Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-03-20
Christening a Goquette.
DY LOIS GREY.

the foot he encountered another man
who, at that instant, Glanced to be pnss-
ing by. In the white glare of the cleo
trio lights they recognized each other
with an exclamation.
They had gone few PAGES side by
side before the older man observed:
"You have been enjoying Mrs. Perez
walls society again, I see."
81 dined there-yes," was tho young
mans brief reply.
He was handsome youth, olive
checked, slender, dark-eyed. There
was nm air of exaltation, subdued yet
feverish excitement about him, which
did not pass unnoticed by Hugh Thatch-
er's older, calmer vision. He smothered
an inclination either to smile or to sigh;
he scarcely knew which himself. Then
his face grew grave.
81 wish you would give this thing up,
Ramon" he said abruptly.
"Givo up2 Give what up2" There
was guarded CLEAN in the young mans
eye.
"Don't fence. We understand each
other, think. Give up your infatua-
llOu LOT hlTS. 1ceClVal.
"Upon my world" The voice was
unsteady with boyish resentment, boyish
indignation. "You take q good deal
upon yourself, Thatcher. suppose you
think because you once saved my life
ooh, don't bring that up, my dear
fellow. My chance assistance on that
occasion could not be called saving your
life. If l touch upon this subject it is
with no such warrant as that. I feel an
interest in you; your people were kind
ness itself to me when l was stranger
among strangers-and-Ik know Mrs. Per-
cival better than you do"
Ramon Suarez gave IN inarticulatc ex-
clamation. He threw back the light sur
tout that masked his dress suit rs though
something suffocated him.
"You have intimated that before.
What do you mean by it2"
"Well, briefly, that Mrs. Perciyal is u
coquette."
"Ahl Evidently you were bitten
some. time yourself" I,
r. Thatcher took no heed Of the sar-
casm.
"She will amusc herself playing with
your admiration, your passion, and when
she tires of them she will toss you away
like soilcd glove. The Smile is old,
but new enough for the purpose"
=, "Carambaa You must have been i'll
usedl"
Still Thatcher maintained his imper-
turbablcness.
"But there is another point" be re-
sumed after moments silence. HYou
used to be an honorable man, Ramon"
A light shiver ran over the Spaniard.
sWhat of Merccdcs2"
There was pause.
M-I love Mercedes yet. But-this
lis different" said Ramon heavily un-
der his breath.
"Ahw
eyes, it is differently. The riotous
young blood in him took fire. 'AIercedes
is everything that is lovely on this earth,
but -she-holds every fibre of my
being in her hands How does she do
lt2 Don't ask me. 1 don't know! I
am conscious of her everywhere-in
everything. And this is the ,infatuation'
you advise me to give up, ms though it
were habit-lilSe smoking-to be
broken off from one hour to another !"
He stopped short, drawing fierce, de-
cisiye breath. "You may have been ILL
used by her, but you never felt her spell,
or you would not speak to me as you
have?"
.'* ~ ~ = s.
r. The faint musical cathedral Chime of a
6evres clock struck ,the,hour and Mrs.
Percival glanced down at the rings on
her hands, At the instant the portie1es
parted and Hugh Thatcher came in. =;
"Punctual as everl" observed the
lady. =, ,s...
81 had the pleasure of writing you a
note asking for an appointment. You
were kind enough to reply, mentioning
an hour. What else could l be but
puhctual2", -
"Aha Severely reasonable, too, las
eyerl" Knocked the red lips.
The mockery slipped off and away
from Thatchers calmness. He leaned
back in his chair and looked at her. In
| seyen years he had not seen her sdSe' 1T a
distance, in causal, ,momentary meetings
- Si0"uSNA AVOuoi uCfCE III tuiS' way
never alone. Was she really beauty,
Or was it the flower of her consummate
charm that she should seem SO to be2.
swell, what are the results of your re.
6ectiohs7 If I remember rightly you
used to think it objectionable to stare at
q woman now" -
81 was thinking that you have not
changed:in seven years" 1929
something-the shadow of SOME i'm,
ward presence instantly crushed out of
life-fashed over the brilliant, haunting,
dazzling face before him..
"You expected TO find me grown de-
crepitf To be sure twenty-seven is q
tragic age for o, woman. Youshould not
remind her of past seven years dead.
Seven years Think of itls'
';No, " said Thatcher, Pursuing his own
train of thought undauntcd, tsthey have
not counted with you. They have with
inc; butaot with you. If they had YOU
would still blind people SO that they
would not see it, That is what have
come TO talk to you about. You have
4