Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-09-30
a.Like himrn with a little derisiye

school. Bell says she's going to set her
cap at the new minister-Pincers his
name is, or Pinto, or some such outland.
ish sounding thing. Well, let her, if
she likes. couldn't marry him-no,
not for ten thousand dollarsl To think
of my dear. little white doves!"
Eyes" faltercd Mr.. Pynsent, waxing
more and more uncomfortable all the
time, shut don't you think it's just pos
sible that this-this gentleman may not
have known about the white dovcs2"
"Charley, why are you SO hoaisef"
cried out the fair unknown, in an uncon-
scious paraphrase of Little Red Riding
hood. "Have you been and caught an.
other cold7"
"N-no; not that am aware Of"
said Mr.. Pynsent, ponderiug how he
should costrive to explain to her at this
late stage of affairs that he was the
wrong Charley.
said the damsel. cit makes your voice
sound as gruff as bear. Is that the
twelve o'clock whistler Oh, then, l
must hurry home aud help Bell with the
peaches and cream for dessert. And /
can't come down to talk with you, after
all. But there's tea-rosebud, Charley,
dear. If I'd left it on the bushes Bell
would only have gathered 1t to pamper
the new minister with. Asters and
johnny jumpers are good enough for
him."
And the next minute half-blown
AIarechal-Niel bud, golden-ccntered and
odorozJ with subtle perfume, drifted
down upon the leaves of the "Shakes-
peare," aud the sunshiny little head,
with its nuttering blue Golf, was gone.
The Reverend Mr.. Pynsent rose up
and looked around with bewildered
air.
"Upon my word," said he, "one
might almost believe ones self to be in
an enchanted glen. Was that golden
head really dream2, And am actually
such an ogre2 Is the widow Wilton
positively about to serve up to me dish
made of the little penitent's white
dovcs2 By the sacred stork of Egypt,
I'll not taste mouthful of it And
who is Charley anyhow2 And how
abont this imperial Bell, who is going
to marry me, nolens volensl 1t strikes
rae that am about to venture into un-
known dangers. However," resolutely
closing the Shakespeare" and slipping
it into his vest pocket, az have COM
menced the campaign and am going to
carry it through, even though it should
prove to be Watcrlool"
X
"Dinner is ready, Mr. Pynsent, if you
please" said Miss Bell Wilton, tall,
Juno-like damse, of some three or four
and-twenty summers.
And the Reverend Charles Courtney
Pynsent, who had been sitting, in rather
uncomfortable state, in the "best par
lor" with the widow Wilton, followed
his hostesscs into the little dining-room.
Th1ie, in u white dress with blue sash
knotted loosely around her slim waist,
stood lovely young girl of sixteen,
with golden tresses gathered into a net,
and tuft of geranium leaves in her
bosom. Mr.. Pynsent felt himself color
up to his temples-it was the very face
that had spilled down from the top of
the precipice, encircled in its frame
work of forest foliage.
At the same moment, n dark-haired,
pleasant young man came in with linen
duster over his arm, valise IN his hand,
and healthy sunburn on his check.
"Charey!" cried the girls, in concert.
"Cousin Charles" added the widow,
extending a cordial hand of greeting,
"pray, let me introduce you to the Rev
crend Mr.. Pynsent."
IN o.
Charley. "Yes, I thought it would be
surprise, Aunt Phillis. I'm just home
from Boston. Spent two days there at
the great Musical Convention. Only
reached Brattleboro' hall an hour ago.
Thought, if made good time from the
station, L might be in season to dine with
you. Why, Paulic, child, what-are you
staring at2"
For Paulina Wilton had grown first
pale aud then pink"
"Charlie," cried she, with one hand
pressed convulsively against her pearly
throat, "wasn't it you at the Forest Pool
this morning2'
"Aly dear child" said Charley, "I
tell you 1 was on an express train until
twenty minutes agol"
.It was l." said the Reverend Mr..
Pynscnt, composedly. "My name is
Charles, too; and when Iheard it called,
1 answered. Aud an much obliged to
you, Miss Paulina, for this rosebud"
with q calm, downward glance at the
half.opened "Marechal Niep in his but
ton-hole.
Paulina looked at him for moment,
with half-startled eyes. He could but
smile reassuringly.
,.."You are not vexed with mel" said
she. solemnly.
"Not in the least" he answered.
"Then forgive you the tragedy of
the three white doves" said she.
And they shook hands upon it.
1t is needless to add that Bell Wilton
didn't marry tho new minister. after
all. Aud Mrs. Wilton says, rather pen.
sively:
'.ro think that little Paulie should be
the one to be minister's wife, after all
Paulle, that never could learn her cate.