Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-07-18

thought of you the very first thing.
knew you had nice zo-soprano voice.
but, as sid before, that don't matter
so much, as long us you are SO pretty. A
brunette, too-wc have an overplus of
blondes already. And knew, also, that
you were only getting fourteen dollars
here, with an old martinez for com.
handing officer. Come, am not a GOOD
friend to you2"
Still Barbara looked with questioning
eyes at the handsome, volubic girl. Could
1t be possible that this self-possesscd.
beautifully-drcssed woman was Clara BEL
den, her classmatc at school, aud only a
month older than hcrsclfl
Sixty dollars! Yes. it was kind of
Clara-it would indeed be an outlet of
escape from this wretched, grinding bond.
age OF her daily life. Sixty dollars, with
suppers, bouquets, admiration unlimited.
Barbara drew her breath with gasp. 1t
seemed almost too much to realize.
Just then Mary, the houscmaid, tip
tocd into the room, with her finger on
her lips.
"Nliss Blake" said she, with Il side
long glance of admiration ut the snowy
visitor In her silks, bangles and Breath Of
Roses, 1.-THE ou!d lady is afther wakin'
up us cross rs two sticks. An she says
you've forgot her morning tonic, and
BiJou's collar is too tight, and-this way,
miss, place" rs Clara rose prccipitately.
TITS MS much rs me place is worth for
Mrs. Dickinson to know that Miss Blake
had company unbcknown 10 herl Run,
PLACE, Miss Blallc-I can hear her scold
ing nowl"
"Never mind, dearv' cncouragingly
whispered Clara. rs she rustled by, leav-
ing an odor of frangipanni in her wake;
"the odious shacklcs will soon drop off.
Send me 4 line at once. Mr.. Dowdin
can't watt"
Mrs. Dickinson had never been so
irritable, SO hard to please, as she was
to-day. Or, ut least, so it seemed to
Barbara.
But there was an cxultant thrill in the
girls heart
at need not be for long" she told
herself 81 will write immediately and
accept Clara's kind offer"
But nevertheless II certain rcgretful
feeling kept pulling at her heart strings.
She remembered how her gentle, soft
voiced mother, in her lifetime, had al
ways distrusted Clara Beldcns assured
manners and dashinS ways. She recalled
to herself that mothers efforts to keep
her i'll the modest retirement of the home
circle, her constant precepts against
brushing oil the soft bloom of true wo-
manhood, and conscience told her to re-
jcct the tempting offer.
''But ain SO yopng!" she pleaded
with herself. ".And have seen so little
of pleasure and variety. l am such n
drudge! No one cares for me here; and
perhaps, if | went to the Cecilia,i, [
might attract some true heart Even if
Eugene Dickinson were to see me dressed
us Clara drcsscs- But no, Eugene
never would 80 to Il place like the Cecil
ian. OF course it must be respectable,
or Clara would not belong to it. But
OH no. Eugene would never 20 there!'
In an instant She comprchcndcd. She
would be lowering herself in her own cs-
timation by accepting the tempting
bride. She would be cutting LOOSE from
all the traditions of her youth. And
yet
She sprang suddenly up, and threw
back the masses of soft, chestnut brown
hair from her forehead, with both hands.
mol! she uttered aloud-''nevcrl"
Almost ut the same moment she heard
Eugene Dickinson's voice in the next
room, talking to his aunt.
"lcs,' said lie, quietly, "I think you
are right. think she deserves it ut
your hands,
"She has worked very hard" said the
old lady. "She is very patient and
sweet-tempercd. I've seen tears come
into her eyes, once in Il while, but can't
call to mind that she has ever lost her
temper, or spoken word of complaint"
"The patient Griselda?" said Eugene,
softly.
"l-es, exactly that. The patient
Griscida. So I've made up my mind to
adopt her us my daughter, and
get some one else to do the work. Wen
travel and 80 everywhere. I want her to
see the world. somehow feel CON
science-strickci that young thing like
Barbara should have grown up SO much
in the shade"
81 don't think, though, slowly added
Eusene's gentle, leisnrcly voice, "that
your plan is quite feasible"
''Not feasible! Why not2"
perhaps because it conflicts with
plan of my own"
"a plan Of your owna My dear boy,
do explain"
"Thc fact is, Amt Adriana," said Eu-
gene, 81 have lost my heart to this
swcct-voiced, swcet-naturcd companion
of yours. want to ask her to be my
Wife
Mrs. Dickinson was silent moment;
then she spoke again, in an altered ac-
cent.
81 wonder this never occurred to me
bcfore?" said she.
at was not SO very unlikely, was it2"
''Not in the least. But, Eugene"
"Ycs, Aunt Adriana."
"Why need my plan conflict with
yours7"
81 don't think 1 quite understand
you, Aunt Adriana," said the young
man.
,sVO,, ,so o1.a..I..