Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-01-30

Piau, Fuiu sue. 'IhereIl be o thou
sand-and-one good aud sufficient reasons
why ! shouldn't undertake the good
work. viii! be heroine will practice
what Dir. Rockingham breaches Where's
the use of all my good resolutions If 7
haven't the moral courage to face nm
emergency like 'this7"
so she took the splint-basket and
started brayely out into the raw, chill
atmosphere of the November slay with n
valiant heart.
SIT will be fun, J" she assured herself.
but nevertheless the two red spots glowed
hotter still in her checks, and there came
suspicious fluttcring under her belt
buckle, when she rang the bell of the
nearest house in the humdrum little red
brick row thot she had selected for the
scene of her first triumphs.
"Slndam," as the door opened, not
quite three-quarters of an inch, and a
purple nose, surmounted by dirty lace
cap, became family visible in the crevice.
twill you allow me to show you"
81 don't never buy nothing at the
door" shrilly answered the owner OF the
purple nose.
So Mabel tried the next door-knob.
A specialized old woman, with double
chin and big cameo brooch, bounced
suddenly out at her.
"Wooleu shoulder-capes?' SAID she.
,'Wa'al, dunno. What ye ask for 'cm9
Lcmmc have a look. Mittens9 La! I
shouldn't think therc'd be no wear to
them things. Eff yell leave some of the
comfortcrs till my son zeko comes home
to try 'em on, might make sale for
ye."
"Oh, couldn't do thatm gasped
Mabel
COIL" said the old woman with toss
of her head that had nearly unsettled the
spectacles. "Ain't willin' to trust me.
CHI Wall, then, guess ye'd better 20
along"
And she shut the door in Miss Mcllen's
face.
Third customer apparent bawled out
from out from the back kitchen that
'she didn't want anything"
The fourth was tall, sallow-faccd
woman, who read Mabel lecture ON the
propriety of giving up this gadding
about-the-strccts business and taking up
some creditable work.
The girl was beginning to feel weak
kneed aud trembling now, the rose spots
on her checks had widened into a de-
cided flush NIL over her face, and shc
WINGED before the sallow- faced females
harsh words rs if they had been blows.
81 haven't sold an articlc-not ope!n
murmurcd Mabel, ruefully viewing the
nd nFt nntc I.
dear! And l am so tired, and it makes
me feel so ashamed when those people
talk so at me, and stare so rudeiy and
slam the door in my face. But--oh,
dear, this isn't being hcroinei"
With resolutc rallying of her quail
ing spirits, she ran up the steps of a
ruinous wooden house and rang. An
untidy woman bawled at her out of the
window overhead:
"Why don't you pull the bell wire out
while you're about it2 Don't We know
there's a sick woman in the housed"
Almost at the same moment the door
opened.
Don't sass the lady, 8Tariar" said
smooth, oily voice.
And sinister-cycd man projected
his disagrecablc visagc almost close to
hers.
"Eh2 Woosted goods for salc-tip-
pits and knit gloves? Just precisely
what Pm awantin', my dear. Oh, yes,
III buy anything such a pretty girl has
to sell! Set the basket down here, and
allow me"
But Mabel jcrlSod away the basket, of
which he fain would have relieved her,
and with burning face and tumultunus,y
throu5lng breast ran away down the
street, never pausing until she came so
violently in contact with an umbrella
coming around the corner TINT the bas-
kct, with its contents, was scattered
over the pavement, already wet and
muddy with the raw autumn ram.
81 beg your pardon" she sobbed,
"but-"
"Why, Miss Mellcn, what arc you run
ming away froma" cried deep, cheerful
bass.
"Mr. Rockingham
And then Mabel burst out crying.
1t was not until the mittens, capes and
comfortcrs were all CLEANED off the pave
ment and returned to their original place,
and Mabel was sitting, chilled, shivcring
and sobbing at intervals, like gricycd
child, in front of the fire in the pastor's
study, that he began to comprehend the
true nature of affairs.
cts no use trying" said Mabel. ePm
not heroine, and never shall be one.
l thought I was going to do a good
work, but haven't; I've only made a
fool of myself and spoiled all poor Louisa
Blundels things, and in my heart I'm
full of envy, hatred, malice and all un-
charitableness Oh, why did you preach
that sermon at me?"
II, AIabel1 Preach at you'll"
81 know I'm awfully wicked !" sobbed
the girl. ~ can't ever be saint or a
m-missionary, and I'm not fit to come
to church and say my prayers with other
people---I, that cart do the simplest
good work! And know you meant me
when you talked about Improbable SER
wants, and"
"SIabel-dear little Mable.- hush
I,iatnD RI moi, o,antJ, ,,r,oJ Mt. Doot-