Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-15
HE CONQUERED HER.
BY WALTER I. rLAKEy.

Ia WALTER l. El.AkEI.
"rcn to one you'll fall in love with
her, " said Fred Edgcrly, cncrgctically.
"l won't take the wager | don't want
to rob you, Edgcrly."
"You think You are proof against any
amount Of attractions after bearing as
sault and battery from West Point bellies
for five years and upward" Edgcrly an
swcrcd, laughingly, as lie glanced ut the
handsome bronzcd face of his friend, MS
they drove over the high road leading
from Carmen Station TO lIurton Top,
where the two men were expected to join
Mrs. llurlton's gay party. "But you
have not seen Miss Fincr yet; when YOU
Ito, prepare To surrender unconditionally.
"Nou seem to forget that nm not an
imprcssionablc school boy" Lieutenant
Flcctwcll answered, with scornful smile
curling his lip under his heavy mustachc
81 have seen hundreds of women hand
somer and more charming than Miss
Vincr, dare say, and / have escaped
heart whole, fortunately" he added, ms
they turned i'll at the park gates and
tirovc up the avenue leading 10 the old
llurlton mansion. 1t was II fine day, to
"''' WV hh'sSi lhtih VI UTlUnl
and cheerful and sunshiny, and the
grand, stately old brown stone building
was looking its best in the haze of golden
sunlight
II was upward Of five years since Lieu
tenant Flectwell had seen his cousins
stately old mansion, and his handsome
tiark eyes Frightened us they dwclt upon
1t, and frightened yet moro rs they fell
upon Il lady i'll II picturesque tea gown
who came out on the wide stone steps
with her eager hands outstrctchcd and
her dark eyes aglow with pleasure.
"My dear Jerome, how glnd ! an,"
She said, MS Lieutenant Flcctwcll took
The little hands in his, and bending,
kissed them with IL graceful courtesy,
which was pleasant to see. "Franl1 is
fishing, of course, but ho will bc back
carly. What an age il is since we mct!"
at is II long time indeed" Jerome
answered. i'll his low, rich voice, "but
looking Mt you, Florence, am inclined
10 think that it is five months, and not
five years, which have elapsed since
went TO West Point"
"Wait till you see my boys she said,
laughing, as she turned to greet the
young collcsian with pleasant, cordial
courtcsy-and the two gentlemen fol
lowed her into the hall, II stately apart
incnt in keeping with the exterior of the
mansion. "Most of my lady guests have
driven over to Bambys Head" Mrs.
llurltOn said, rs she led the way across
the marble pavement toward one of the
many doors which opened into the hall,
'Aiiss Viner and | are alone Mr..
EdScrly have good news for you; Miss
Dusan is coming tomorrow.
As she spoke she pushed open door
leading into IL pretty, dainty, rather ;rs-
thetic-looking room, where tea WAS wait
ing, and which nj first seemed to be I'M
occupied, but as the door opened IL lady,
who was standing by the open window,
turned slowly round, and came toward
them, holding out her hand to MIR. Ed
gcrly with a smile, which did not blind
him to the sudden glcam of intense eager
admiration which flashed into Lieutenant
Flcctwcll's eyes rs they rested upon her
facc.
She was very bcautiful-thc could
hardly be two opinions upon that point
She was small, though queen like; and
her dress Of some soft cream colorcd ma
tcrial, which fell around her in soft folds,
showed the beauty of figure which was
nothing less than perfect.
'Lieutcnant Flectwcll-Aliss Vincr,"
said Mrs. IIurlton, quietly, and Miss
Viner bowed slightly, while the faintcst
tingc of pink rose in her fair face rs she
met Lieutenant FlcetwclPs eager, dark,
admiring eyes.
Hurlton Top was one of the very pleas
antcst houses in the county to stay at,
for the hostess exercised tho greatest dis
erection and judgment in the choice of
her guests, and spared no pains to make
their visit an enjoyable one. Mrs Hurl-
ton was, like many another happy wife,
n matchmaker at heart
1t very soon became apparent to some
Of her lady visitors that their pretty
hostess had designs against the peace of
mind of her husbands consin-and Fred
Edgerly smiled to himself as he saw how
hopclcssly and' irretricvably in love his
friend had fallen with Miss Vincr before
many days had elapsed.
September drifted into October. On
a smooth lake some little distance from
the house, and idle boat with Idle oars
wns floating down with the cirrcnt.
The moonlight played at will on the
placid breast of the lake.
Such the picture had one bccn a mere
spectator to the mimic sccnc-hut to the
two actors surroundings were lost sight
of-they thought only of themselves.
Mocking the silver moon, when they
glanced upward, they could see across