Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-03-21
What changeablc, incomprehensible

joying the pleasant evening air. Little
Flossie, seated on the top step, was busily
polishing something on herlwhites apron.
"What have you there, Pet3" said
Robert, with whom she was q special
favorite.
She held up alittlc horseshoe shaped
chicken bone, white and shining as
Xory.M M s. s. 90 -.
81 got it at supper lisa lucky bone,
and I7mean to- let you pull it'with, me,
Cousin Robert, because you brought mo
the big pear to-day. You know, if you
get the shortest piece and stick it over
the patlor door you'll marry the first
pretty lady that stops under it. " ''''''-'i''
"What nonsense!" laughed Oracle.
"You don't believe in that, do you,
Flossie?"' --
"Nancy says it's true, and she knows!"
returned Flossie, with sublime faith
i'll the kitchen girl.
'sNancy isn't the only one who be-
lieves in the charm of the lucky bone in
bringing about marriages." said Aunt
Ellen, smiling. ''Ask Cousin Rcbccca,
here2" r. go
"To- be-surc,n replied Miss Rebecca,
promptly. "Why, / know of at least
two matches that. were brought about by
my lucky bones. One of the parties was
Sophy Jones, that1 was bridesmaid to-
let me see-more than thirty years gone,
and she's dead now, poor creetur. l
recollec' as if TWAS yesterday when she
put that bone over the parlor door, and
Billy Jones came walking in and stopped
right under it n minnit to take off his hat
and make II bow, and they was married
less than six months after"
81 dare say he knew about the bone
being there, said Flossic's grown sister,
Lucy, laughing.
"Well, he always gave out aslhe didn't,
and 1 know 'twasn't so with the other
match. That was your aunt 'Liza's own.
We was spending the day at the Withers's,
and she got the lucky bone at dinner,
and who should walk right under it but
your Uncle Jeems, that. she'd never set
eyes on before! Then she whispered to
me that her lot was fixed, and She have
to marry him; and she did"
az dare say she'd have married him all
the same if thcrcd been no lucky bone in
the CASE" laughed Aunt Ellen. "But
you can try your fortune in the same way,
Robert, and sec what it has for you"
Flossie eagerly held out her prize, and
he took one end in his strong fingers,
while she held on to the other with both
hands.
A struggle onsucd, seeming on her part
rs if for lie and death, but the bone
snapped in Roberts fingers.
81 am sorry, Flossic-" he commenced;
Inf ehc infprrtIrtpd him
''Wcll, I'm glad cause I'm not old
Now you'll put 1t right over the parlor
door, and you'll be sure to marry the first
one that steps under it."
He laughed at. the prophcsy, and care
lcssly slippcd'the homely charm into his
vest-pocllet us Harriet and Dick Lowrey
came up the steps. Then he forgot about
it until an hour later.
The party was breaking up then.
Dick Lowrey, who was to drive Har-
riot home, had gone out to see about his
buggy, and Harriet was up stairs with
Lucy, having few moments confiden-
tial chat before parting.
Robert Ellis and Oracle were alone in
the parlor. He drew out his watch, and
with it came the lucky-bone.
"Ah, had forgotten my promise to
Flossie" he said; and reaching up, placed
the charm above the door.
81 wonder how that foolish notion
came to be so popular2" said Oracle, with
Il little, halfscornful smile.
"Probably from the resemblance in
shape to horseshoe, which the super
stitious place over the house-door, for
luck, he replied.
And just then light footsteps were
heard coming down the stairs and APP
preaching the parlor door.
The eyes of both turned thithcr, and
Robert did not see how his companions
check changed color, and she seemed to
be unconsc;ously holding her breath.
Lucy passed the door, and Harriet fol-
lowed, paused, and seemed about to
enter, when Aunt Ellen's voice was heard
calling to her, and she passed on.
''There you have just missed your
fatc" said Oracle, laughing.
"Pcrhaps it is only postponed" nc
answered, lightly. "But will you excuse
me while step out and deliver a mes
sage to Dick for Squire Willis? 1t will
save the squire long ride in tue morn
ing"
The buggy was coming round to the
gate, and Robert stood on the porch and
waited for it.
InvoluntariIy his eyes turned to the
parlor window, through which, himself
invisible, he could see Oracle seated as
he had left her.
How pretty she was, with her eyes
bright and her cheeks flushed with n
changing color. s
He saw her rise and stand looking for
an instant, hesitating, and looking half
fearfully around.
Of what was she afraid?
But while he watched she glided
swiftly across the room to the door al
most ON tiptoe, looked up, and dcliber-
ately placed hersclf-cxactly under the
lucky bone.
At first Robert could hardly believe his