Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-01-08
AT THE JUNCTION..
ny EMMA a. orpER.

down upon the customary panorama of
good-sizcd summer hotel-thc pretty
view, the wide lawn, the rustic seats, and
the tennis court and the cro1uet ground.
"AIrs. Mitchell, of course" said Isa-
bel, warmly. ''Shc's been at it again.
It's ABSURD, Cad--it's ridiculous! She's
talked about nothing and nobody but
that Nephew Of hers since we've met.
Her nephew! What do want with
with himS shan't speak to hun when
he comes"
"But supposing he is nice7" said Car
rio, cncouragingly.
sitioncd.
"Nicci" Isabels very pretty face jas
flushed beyond its usual warm .l4,inettc
coloriDg. "IIe's horrible. md | know
it; and I'm just sick 90 death of him.
His looks and his a,e, and his education
and his habits and his money and his
business, nd his yachting and his shoot
ing am his driving-I know them all, l
, know them thoroughly, and L know
them in detail"
"But you know why she docs it, I"
SuTIlc NCuturcu, SOOIrlu1ly.
"Why?" Isabel demanded.
She knew why, aud therein lay her
wrath.
because she has taken such an awful
fancy to YOU"
81 don't want her taking fancy to
mc"
"Bnt she's nice and agreeable. Isabel
everybody thinks SO, " Carrie protested.
"Well, and she thinks there's nobody
like that nephew Of hers that's coming,
and so of course"
$50 she wants me to marry him, said
Isabel, scorn Ill look and gesture. "Shc
wants me to be dazzled beforehand, pet
rifed by all his advantages and posses
sions and utter pcrfcctlons, and then
when he comes TO fall straight in love
with him, and follow him around smirk
ingly, and say: Yes before he's got the
question out of his MOUTH"
''But it's compliment, Izzy," Carrie
pleaded, laughing. ''NIrs. Mitchell is
paying you great compliment. Why,
she thinks you perfect. She told
mamma"
''But she needn't be trying to dispose
of me to her nephew or anybody else, "
said Isabel, less warmly but with cold de-
cision. "Of me! Why, it's atrocious
Me to be labored with for hours about
some horrid, strange man, aud bored to
death! Me to be badgcred aud perse-
cuted, and then presented to him for
leisurely inspection and approval, and
| can't talk about it, and 1 won't; nor
thing about it. Mrs. Mitchell is too bad.
Asto her nephew, know he's abomina-
ble-l feel It. 1 shan't look at him
when he comes. l don't think | shall
allow myself to meet him at ALL" said
Isabel, calmly.
Carried swallowed giggle.
"What's his name2" she wondered.
"James Osborne"
Isabcl's tone was frigid.
"When is he coming?"
sin two weeks. Don't mention him
again. I'm going for drive, if Caesar
and the dog cart aren't in use, and strur-
gle to forget about him. Will you go?''
No, Carrie had engaged to make n
fourth Mt II feminine tennis game.
She watched her sister with gentle
smiles as she snatched her hat-a mar
Vicious, broad, beflnwcred affair-threw
on her jaunty blazer, and marched off.
her head haughtily high.
Carrie supposed that it was allowable
for queenly girl, with starry, dark eyes
and rich, dark roses in her cheeks, and n
wonderfully cut mouth and chin, and u
naturally high-headcd manner-that 1t
was fitting for such person to be easily
displeased and proudly rescntful, and
altogether prettily unreasonable, when
she chose to be.
And Carrie felt some pity for Mrs.
Mitchell aud her Inflated favorite
nephew, james Osborne.
Isabel sought the hotel hostler. No,
the dog-cart and Caesar, the handsome
chestnut, were free; and five minutes
later the hostlcr was standing in staring
admiration to see the prettiest girl the
Clarcmont House had boosted for many
summers, driving off in the nattiest rig
it could produce.
The day was fine, and Isabel's spirits
rose with every rod down the winding,
grass-cdgcd, bough-shaded road.
1o eagerly ana en)Oylnply
this way and that, far and near, and
smiled and hummcd and admired every
thing, and was glad she had thought OF
coming.
Her rebellious annoyance as to Mrs.
niitcheifs obnoxious relative sank pence
iuiiy into past; the faint frown which
had fingered in her brown eyes disap-
peared by gentle degrees.
Where was she2 She had driven con-
'entedly on and on, till things began to
ook unfamiliar. 1t was charming her.
though.
She keep on, upa curving road, till
The whistle of a locomotive startled her
A clump of balsams hal hidden the rail.
road, upon which, she presently came
dump. a short train of cars was iust