Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-06-27
HORSESHOE LUCK,

cam too old to think of II second
maria gc!" said Mrs. Blythe, looking
wis;fully into the glittcring sheet of mir.
ror that extended iii the other side of the
room into an indefinite perspective of
onyx tables, stands OF ferns, japanese
screens and India lan3inss "SiX-anl-
thirty--and why should one be compelled
to give mp all the sweetness of life ut SIN
'md-thirty. Pm sure don't look II day
over thirty: and Algy Vanc must be that
al lcast ~
Mrs. Blythe was very pretty woman-
not the bud, but the full-blown rose-a
plump, dimplcd, pcnchy checked matron,
WHO knew exactly how 10 make the most
OF all her middle agcl advantages.
She had married Major Mortlalc Blythe
nj seventeen, and he had left her widow
mt scven-and twenty.
81 shall never be such fool us to
marry AGAIN." sad Mrs. Blythe.
For the Major had by no means been
perfection. lie had left her Just enough.
by dint OF strict economy, to live upon'
especially rs her only child had been
taken to "bring up" by quiet Quaker
couple, the Majors relatives And until
now Mrs. Blythe had adhered resolu;cly
TO her decision.
hut Algcrnon Vanc was royalty hand
some fellow, and the pretty widow was
but human, and she had scrubbed "Rosn-
mond Vanc,' "AIrs. Algernon Vane,"
over and over again in her blottinr
book, and she had treasured UP flower
he Ind worn in his buttonholc, and she
had corrcspondcl with him during the
winter he had spent in Bermuda, writing
sprightly and amusing letters, with n
scml-tone of seriousness underlying all
their sparkling gossip.
"llc likes me little now" said the
widow, land I'm determined he shal!
like me IL good deal more. I'm tired OF
this solitary life; I'm tired of counting
every penny half a dozen times before /
spend it, Algy is independently rich,
and he's my beau ideal OF young man.
With him do believe l could be quite,
quite happy. He don't know about
Lydia; but of course that would be no
objection. Uncle Joshua and Aunt Re
becca will keep her Dear me- dear me
she must be growing to he big girl
now, and Mrs. Blythe shudderel ut the
idea.
AT this moment the door flew omen,
and in burst tall, dusty, dishevele,l
young girl, some hnlf Il head taller than
Mrs. Blythe herself, with the white
capped maid following hclplcssly be-
hind
"Plcase, ma'am," said the maid, "shc
wouldn't wait for me to take her card
up"
Mamma, Pm Lydia" cried the
brcathless apparition. 'Littlc Liddy,
mamma-don't you remembers Tell
that hateful girl to go away. A card,
indeed! Am | to send up cards to my
own mothcr?"
Mrs. Blythe stood appalled,, in the soft
yellow light streaming through the
China-silk curtains. This fair haired,
sunburncd young giantcss, with the
peony checks and the big blue eyes, the
ill-fitting gloves and faded cambria gown
could it be possible that this was the
tlittlc Liddy" of ten years ago2 Oh, if
Dir. Vanc should pee her!
The girl looked around like one who
views the entertainments of fairy palace.
ooh, mamma, how pretty you are"
euiu Snc, 'auu WHaJ lovely room! Are
you glad to see me, mamma, darling2"
"Nly dearest child, gasped the widow,
"what has brought you herc."
Lydia claspcd her hands; hcr counter
ancc fell.
Mamma" said she, "Im the mos
miserable creature in the woodland
want a hundred dollars!"
'Lydia! \ hundred dollars"
"And you must let me have it," vehe
mcntly went on Lydia. Give killed
Uncle Joshua's prize colt! That is,
didn't exactly do it myself; but 1 wa
riding Pretty Jane around the meadow
Just for practice, and forgot and left tn
bars down, and the colt got out on tn,
railroad track, and the train came along
and--oh never can look Uncle Joshu,
in the face again, unless have that hun
dred dollars to pay him.
81 shall be able to earn plenty for Inv
self before long, mamma" she added
breathlcssly, "for can ride better thal