Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-10-07

-/X-. I'D on the right--hC
=bS paused moment.
=a He put key in his
pocket, looked long
at the door on the left, heavcd great
sigh, then opened the door on the right
He turned his head, again contemplated
the lcft-hand door, hcavcd II second
great sigh, and entered his own room
at the right.
Then he took chair, placed it against
the wall, got astride OF it, lighted II
cigarette, and remained thus, watching
the, little clouds of smoke rise to the
ceiling, and every five minutes pressing
his ear against the wall.
He had been there long while, had
smoked n great deal and had many times
applied his ear to the wall, when his
face, hitherto sombre, took joyous ex-
preston.
Somebody was stirring on the other
side-"She has come ;nl" he said,
aloud.
There was n noise of.chairs and dishes
"She is going to dinel" said James.
And lie pressed his head yet more
closely to the wall, trying to be aware of
the slightest movements of his neighbor,
unable to see her but happy TO feel her
there and to live near her.
Not to see her any more-ah! that
was heartbreaking for James. lie saw
her often in other days.
He contrivcd to pass her on the stairs.
For that he waited in the street whole
hours; then, when he perceived her III
the distance, he went back, rushed up
stairs to give her time to arrive, and then
went slowly down, rs if mere chance had
brought this blessed moment. But he
always felt so embarrassed to see her
pass by hiul SO grave aud SO reserved,
that he saiuted her more awkardly than
the most boorish school-boy, and lowered
his eyes without daring even to look at
her. 1t was very fine to promise himself
to be less timid, to study graceful bows,
to invent pretexts for conversation, to
imagine skillful declarations; all his
plans we're wrecked at the psychological
moment, and every time that the adorcd
one passed, James saluted her more and
more awkwardly-once he even dropped
his hat.
So, despairing of ever being able to
conquer his timidity, and trembling lest
he might impress her unfavorably, he
had preferred to renounce seeing her.
In that way, he thought. If l do moi
succeed in pleasing her, at least l shall
be sure of not displeasing her.
And james, therefore, arranged hi:
hfe, taking precautions never to 20 GU
nor come in at the same hours that HI
pretty neighbor did and contenting him
self with living beside her, for her ant
by her-without her suspecting her ex
istence to him.
However, in order not to see her 1t
had learned about her. She called her
self Charlotte. She worked every day,
going out early and returning late. Ant
Ihe was surely good girl. OH yes
very good, for far into the night sh,
was busy with needle-work. And Jame
felt himself seized with admiration TO
that brave and beautiful girl who, alonr
in the world (she was certainly alone a
no visitor ever came,) knew how to re-
sist all the temptations that she mus
find ID her path
How had he come to love her? james
sometimes asked himself. She hat
moved into the house the year previous
The first time that he saw her she had
seemed to him pretty. and that was all
= In the beginning he had scarcely. I3&iie
any attention to her. That had com
gradually-by force, SO to speak, newt
ably-through the wall. ,i
James was quite sure now about tn
sentiment he felt for Charlotte. =. III
adored her, and hewas certain that TIN
present fashion in which he. adored he
was the way he would always worshi
her. $50
If she had allowed him to speall-
and in that case if he himself coul,
have had courage to talk-.his .declara
ton, or rather his profession, of fait
would not have been long. s.Mademoi
Bellei IHloye you.) Will you be nv wifce'
But good Heavens! To offer his han,
to lady it was necessary to be able t
put something in it. He was paintc
One of those artists rich in hopes an
plans, but whose works do not sell, an,
lately his pictures were not sold at all
The boy had reached such a point that
in order to pay his rent, he had pawnc,
what furniture he owned; there re
manned only the bed and poor wicke
chair, chair so old, so weak and S
lettering, that it was q miracle that b
could keep astride of it as he did.
James was always there, astride of h
chair and trying to hear through the thi
partition the going and coming of h
neighbor. Like tie blind who, by IL
touch alone, gain an exact knowledge
the physiognomy of objects, James, b
the rustiing of Charlotte's dress again
the furniture, by the approach or Will
,drawal Of her footsteps. by their silenc,