Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-05-06

wen, said Khoda. quietly, "Tm
going to drive about and sell them for
you"
And she pinned her wide hat more
firmly on her pretty blonde head, and
was gone through the kitchen door with
graceful speed.
ooh, Mis- Merritt" Mrs. Pctermnn
begged, in scared tones, .sdon't let her
never dreamed O. no such For
goodness sakes, that grill"
"Lct her CO." said her kind-hearted
hostess, chccrfully, aud with a mothers
pride in her tones. ''I,hoda isn't
ashamed to do kind turn, whatever it
is. Shes woman, Rhoda is"
Rhoda went to where Mrs. Peter.
mans old wagon waited, and mounted
to the high seat.
1t was rattly affair; tho horse was
twenty years old if day, and furry
coated, and the tin pals and measures
jinglcd together in the back with alarm .
ing loudncss.
But if Rhoda felt any faint, girlish
qualms she WINGED none. She smiled
as she chirrupcd to the staid old ami
nal, and hummed little, and strove to
believe she was forgetting her own
haunting trouble.
Mrs. Whitaker, laughing at the sight
of Mrs. Pcterman's successor till the tears
came, bought eight quarts of berries,
and Mrs. Kelly, next door, bought five.
The Stecles were next,
Ishoda's pretty color heightened a
little rs she drew up at the front gate.
Not that she should ever love Owen
Stcclc-no; but if he was to be her
husband
Owen was in the yard. SO was al
elderly lady in silk and gentleman in
corrcspondingly imposing garments.
All, yes! Rhoda remembered that
Ovens uncle and aunt from the city
had been expected that day-an uncle
aud aunt from whom, Owen had informed
her, he had expectations.
Owen, in his best clothes and looking
complaccnt, came to the gate. Not hav-
ing recognized Rhoda ut distance, he
stared at her now in blank astonishmcnt.
Then he grew red.
"Grcat guns, Rhoda!" he uttered,
shortly, "what are you up to2"
Rhoda co!ored also, her red under lip
between her teeth.
"Can't you scc9" she qucried. "Sell-
ing Mrs. Peterman's berries for her; she
is sick. Won't you take somc' Is that
your uncle and aunt, Owcnf I'd like to
meet them"
"Thats them" said Owen, in a sort
Of growl. "For the lands sake, Rhoda,
drive alongl You don't s'pose L want
en- to see you this way or know who
you are? If you uint up to the funniest
things evera girl was Rhoda, sec here.
I'D be rather ashamed to introduce
you to 'cm like this. You know how
they are, from the city and all, and
Come now, don't stop here, Rhoda. We
don't want no berries"
"Don't you, Oweu2 Pm selling them
for Mrs. Pctermau, you know, who needs
the money so much" l}hoda said slowly.
Her eyes grown large aud bright, were
fixed upon him with au odd expression
which Owen was not shrcwd enough to
fGthom.
He felt uncomfortable under her gaze,
and he wondered why she gave pretty,
ringing laugh us she drove away and
turned and waved her hand, laughing
still. But he was relieved that she had
gone.
What had possessed her, anyhow
He wiped his hot fnce-for his vcxation
and apprehension had been acutc-and
went back to the visitors thankfully.
Tho lawn Of tho pretty little East
hampton Hotel, the house which took the
majority of Easthampton' summer board
crs, was we'll filled when Rhodn reached
there half an hour later.
The wind had rumplcd her yellow
hair, and her eyes looked clear and
bright. She would shirk nothing, she
had said to herself, firmly, and she held
to the resolution.
And she halted before the hotel and
turned her vivid face toward it.
Yes, he was thcrc-shc had known he
would be. She saw him first, though
there was n porchful of bright gowns aud
manly figures, and tennis court full of
lively players, and sparkling of para
soils elsewhere.
And-ycs, he saw her, and left, with
the shabbiest apology for bow, the lady
with whom he had been talking, and
went running down the steps and the
walk, hat in hand, and brought up be-
side Mrs. Petcrman's wagon with
bound.
"Why, Miss Mcrritt!' he cried-"is
it you? couldn't believe it Mt first, but
it Is! What are you doingl How jollyr"
His handsome young face was aglow
with p!easurc-with the mere pleasure of
seeing her once more. lie forgot oil
else, and stood joyfuly gazing up at
her.
"What fun" he reiterated, gaily.
ppm selling b!ackberrios for Mrs.
Petcrman," said Rhoda; but her voice
trcmblcd, and she could not trust her
eyes to meet his. "Do you think they
will take some hcrc?"
"Pll go and scc," said George Ohm
stcd, eagerly.
All the boarders were staring ut him,
but lie did not even see them He ran
into the kitchen with boyish leaps and
slIips, and came back with the cook and
two great pans.
Wnill tnEn what vou'yn ,,ol Lea ~ l..