Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-29


himself by flirting with all tho pretty
girls who woro at oil addicted to that
potty vice. lie had never paid any
particular attention to Prudic, however,
until very recently, when ho suddenly
turn cd upon her tho full forco of his
manifold charms, with what success tho
reader already knows.
So matters went on for several weeks,
until it wa, common talk among tho
village people that Richard Willis had
"cut Joe Barton out" and that poor
Joe was slowly dying of broken heart.
One evening Prudio and Richard Will
lis camo homo from singing school TO-
scthcr, as usual, and wcro standing al
tho gate in the moonlight
"Prudic. he said, in low, tcndc,
voice, edo you lovu mcf'
eyes. l think 1do," faltcrcd Pru.
die, b;ushingly.
"And you will be my wifc' Come,
dearest, say you will"
"But-but this is so sudden, Mr..
Willis" murmurmorcd Prudic, con-
fuscdly. "Pioaso wait until to- morrow
night, and | will answer YOU"
''Suddcn" exclaimed AIr. Willis,
sharply. "Suddcnl Why have been
waiting on you over month, and you
certainly must havo guessed my inton-
lions in this time"
II cannot answer you tonight, Mr.,
Willis" rcplicd prudio, with somo
spirit.
Every well, thcn." said Mr.. Willis
reluctantly. 81 will como for my
answer TO -morrow night. And in tho
meantime dearest, remember that
love you moro than lifo itself. Good
night.
When Prudic wcnt to bed that nj g hit
sho lny long time awake, earnestly
considering Mr.. Willis proposal; and
tbs more sho thought it over the moro
sho saw Joe Barton's sorrowful faco and
sad, pleading eyes as they had
appeared TO her at tho singing
school that night, until at last
shc was obliged TO admit TO her
self that she really loved Joe hotter than
ever before, and decided to say "no"
to Mr. Willis when he should come for
her answer.
Tho next morning, however, sho
awol5o TO tho fact that terrible caiam-
ity hal bcfallcn her, and the news
spread ike wildlirc throughout tho viii
!aSc that tho great fortune Aunt Doro-
thy had left her had dwindcd away TO
u large tin box full of worthless papers.
Prndic was not very mcrccnary, and
even when the rimor was confirmed by
Il mole from Lawyer Grub she did not
take it very much to heart, bu. smiled
when sho thought of
wha, Joe had said about Mr.. Willis and
the money Aunt Dorothy had left, and
"cgan TO wonder il Mr.. Willis would
rome for his answc +, not that sho really
doubted it; she had too good an o pin
ion of her own attractions for that.
Tho day passed slowly away; night
came; the III Don arose, and Prudic stood
waiting at the gate cxpcctantly at first,
then i'm patiently, and finally quivering
with Indignation. sho returned to the
house and wont to bed.
Mr.. Willis never did como again, but
sent delicate little noto in his stead,
saying that the term of his vaca ton had
expired, and no had rccc we'd news from
home which ncccssitatcd his Immediate
return, and rcgrctting the circumstances
which mado it imposi! bio for him %
keep his engagement. He wrote, also,
that he could not state dc fnitely whom
he would be able to mako another visit
to G,lcstown.
As Pludic was about TO replace The
note in tho envelope little strip of
yellow paper fell into her lap, and
slancing at it. she found it to DO tclc-
gram to Mr. Willis from n dry goods
firm in the city, stating that he had
already ovcrstaycd the time Of his vaca-
ton, and that ii he wcro not in his
place behind the counter on the morn.
ing OF tho goth that place would be
filled by another salesman, and his ser
vices would DO no longer required.
"And so ho was only clerk, after
all. and poor Joe was right" thought
Prudic.
Onc evening, Il short time aflcrward,
Pru lie wcat to tho singing school
alonc, and after it was over started home
feeling sad and lonely, and being much
humblcd, if the truth must be told,
when Joo came along beside her and
sail: