Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-21
thing to quicken his Judgment. Brand,
and soda doesn't do that.

ing-room, ''that Smallborc is three sheets
III the wind with the fourth Tapping"
Seaspray was something of yachtman
and affected nautical phrases.
"Wcll, II that's the case, he had better
fight shy of Miss Angelina" was the
Judicious response; ''she threw over Will
Highly last year because she found him
tight once"
Smallborc, despite the brandy and
soda, was OF the same opinion, but as he
explained to me aftcrward when making
clean breast of the whole business, he
could not resist the temptation to steal
down stairs to see what Bluff was
up to. He selected place i'll
deep shadow where he could see without
much risk Of being seen. But in this
world when fellow gets into n fix the
thing that he wishes most to avoid is most
likely to happen. The sharp eyes of Miss
Kitty Chipper discovered him. She had
been out six seasons, and perhaps had her
own private reasons for objccting to II
long continued tetc-a-tctc between Miss
Angelina and Bluff
ooh, Mr.. Smalborc," sic exclaimed,
tripping up to him, 'wherc have you
glad I've found you. There arc lot of
girls who arc Just dying to have you sing
duet with Miss Angelina. That sweet
one, you know, about love will have its
way"
Miss Kitty tapped him with her fan
and added slyly, pointing TO where Miss
Angelina and Bluff were sitting: ''Now
don't you think that I'm n real good
friend of yours? There's many slip
'twixt the cup and the lip, you know"
"Confound hcr" thought Smallborc.
Gle really thought something stronger he
told me.) Earlier in the evening he had
! looked forward with great deal OF
pleasure to singing with Miss Angelina,
but now the bare idea of it made him
sLuddc-.
"rhu'll have to cycuthe me, "mumblcd
Smallborc, vainly trying to control his
lisp. "Tm moth fecthing thwell."
"Indccd think VIC had better excuse
YOU, replied Miss Kitty with emphasis,
lifting ler eyebrows.
Smallborc didn't appreciate the signifi-
canoe of that emphasis. lie was only too
glad to get rid of her.
Meanwhile n false theory concerning
the cause of Smallbore's defective speech
had Travelled like lightning. Tom Jcnk-
ins, who bore Smallborc grudge for
richly deserved snub which Smalbore
had once administered to him, found an
opportunity to whisper the news to
Bluff. Igot it afterward from a friend
of Bluffs that this is what he said:
"Tha: snob, Smallborc, is rs full rs a
tick. lie can't even talk straight. If
you play your cards we'll you've got IL
winning game"
don't like Bluff, but 1 admit he is a
pretty smart fellow.
He ut once perceived the advantages
which the situation offered for him.
Kittic Clipper had only left Smallborc
five minutes when Bluff strolled up to
him.
"What's this hear, old fellow; you're
not feeling we'll? I'm deuccdly sorry.
I'll take you where you'll get we'll in n
jiify. Miss Angelina has been so anx-
ious to see you all the evening that, by
Jovc, she has been hardly civil to me"
"Come right along, old fellow" added
Bluff with affected good nature patting
Smailborc on the back, ''you'll get well
in no time"
There had been nothing in the terms
OF their acquaintance for the past six
months to Justify such familiarity. In
fact their relations had been decidedly
strained" But poor Smallborc was
powerlcss in Bluffs hands He was
hustled along until he found himself
pumped down alongside of Miss Ange-
lima. TO add to his CONSERVATION he
found that he had dropped his handkcr-
barrassment behind its protecting folds.
"Why, Mr.. Smallbore, I'm just awfully
sorry to hear that you are sick. What
can do for you? Please do tell me.
Perhaps if You come with ne into the
conservatory and get some fresh air you
will feel better"
The tones were tender; the look,
divineiy sympathetic. 1t was in that
conservatory that Smallbore had fondly
imagined he would ask Miss Angelina to
be his wife. Here was the opportunity
offered him. But he was just as power
less to take advantage of it as if he had
been bound hand and foot. He had
never before i'll his life, he told me, felt
so abjectly and completely miserable.
9th nothing; 18th nothing; 1 atthure
thu NTH Anthelina," he said pitiously,
SIM lithlc thick, thath all; I'll get
over it'll"
Miss Angelina looked at him earnestly
There was no trace on his face of that
bcwitching, imitable smile with which
he was wont to meet her gaze. Ales,
poor Sinallborc did not dare to attempt
a smile. That would expose cavity
where four pearl white teeth had been
accustomed to glisten. His lips were
tightly drawn. He presented most
wocful aspect.
Miss Angelina's sympathies were
touched. Smallbore might have extrica-
ted himself from his awkward position
and pushed his suit to n successful issue
ON some other occasion, when better
equipped for it. but for one little awkward
circumstance