Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-05-27

you"
Matty caught up the barn lantern and
held it on u level with his face.
"Why," she exclaimed, SITS Mr..
Beresford!"
"That is my name. Aud you Are
Matty Mills" said stranger, sudden
light of recognition illuminated his face.
! "But, if 1t is IN allowable question
how on earth came you here2"
sin the most natural way in the
world. live here. And you'll"
t'I am here to attend the convention"
'Mr. Beresfordln
"Afiss Matty!"
"Arc you a-minister2"
az have that honor, Miss Matty."
sat cant be possible"
"Why shouldn't it be possiblea AL
though you, perhaps, were not aware of
it, was theological student when |
met you i'll Massachusetts. Yes, Miss
Matty," with mischievous nod of the
head, ''it's an incontrovcrtiblc fact.
am one of the four horrid minister's"
Alatty lowered her lantern.
"Nlay I ask your Grand ut the barn2"
said she, in an altered voice. "Though
perhaps my mother sent you to find
met"
"No. She told me to come here to
put up my horse; he is Whiting out
side"
ooh, poor fellow, he must be very
tircdi" said Matty, hurricdly, hanging
tho lantern on hook. "Open the big
door, Lead him into one of the empty
stalls. Not that side. Basic is there
the cow-and she isn't used to horses"
With quick, def hands, the girl tossed
down IN armful of hay into the manager
and showed Mr.. Beresiord where to find
the painted pail whcrcwith to bring
water from the we'll, and then leaving
the lantern as n guide, she vanished.
Mr.. Beresford smiled quietly rs he
made his horse comfortable, and then re-
turned to the house, where Mrs. Mills
had prepared an appetizing repast. But
when he went to bed at ten o'clock there
was no sign OF Aiatty's return.
Mrs. Mills herself hurried over to Aunt
Betsy's house in the morning.
"NYhcrc's Martha2" said she. az want
her."
"NIarthy2" echoed Aunt Betsy, put
ting one hand behind her ear after tho
fashion of deaf people. "What about
AIarthy? She amt been here"
'Then where is shc2" cried Mrs. Mills.
''How should 1 know2" counter. ques-
toned Aunt Betsy, irritably.
''She was always rs full of kinks rs
clothesline on n wet day" sighed Mrs.
Mills. 81 guess I'll jest have to do the
best can without her. She was dread
full opposed to my boardin' the four rev.
erends; but guess my Wills as strong as
hcr'n. I'll get along somehow, and
Martha shan't have cent of the money
earn-no, not cent! But amt it funny,
Betsyl Mr.. Bcresford tells me-by the
way, his names Beresford, not Bedford,
as s'posed it was-that he used TO visit
up to Mansfield, where Martha taught
one term n spell ago."
81 want to know" said Aunt Betsy.
SHE seen her down to the barn last
night" added Mrs. Mills. "She showed
him where to put up his horse, an that
was the last of her. wish knew where
she was! !"
The convention had been in session
several days, when, during Mr.. Beres-
ford's sermon in the crowded village
church, his eyes fell on NIatty Mills's face,
half hidden in the shadow of one of the
quaint wooden pillars.
He paused moment in md sentence;
then he collected himself, and went on
as brilliantly as ever.
But when e'had finished, he did not
stay to hear the Reverend Raymond Cusb
ings remarks" which came next, but
slipped out into the fresh air and star
light. So that when unconscious Matty
emerged, like slim shadow, he quietly
put out his hand and stopped her. She
started violently.
"Stop minute" said he. "Why are
you crying?."
"I-I didn't want to cryw said she.
sobbing and defiart. .'But you made
me-you preached that sermon right at
mel"
81 wasn't thinking of you, Miss
Matty," said he, quietly, "until my eye
fell on your face. All the same, If the
cap fits you, by all means put it on"
~ won't be SO willful for the future,n
murmured Matty. 'I'll give up my own
way. I'll come back this very night and
help mother in her own fashion. After
oil she is older than am, and wiser"
She spoke partly as if she were think
ing aloud, as she added:
81 had meant to go up north again
and teach, but if mother wants me to
stay here"
Aud NOBODY but Matte herself-and
possibly Mr.. Beresford, in lesser degree
knew what it cost the girl to relinquish
her ambitious dreams and take up the
humble, homely burden of everyday life
again. But she did it bravely.
"Martha amt the same gal she was"
complacently spoke Mrs. Mills. az al
ways knowed if 1 talked to her long
enough I could make her hear reason.