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

knowed vel And come back to be mar
ried, ehl"
Blossom bit his lips; but he laughed
carelessly. Jonas Hopper was privi-
legged individual, like the court testers of
old.
"How did you know, old mani" said
he.
sob, dunno! Miss Hartford, she's
been gettin' ready to be married, this
long time" said Jonas, hosting the
Coloncps luggage on the back of the
wagon. "And drcssmakers and millin-
ers they will talk, you know, though I'm
told Miss Hal took great pains to hide
it."
"Did she2" aside: "The darling!')
"And fine woman she is, Colonel"
ofiiciously added Jonas, as he pushed in
the last iron .clamped trunk. ga very
fine woman, considerin' her age. l only
wonder she amt married before"
Colonel Blossom opened his sleepy
black eyes.
"Why, vino on earth are you talking
about, mani" said he.
"Why, Miss Hal Hartford, to.be-
sure"
"TEere amt no Miss Halliana,' said
Jonas. They're both the same name;
but we calls the aunt Miss Hal and the
niece Miss Halcyon. My daughter she's
lady s-maid there; and I'd orter know,
if any one does"
sand which of them is it that is go
ing to be marricd2" brcathlessly qucried
Blossom.
"Why, the old 'un. of course-Beg
pardon!" hurriedly added Jones, II
mean Miss Hal. Polly she tells me there's
four-and- twenty different gounds or
dcred, let alone the juckets and parasols
and button kid gloves fit to make
your bair stand on end"
"And Miss IIalcyon-the young lady,"
cried Blcsson-''she is engaged too2"
"Not as any one krows on" said
Jonas. "That all, Coionel2 Got your
telescope bagi Then we'd better be
movin'."
Colonel Blossom pondcred seriously all
the way up to Hartford Cedars, oblivious
of Jonas's incessant stream of talk.
Could it be possiblc2 No, that was utter
nonsensel And yet
He strained his eyes as they up.
preached the house. Surely golden.
haired Halcyon would be there, smiling
to welcome him
But no. In her place stood middle
aged charmer, well rouged and powdered,
with hair cleaning mcretriciously,
and teeth just e size too large for the
thin-li Tipped mouth.
In one hand she held his love- breath
ing letter; in the other his photograph.
And during that second his heart sank
like lead.
But he did not know-ah, how much
more difficult would it have been to bear
had he done so.-that Halcyon Hart.
ford's eyes were surreptitiously watching
him from the honcysucklc- garlanded
cascmcnt.b beyond.
"Dear Chartley," the elderly damsel
twittcred, ''you are mere ut last"
He set his teeth, drew one long breath
and allowed her to slip n carressing hand
through his arm and lead him into the
house, muttcring some hoarse acknowl-
edglhent of her coquettish smiles.
ave brought it on myself" he
thought. "And must simply endure
it. The woman isn't to blame-no, she
Is not to blame"
"He is Il heroI' Halcyon thought
eyes, hero"
And then she burst into q passion OF
tears and IN up stairs to her own room.
"But now I've got you fairly here"
lisped Aunt h:l, more determinedly
youthful than ever, I'm really afraid,
dearest Chaltley, that there's a great
disappointment in store for you"
"Eh?"
listless manner. Aunt Hal held on tc
his hand, still all teeth and smiles.
"And may rs we'll tell YOU. at once"
said she, "that I'm already engaged to
Judge Flostroy, of the Superior Court.
OF course, if l had known of your at
tachment in time, there's no SAYING"
"Oh, pray don't let me interfere with
any existing arrangements !" said Bles-
son, jumping eagerly up. perhaps,
under the circumstances, you will let me
have my photograph back?"
Just then there came ring ut the
door below as the maid announced
Judge FIostroy, miss, if you please!"
Before the slow and ponderous steps OF
ehS upPiohciiu NlsllOT COulu reach the
room, Aunt Hal had thrust the photo.
graph into Blossoms hand.
She had had the little triumph, which
was all she wanted. That little case of
diamonds from Judge Fiostroy had set
tied the question.
"A-hem-m-m!" generously coughed
the luminary of the Superior Court.
Aunt Hal tripped smilingly forward.
"Glad to sec you, Judge!" she cooed.
"This is my old playmate, Colonel
Blossom, just arrived from India. 1 dare
say, Charley, you'll find Halcyon some.
where about the house."
"Disposed of in short order" NUT
tered Colonel Blossom. "Great heavens
what have done to deserve such luck
as this2"
Two hours afterward the young lovers
sat in the veranda, watching the evening
star rise over the hills, while the Judges
basso profundo voice still rolled in the
sitting room like distant thunder.