Horace
after the first few minutes talk with hi
hostess. "This woman is an arrant snob
and the bare idea of becoming mother
1n-law to a viscount has turned her veal
brain; she won't give in"
Presently the conversation, which wo
somewhat general, turned upon defectiv
postal arrangements. One of the Amor
can ladies had lately posted, with her ow
fair hand,,a letter to friend in the r.,
gents Park that had never reached i,
destination. "Think how MANY an in
portant communication may have bee
lostl" she exclaimed,
Letters are never !ost," said Cantai
Fowler, speaking with all the assertiy
temerity of the weak. eff letter
rightly addressed and posted, it it dcliy
ered.nn S-''