Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-04-01

IsS tn.o oth io,ioweG wee
dropped, neatly aimed, into the ripping
blue of the lake. Sorrel colored'
llardwickc saw the color, though his
glance was fixed on the Approximate SPOT
where the three pebbles had been lost to
view. He had way of seeing out of
the corners of eyes directed elsewhere.
He now thought that wave of color very
becoming. He was almost on the point
OF saying so, but he was saved in time
by SorreI herself speaking.
"Bccausc want the cultivation Of
another year of travel and study and
observation"
llardwickc stopped throwing pebbles
into the lake. lie leaned back against
the old stone wall, drew his hat lower
over his brows and plunged his hands
into his pockets.
"What unmitigated bosh."
This time he had certainly gone too
far. The girl started to her feet on the
grassy slope. The book in her lap-a
bulky volume-fell to the ground. He
could see that she was trembling slightly,
ana she held her head high. Yes, she
was deeply offended. Hardwickc
started up, too.
son, you must forgive mel" he said.
But you cannot realize how exasperatinr
1t IS to Il man, with a mans pulse in him,
to think OF girl like you inistakinr so
radically the essential occasion Provi-
dencc sent her into the world to fulfill
You were made TO render some rood
man divinely happy, not to waste your
youth and sweetness in striving after n
career, and all the rest OF that nonsense.
Lord! what has come over the nice girls
All bitten by the same mania. Writers
they want to be, and artists and lee
turcrs, and heaven knows what. Anv-
thing aud everything but the one thing
worth bcing-a sweet wife"
He had talked rs he followed her and
the close of his harranguc was addressed
to her girlish back and shoulders as they
became engulfed i'll the wide Swiss doc
way. She had not even vouchsafed n
glance.
With half laugh he retraced his steps
from the old:inn to the village square over.
looking the lake under its centenary
chcstnuts. The higher peaks of tho
snow clad ranges were flushed with the
sunset Alp-glow.
"A precious, inspiring moment" said
voice behind HardwicIie 1t was SUIT
terrell, the artist. With him was Mis-.
Kcr, Sorrel's chaperon. She smiled nc
idly upon iIardwickc. Suttcrcll glared
but remained silent. Hardwicllc and
Miss ker exchanged few common
places, if any speech of Miss Ker'scould
thus be qualified. Then Hardwicke had
a perception that she appeared to be
lingering. Suffered, though not deli.
cately intuitiye, appeared to feel til,
same thing. lie presently strolled oil.
Immediately Miss Kcr spoke.
''You asked Sorrel-Miss Fletcher
to walk out with you this afternoon, Mr.
! IIardw wicket"
~ did Miss ker."
"And if | am not wrong it was with
the vicw-thc Intention
"Of urging her again to marry inc.
on are not wrong, my dear Miss Kcr.
l know that you feel me I'M intcrloper.
You have very exalted views for Miss
FLETCHER. But think it quite GOOD
enough fate for any girl to be an honest
mans wife. And so, ms L love Mis-.
Fletcher and rs | consider myself an hon.
est man must warn you that l shall
continue both to urge myself upon her
and to discourage her masculine ambi
| TONS
a darkling flush mounted to the spin.
ster's faded cheek.
"lou are at least frank, Mr.. Hard.
woke. Whether you merit other com
mendation | leave to you. Miss Fletch
or was mentally Uniformed girl when
brought her abroad, though very
gifted one. She was an orphan: snt
mad no relative who could discover OF
develop her great capabilities. | did
bo'h. am an ardent crusader for clio
r'ous causes in which womcn's help i.
neeued, but recognize that we nccC
young, fresh spirits. licre is one that
nave formed. You come abroad, ius-
lor an IDLE summer; you see n face that
taxes your fancy; you follow us every
where; you ridlcuc the ideals dearest tc
Sorrcl Fletcher's soul and mine. and yor
insist upon her going bac! to Americi
ms autumn in order to marry YOU.
Must you thus, gust for masculine ca
price, upset the labor of months, o
years.n
.'My dear Miss Ker, in love and war al
| is fair, you know"
'Fhen it shall be warl" cried Mrs.
her' "lf marriage is - be brought
iorwad at all for Sorrel, let it be moi
with such man as you, careless of all
great subjects, but with such a one thi
young artist, with soul full of beauty,