Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-02-21
A DENTAL TRAGEDY.

Ohai!pore made no secret of the fuct
that nc meant Cuisines" with Annclinn
Goodluck. She had II good figure. n
pretty face, not too much brains and n
cool million i'll hard cash. There was
every indication that Smallborc's suit
would be crowned with SUCCESS. Never
before had his smile been so bcwitchinn
or his Siances so thrilingly tender. Miss
Angelina hasked in the sunshine of tho
former and revclled i'll the radiance of the
latter In fact SO obvious was it that
Smallborc was the favored suitor tina. all
other competitors had retired from the
held with the exception of Frank Bluff.
and it was the general opinion that he
oltin leave 1t simply because of his con-
stitutional inability to perceive when he
was Beaten.
The Goodluck parties, as everybody in
the social swim knows, arc delightful and
Jolly affairs. They are not sufficiently
particular, perhaps, concerning the line
age oil some persons they invite to suit
those who hold strong and IN
compromising opinions on the sub
Jee of "bluc blood,'' but it has
always been conceded that if any one gets
bored at one of the Goollucls's enter
talnments the fault is his own. There is
no stiiiness or restraint about their hos
ptalty: They possess the happy faculty
OF making everybody feel ut home. The
house, with the large conservatory at
tached to it, is delightfully."- arranged for
''spooning" or flirting, or even more
serious amatory business. The house is
descrvealy very popular with mnmas with
marriageablc daughters. One mama who
there successfully launched three da,rh-
ters on the serene and placid sea of
mntrinony once remarked: cit is my
candid opinion that il Il girl can't Get off
{ the hooks through Goodluck's parties
She may as we'll retire to a nunncry nj
once"
1t IS not strange, therefore that Small
bore should have decided after careful con.
sIdcration, to formally ''popn to Miss
Angelina ut the next Goodlucl party.
Inc fatcful evening came round in due
course as all evenings 10, fatcful or other
wise. Smnilborc WAS happy man and
he believed that somewhere in the peirh
Dorhood OF midnight he would be sill
happier.
The most careful and mcthoCiical Of
men is apt to become absent minded when
he thinks That he is going to 'pop" to u
young lady within the next few hours. I
DO not speak from experience but l have
Deem SO informed By those whom I have
consulted on the subject. Smallboyc
himself told me afterward that he dressed
IKE nm automaton that evening, he was
thinking all the time of Hsomethino
else"
1t was long drive to the Goodluck
mansion. but the way didn't seem lone
to Smai oore. The rain fell in Il dismal
drizzlc. The contrast between the cheer
less streets and the brilliantly lighted
parlors full OF fragrance and laughter and
we'll bred men and handsome women
was equal to that between the ogre's den
and the iairics' grotto i'll the pantomimc.
30 1t served to the poor people gathered
outside who occasionally caught frag-
mentary giimpses OF the scene within
when door was opened, and they wished
wistfuliy that they, too, might be rich
But no sooner had Smallbore opened
ms mouth to greet the first friend that
he met-young Jack Seaspray-s than he
padc discovery which caused him to
FEEL that he would GLADLY change places
with the poorest of the poor chaps out
side and remain a poor chap for the rest
of his days. That he told me himself.
He had forgotten his false teethl
Lie turned pale and clappcd his hand
kerchief to his mouth while narrowing
thoughts swirlcd through his brain.
Great heavens, if he should smile he was
lost man! He could not sing. He
was robbed Of his accomplishments and
transformed into an awkward body.
'What's the matter, old felIow?"
asked Seaspray, with genuine solcitude.
Nothing, nothing" muttered poor
Smailbore behind the folds of his hand
kerchief, the absence of his teeth making
him lisp. II gucth it'll only thill, buth
4 think I'd betther go home"
Wise decision. Why didn't he stick
to it? Because fate had ordained that
at that moment he should see, through an
open door, Frank Bluff paying ardent
attention to Miss Angelina.
Smallborc's affection was, under ordi-
n&ry circumstances, of well regulated
and discreet character. But even the
most temperate of woocrs is likely to get
his mental balance disturbed when he
sees q rival, making love to the woman
whom he has resolved to make his wife.
So Smalborc hastily decided that he
would stay to keep an eye OH Bluff, but
would make himself as inconspicuous as
possible.
"Comc upstairs ana take brandy and
soda" )" said Seasnray, ''you will feel bet
ter thon."
"Thanllth, I tilinkth thwill," replied
Smallbore, who felt the need of somcgfne
TO stimulate his courage. 1t was the
worst thing he could take under the cir
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