Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-06-19
A GENUINE HERO.


angles. With these conditions. it wa,
scarcely strange that Halcyon Hartford
swayed delightfully."- between dreamland
and the real world that June afternoon,
with the fleecy gold of her hair, ali
guiltless of pin or comb, and the "bell
Sleeves" falling cnchantingly away from
her round, white arms, while one trim.
slippcred foot hung from the edge of the
hammock.
"Halcyon! Halcyon! Where are you2''
1t was one of those cxaspcrating voices
which, once having been sweet. had
now certain vibrant jar to its tones,
painfully akin to shrillness.
Ealcyon frowned little, and raised
herself on one elbow.
"Oh, Aunt Hal, don't scream sol /
was just in such halfway dream of de-
light"
"Wcll, you should have answered,
them"
Aunt Hal came out of the wide, shady
hall with an elusive swing of her dra-
peries, and seated herself in bamboo
chair, close to the head of the ham,
mock.
SEc was comically like her niece-at
least, rs like rs woman OF eight-and-
thirty could be like maid of eighteen.
There was the same yellow luxuriance
of hair, but harsher, dricr and more
suggestive of dye; the same pink and
white complexion, artifically heightened
by liquid pearl and carminc saucer;
similar features, cruelty sharpeacd by the
memorable hand of time, aud teeth Just
one degree too white and regular to be
real.
The white dress she wore was pain
fully trying, ard she was compelled to
use gold eyeglasses as she held up IL
letter to the view Of the younger
1lalcyon.
"What has happencd2" drowsily de-
manded the latter, lifting pair of blue
eyes, fringcd with dark lashcs."
"The strangest thing"
"Another offer of marriagc" haZardcd
IIalcyon, settling on the unlikeliest thing
which could, in her opinion, possibly
happen.
"How did you gucss2" with little
cxultant cackle. Exactly. The dear,
foolish lad-and he SO much younge,
than l Why, he couldn't have been
one-and-twenty when he went to Bonn.
bay, and | was at least thirty then"
"rhirty-tive, Aunt Hail." said
Halcyon, the mercilcss.
"Was it as much rs that? Well. ht
seemed desperately i'll love then; though
OF course, l never took any notice of tho
child. But / suppose, In that country o.
blackamoors, one cant help thinking
about all the women one has known n
home; and he has written inc two OF
three letters"
elias he?"
Halcyon sat straight up in the ham
mock now. Her blue eyes shone in
tently. The heat had brought flush t.
her check, which all Aunt Halls caimin,
saucers could not rival.
but / never told you'll" giegled tn,
elder beauty. because L remembered
that there was sort of boy-and- CIR
affair between you and Charley Blossom
when you were in boarding school, and
thought maybe you would be nettlcd
And here's the proposal at last-witl
his photograph inclosedl"
''Let me see itW said Halcyon.
What brave, good face it was
slightly older and sterner lined than sh.
had looked upon when the Avancaniar
sailed away three years ago, but yet Sc
strong and manly!
She laughed Historically.
''Shall you accept him2" said she.
Aunt Hal nibblcd coquettishly Mt the
edge of the envelope; the new falls,
teeth cleaned in smile.
-think-I-shall!"
"And you fourteen years older thar
he isl"
''People don't think SO much about
such things as they used to do" rea
soned Miss Hartford, the elder. "Eros
is immortal, you know, dear"
Halcyon sank back into the hammock
and rcopened her book.
"You must do as you please. o.
course" said She "After that Quota
ton about Eros, haven't suggestion
to offer"
Jealous. poor darling!" though
Aunt Hal, with thrill of exultation.
But she only said:
USii, vi COuIhc one can helD thOSl
things happening to one, and your tim,
will come soon, dear, never fear.
"lt's good thing" she added to her
self, "that she don't know ANYTHING
about dear old Judge Flostroy. There
a difference in age, if you please, ant
the old pet is so infatuated about me
An old mans darling, or young man
slaye-Nlich2n
While Halcyon thought, on her side:
"The silly goose! He has done i
now. lie has been making love to Aun
Hal, under the impression that he wa
counting me. thought, of course, h,
+; knew that her name was the same Al
mine. Didn't she stand gcdmother tt
me at st. Chrysolinc's, and give me
cornl-and-bclls and an embroidered
christening robes And now he ha.
actually proposed to her Well, if he il
tne man take him to be, he'll stand by
his colors, cost him what it may. 4
man who could walk up to the cannon:
mouth at Bey-Idonna surely won't shrink
even from Aunt Hal. And I'd ra-rathe,
tr.N