Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-08-16
DENNY'S LUCK,
BY WILLIAM G. pATTES.

Dennis Lowry was his name, but every
one vino knew him called him Denny.
lie was tall, rather good-looking, vet
-slouchy-appcaring young fellow of TWEEN
ty-two or three. He had ALWAYS lived in
the sleepy little country village of New
ton and every one for miles around knew
him. He was called lazy and shiftlcss,
and ii was true that he had never excited
himself great deal to prove the charge
false. lie was inclined to lay his poor
circumstances to luck. Worse than
being born poor, he had been unlucky.
This was what he told himself, but PEG
pie who knew him, avrrred that ne had
never made any vigorous attempt to
change his luck. Denny was a dreamer.
1t was ms delight TO wander away through
the woods or fields, and TO lay all alone
amid the swcet-sccntcd grass and watch
the clouds as they sailed along above. or
TO follow the swift flight of the swallows
as they circlcd and whirlcd mt dizzy
heights. He would lie thus for hours
with his mind filled with wild fancies of
the future when his luck had changed.
Denny had 4 poets soul, but lacked Il
poet power Of expression.
Denny and INA Porter grew up to-
gcthcr. They were playmatcs while chill
'drcn, and their friendship seemed to
grow stronger us they became older
Denny was so kind and gentle that he
seemed much like Il girl himself. INA
was little, dark-cycd, rcd-lippcd witch
whose very soul seemed always a-bubblc
with mlrth. She WAS unlike Denny in
many respects, yet something seemed to
bind them together.
Denny never knew when he began to
love lnza. II seemed to him that he had
loved her always. She seemed a part of
his life, and his dreams by night and by
day were colorcd by her presence. And
so the days became weeks, the weeks
months, and the months wears, still
Denny was the same shftlcss, dreaming.
unlucky fellow.
One night they wandered away across
the fields to an old moss-covcrcd wall.
where they stopped to watch the sunset.
INA sal down upon Hat stone and Denny
lung himself ut her feet. The sun had
just sunk behind the western hills, but
the purple and gray clouds were painted
with the various colors of damask crimson
and molten gold. a rich purple haze
hung about the distant hills, and stretched
down over the woodlands, growing
fainter and fainter us the distance became
less. y little stream wound through the
hollow at their feet. from the further side
OF which came the plaintive blcat of II
lamb. a slowly circling crow shouted
hoarscly from away in distant wood.
For several moments they sat there en-
rapturcd Mt the beautiful scene. Finally
INA spoke:
"Isn't it beautiful, Dcnnya" she
breathed.
He drew long breath as though a
sweet spell had been broken, and his eyes
sought hers.
"Beautifu!" he whispered, in n soul
thrilling way. "Yct the word does not
express it. Painter or poet cannot repro
duce the beauty, the peace, the love of
God there is i'll such scene"
Denny" said Ina, in sudden convic-
ton, ''you should have been a poet; YOU
have poets SOUL"
81 know it, he replied, n touch of bit
terness lii his voice; ''but L cannot put
my thoughts on paper. l have tried INA,
but cannot express II hundredth part of
what there is within me. 1t is my luck
to be thus unfortunate"
For long time after this thcv did not
speak, but Toasted their eyes on the scene
before them. Finally Denny took Inza's
hand, and gazing into her dark eyes, said
earnestly:
"Inza, 1 love you. You know this
already. We have grown up together,
and our affection for each other has been
no secret, yet now wish to tell you that
it is not merely as friend that love
you, but want you for my wife Will
you marry mc2"
INA was startled.
"Denny," cried she, ''you surprise me !
l have not dreamed of hearing such
words from you, and yet II have" she
: confessed, falteringly- have not al
lowed myself to think of such things,
for it seemed that when you spoke such
words you would tear us asunder for
ever"
"Why" he asked, hoarscly. "Why
tear us asunderl If you become my wife
that will simply bind us closer together"
Denny" she spoke softly, scan you
support wiiei We have been together
from childhood and l acknowledge that
love you, yet would not be burden
on your hands? You have nothing with
which to begin life, and you say luck has
always been against you. Would not
your situation be still worse were you
married."
For fer moments his head fell upon
his breast They sat there in silence.
From pasture far away came the mellow
sound of n COW bell and the crow that
was still circling over the woods uttered
few harsh cries.
Suddenly Denny started to his feet and