Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-01-10
PUT TO THE TEST.
Ky HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

when you were Il little boy-and you've
scarcely tasted it"'
cts very nice, mother, declared the
sunbuncd young Apollo, swallowing" an
additional mouthlul of crabapplc cake
with an effort, "and you're the best cook
IN the world; but you see lin in such II
hurry. Jack, are you there with the
horse and buggy
Going To see Eloisc Elton. posc."
said Mrs. Mcrywisc, with true maternal
jealousy.
I'm going 10 ask her TO go TO the
chcs'nntting picnic with me mex; Tues
day, mother"
'Twon't he of no use" oracularly
sp"k" Mr.. Mcrrywi>c, beginning brislly
to clear away tlic table
''Ol 10 use, mother! And why
shouldn't ii be OF usc:" demanded .Jn-
tham sioppin" short, with hi, shrimn
pink ncckiic half tied
Mrs. Merrywisc shrugged her pl,,mu
old shoulders
'Iou must be blind, lothian" said
She, 'not to see that every girl in the
nciShborhood is cleaned bcwitched with
that New Mexico ma jor fellow. with his
Eold shouldcr-straps and buttons, and his
little cap worn on one side, and them end.
less yarns hes always spinning about the
brave things he's going TO do, and the
valiant actions he's done. There amt
never nothin', Eve noticed, about what
he's dom now"
lies II stranger in town." said 10.
than, going on with the shrimp pink
bows. "Of course they have to be politc
10 him."
81 wish he WAS stranger yct-and
there amt no 'oG course to il rs know
Of, retortcd Mrs. Mcrrywisc, clattcrin.
the spoons together with a great noise.
"All know is that Honor Bcknap has
q'"rFclcd with her young man about him
already. and Bessie Morton has left oil
kcrpin steady company with Simon
Orkney"
>. But yon don't suppose that Eloi,c--''
al s'pose she amt much different
from other gals, tartly spoke Mrs. Mcr-
rywiSc, vino had not yet forgiven the al-
front of her Jelly cake.
lothian made Il icint of hugnin. in
crcdulousiy as he jumped into the buggy
and gathered up the reins to drive away.
Bur when lie came in sight of the Elton
cottage his heart sank within him; for
there, Sprawling comfortably nihc piazza
hammock, appeared IN apparition in I'M
dress uniform, with Il .old-hccd cap ON
the floor, and 81 good deal of wcll.waNed
moustachc visible. Eloisc Elton sat
cro"hcting on low chair close by, and
Sadie, her elder sister, was hcmming
handkcrchicfs Oh the piazza steps.
Eloisc colored little, jumped up, and
performed the ceremony of introducing
Major Bathurst, of the tn Calvary, L.
5. A., 10 Mr.. AIcrrywisc. lothian
bowed stilily. The Major nodded. and
made a grasp at his cap.
''lIow dc do, sir. Glad 10 meet yo;i.
I'm suah" simpcrcd the man of war.
"AIcrrywisc. A good namc-lia. ha, ha /.
SITS well TO be merry and wise; it's good
Ia be honest and true"
"les, know" unccrcmonionsly in
tcrrupted LOTHIAN; land perhaps you
haven't forgotten the last two lines of
the verse, sir:
Its well to be off with the odlove
Before you are on with the newr
"lvc called, Eloisc, to ask you if You'll
60 up Rattlesnalle Hill with ME, on the
chestnutting picnic, next Tuesday"
The Major sat up in his hammock
pushing the perfumcd curls from his fore.
head tf
''Shc can't-ha, In, hap said he.
Already engaged, Mr.. Mcrrywisc.
Your humble scrvant-ha, ha, ha. Rattle
snake Hills that the name of tho
mountain! An odd name, very. We used
m hnvn 1otc fNf,
! was quartcrcd in West Virginia. Dom
mind EN- any more than snails. Ono,
you get used to the rattle, it's all right
I've II way OF gripping 'cm by the bacl
OF the neck, and hey, presto. out come
your pockct-knifc or your handy dagger
or anything you happen to carry, and tn
business is done! don't know how man
rattles and dried skins l have, got a
home. You can easily charm the crca
lures, too, once you get the knack On
ol my men, Hindoo, taught me-
'sIndccd?"
"Thc simplest thing in The world
quite the simplest, said Major Bathurst
"l'll show you, if you'd like"
''Thanks needn't trouble Won, " sa;
lothian, frigitlly. a..Thcn you wont o
with me, Eloisc?" ~ -
SIN ever so much obliged" sail
Eloisc, shyly CHANGING up from under he
cyelashes, "but I've promised BIaio
Bathurst"
lothian bowed and silently turne
away. Eloisc, perhaps little con
scicncc-strickcn, followed him TO tn
gate. n .tssf
Isn't the Major perfectly dclightful.
said she.
'Humph" commented lothian.
81 wish you could hear the thrillin.
stories he has told III of lion hunting il
Arabia and elephant shooting in Ben
GAL"
81 must try and dispense with en-,
drily uttered lothian.