Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-09-13
WINNING AND LOSING

bit aside, just out OF the reach of a lit
tie white hand chat had IL moment before
ruthlcssiy stripped OFF half its blossoms.
But the owner of the hand had already
turned about, with toss of her black
curls and flirt of hcr pink calico dress,
that scared the butterflies; and before The
branch swung back she was fastening up
the trim garden path and iinging back a
sharp speech over her shoulder at tall,
sunburned young fellow who, with Il
vcxed light in his eyes, stood in the gate
way watching her.
"Oh, it don't matter what | think
Indeed, don't think ut all. You NAV
take whom you like to the next May
daucc-you won't take mel"
1t was such pretty shoulder over
which these words were cast. and there
was such rosy flush of anger on the
round check, half yelled in curls, that il
Is no wonder John Armitage lthc hand
some, sun-browncd young fellow took
two or three steps in pursuit of the
speaker; but he stopped, drew himself
up with sudden pride, and said oac re-
proarhful word:
"Nancy.n
The one addressed wavcrcd little in
her retreat, then resumed it with in
creased CELEBRITY.
"Wlll you stop and listen to me?r the
young man asked, his rising indignation
somewhat modifying his tone of appeal.
"No" and the pink calico SWEPT the
myrtlcs on either side of the walk faster
yet.
Every well" was the angry response. as
he who had pleaded turned toward the
gate. "But mark my words, you'll be
sorry for this before these bushes here
brushing the low sprays sharply aside
"nrc out of bloom! Now, good by"
Nancy, pecring from behind curtain
after his rctrcating figure, cried. Per
haps the soliloquy will tell why.
''Wcll, it's all over between us now.
any way. It's his fault, too. He'd no
business to take amy one TO the May dance
when couldn't go. shouldn't wonder
II he's gone down to Sarah Andcrson's
now. They'll he engaged the next thing,
and hell crow over me finely. He'll try
to make me jealous" Ierc Nancy had !,
spasm of crying. ''Scc If l won't make
him jealous first"
The way She would do it became an
parent the next afternoon, when, arr;,yed
IN a iaunty blue dress TINT set off we'll her
creamy complexion, dark curls and tinted
cheeks, she started for the town. The
dainty blue silk parasol was lowered a
little rs she came to the prctcntious row
OF buildings opposite the hotel, one of
which WAS occupied by DIR. Miles GRAY.
But the face of the building was blank
ana the surgery blinds lowered; so. with
an impatient exclamation under her
BREATH Nancy went on to the Postuiiice,
where, getting no letter, she turned dis
contcntcdly toward home.
The Fatcs forbade her. She had pot
accomplished quarter of the distance
before the light roll of wheels made her
turn her head and start perceptiblv
In - moment more young DIR. Gray, whose
natty ph1ton WIS the envy OF all the
men, and whose fascinating smile had
won the hearts OF all the women, had
drawn up his horse ut her side, had leaned
to the ground, and had asked eagerly:
:" Miss Evans. may have the pleasure of
driving you homc?"
The color frightened in Nancy's
checks, the light in her eyes. us she as
sentcd with IA charming smile; and in II
moment they were slowly bowling along
the road, and the blue ribbons were blown
against the doctors shoulder.
DR.. Gray was young, handsome, not
deficient IL brains, with private income
enough to prevent him from being tragic
ally earnest in lis profession, and very
much in love with the couucttisll bit OF
womanhood by his side. As for Nancy.
N.,s In, IN Al.
That couid be quizzical rs well us admir-
ing, and of the smile t!int sometimes
curlcd the corners OF the black mus.achc
But Nancy was without lover Just then,
the doctor WAS Il 'catch," and so she
laughed and chartered lis the bay horse
trottcd along
The farmhouse came in SIGHT too soon,
and the doctor stopped midway in Il
speech to inquire, won't You take a
longer ride. It's such Il beautiful after
noonr'
Nancy, dcmurrcd, us in duty bour1.
"l-don't know. think it must be
almost tea-time."
The doctor laughed and held his watch
before her. Ii was precisely i.
ooh, well then --bcgan Nancy
DNtN"itie tohlNScu Dul ain IneSt
your visiting hours?"
"Confound my visiting hours!'' com
mentcd the doctor to himself. Aloud he
said; ''I'm sometimes obliged to break
through my hours. am going now to
see a-paticnt on the outskirts of the
town." So they drove on.
The "paticnt" could hardly have been
in critical state. The doctor. leaning
back in the carriage, let the reins lie loose
on the horses back as they paced slowly
on through the shady wood roads, while
the warm breeze fluttercd light curIs
across Nancy's arch black eyes, and the
blue silk parasol had to be held up to
keep the sun from her rosebud of face.
The doctor had lurking fear that Nancy
was rustic and ignorant; but ali she was
so pretty!
How far they rode in this lazy way.
wholly wrapped in conversation, is not
known. How far they would have ridden
is uncertain, if Nancy had not sent mis-
chievous glance straight into the gray
oyps and inuuiro1.