Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-10-02

had sent the man really loved from me,
believing me heartless flirt.
The cry gave when tainted, brought
some one to my aid.
They talked about the heat, and the
delicacy of New England girls, and l
was put to bed by my aunt and cousins.
The next day l was ill, and it made
me no better to hear that Captain Dun
can and the other officers in town had
gone to the fort, expecting trouble with
the Indians.
There are more anxious hearts in the
house-for two of my cousins were en-
gagged to officers-when we heattl that
the fighting had begun. But happily no
bad news came to Flora or Helen; and
one day two happy girls came dancing
into the house with letters in their hands.
The trouble was over for the time, aud
their promised husbands had written to
them.
''Hcrc is a postscript that did not
notice." said Flora, after reading hers
three times. ooh, how dreadful Cap
tain Duncan is killed, and Jnck says that
if he had wished to throw his life away,
he could not have acted more rccklessly.
Every one loved him. The mourning at
the fort is general
''Lucy is going TO faint again!" my
aunt cried, running to me. But l did
not faint; only wcpt bitterly. And
no one wondered. Even an engaged
girl might weep for SO gallant soldier.
"And SO devoted rs he was to you,
Lucy" Flora said. eff it had not been
for Dick, 1 used to think something
might come of it,"
or what au aching heart carried home
with me.
''I'm ashamed that you should 90 to
them looking like that" my aunt said,
us we parted. "Dict will never forgive
Inc. 1 suppose our air is too strong for
you"
ooh, once she gets to Dick, she'll be
all right" my Cousin Flora cried.
So they jcsted; but knew that though
should keep my secret to myself aud
marry Dick when the time came, should
never be call right" again-ncvcr the
happy girl used to be.
"Oh," sighed thousand times upon
the weary journey home, 'toh, if he had
not died, believing me hcartless, cruel
firt, could bear it then, and wait to
meet him in heaven"
But still amidst my suffcrings, vowed
that Dick should never know that nv
heart had for II moment swerved from
him. had done harm enough already.
They did not expect me home so soon,
and no carriage waited at the atation for
me, and it seemed to Inc that it would
be relief to walk, and the shortest and
plcasantcst way was, after one had gone
block or two, to strike across q park
which was used by nil the place for fcs-
rivals and pcnics, and by the children
for playground. But now it was
autumn, and quite cold, and late in the
afternoon aud it surprised me little ms
| reached the heart of the wood, to see
two people sitting in lover-like fashion
upon bench that stood there. As |
stood still, curiously shy about passing
them, as people often grow in moments
OF great depression, recognized them.
One was Lilly Bell, the beauty of the
town; the other, Richard Gardner, my
bctrothed husband. The wind swept
their voices toward me.
81 am the most miserable man alive"
I heard Richard say. az will keep nv
promise to her, of course, but can
never love her. thought did until
knew you, but it was merely boys
fancy"
"Iou ought not to talk so. Mr.. Gard
ner," Lilly answered. "She is awfully
nice"
"Yes-a good girl, and true to me, or
l would not make the sacrifice" Richard
answered. Gas for you, you do not
care, know that"
~ must not care" Lilly answered.
"We have been foolish, knew YOU were
engaged" her voice tremblcd-
paused.
AS for me, l felt no anger, only a
strange pity for them and for myself, aud
for all lovers. allowed impulse to guide
me, and the next instant stood behind
them, hand on the shoulder of either
"DicA," said, 81 have heard every
word, and 1 am glad have, for am MS
weary of our engagement rs you can pos
sibly be, and if you will take this ring
from me and put it on Lilly Bells finger,
9Ou WI titS WuNt iioii my ucurl
drew off my glove as 1 spoke ana
placed the ring in his palm. He only
said: ooh, Lucy!" but he saw in nv
face that spoke the truth, and walked
away and left them to do ms they pleased.
But once out of sight 1 cried little
it was SO strange to find that 1 was not
necessary to Dick, SO tragic to know that
had refused the man | loved in order
to keep my promise to one whom it had
grown to be hated chain. In my de.
preston it almost seemed possible that 1
might reach home to find that no one
there wanted me. However, that was
not so, ms knew when the cry went IN
and down the house of "Lucy has comc!''
and they held Inc in their arms and
kissed me and wondered ut my palencss.
and bethought them low to make me
rosy again.
Yes, they loved me at home. Still I
felt so changed, so spoiled somehow, so