Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-12-16

father was returning chairs to the neigh
bors III the back of the old blue cutter
Uhcre was carly snow this year,; the
''help" WAS disposiug of cakc.crumbs
and coffee grounds.
There was nobody left to talk it over
but Aunt Susan Briggs, spinstcr, tall
and thin, with short sighted eyes be-
hind glasses aud corkscrcw curls, and
Anselina's cousin, Fannie Morgan, from
Acknowledgements and plump, with
bright, dark eyes and wavy blonde hair.
The wintry sun fell through the window
ON its soft ycllowncss. 1t had been Il
morning wedding.
"Ah, we'll" Aunt Susan sighed (Aunt
Susan was scntimentaD. $40 Inc it is
sad, the snatching of the tender buds of
womanhood by the rough, the needless
hands of mcnl"
eyes" said Fanny, vaguely.
1t crossed her mind that Angelina had
not been snatchcd, exactly, innsmuch rs
MIR. Ryder had been attentive for some
six months, and that Augelinc was not
exactly bud.
But the bud she held in her hand was
uppcrmost in her thoughts. That hand
some Mr.. Fenton had had it in his but
tonhoic, but he had given it to her.
What pretty thing had he said about her
checks rivaiing iti
lie had been anxious about the length
OF her visit mt Uncle Briggs's, too, and
rcloiccd that it was indefinite.
Couldn't she be persuaded to stay over
the ninctecnth2 There was going to be
club dance then. Oh, she must STAY
for it
ibid you notice Mark Fcntonl" Aunt
Susan demanded, with suddcnncss
which made Fanny start, pinl, to her
fully hair.
Notice him. She was conscious that
she hadn't done much but notice him.
She was euitily aware of 1t.
"Yc.cs. He's nice looking" she
faltcrcd.
''llc has heart history, poor young
mani said Aunt Susan, in tones of com.
passion. GLOW we'll remember the
painful circumstances He was desper.
atcly in love with your CoIsin Angelina
at one period. His entire happiness
seemed bound up in her. lie fairly
haunted the house; his attentions were
lessly infatuated. But Angelina was
firm; even at that time think her maiden
heart was turning toward MIR. Ryder.
She dismissed MIR. Fcnton, kindly but
hnally. The poor young mans heart was
crushed. Twas more than he could
bear even To remain where he must see
her, me2h her, and he went to the far
west, and has only recently returned. |
have heard that time has in some degree
healed his wound have even heard n
report of his possible marriage. But
cannot believe chat his early love is for.
gotten. He witnessed the marriage of
his old love with seeming calmness, but
his inward suilerings were undoubtedly
severe. My true sympathies are with
him."
Mrs. Briggs was in the doorway, her
hands under the gingham apron which
covered her black silk.
al plum forgot to send some of the
cake up to old Mis- Beebe," she declare b.
II promised her I'd send some by E.iz,
Your unclc's Just made his last trip with
the cutter. Fanny, and he's clean tuck
cred out. You just slip on your things
and drive up to Mis- Beebe's and take
that cake, won't your She'll be set on
it. It's right down by the old tanncrv,
the Beebes'"
Fanny went. II she looked rather
flushed and duzcd as she went up stairs tc
change her pink cashmere for brown
flannel, and if there was faint trace oil
Tears about her pretty eyes when she came
down, nobody saw it; certainly not Aunt
Susan, who was gazing pcnsively ut the
spot where Mr.. Ryder had promised to
g.. take Angelina for better or worse.
Aunt Briggs gave her the cake, all the
four kinds i'll paper box, and Uncle
Briggs tucked her into the blue cutter.
and she jing!ed down the snowy road.
The sun shonc dazzlingly on its white
stretch. There were glinting iciclc.
pointing from roofs and branches, and a
crisp sound OF bells far and near. An.
geiine's wedding day was a fine one.
But Fanny-Fanny was far from consid
cring it.
She vas ashamed. heartily ashamed
OF the state of mind she found herself in
she was glad her mother, for instance,
would never know it.
To have become so-so-well, so taker
up with young man on first slight &C
quaintance rs to be really taken aback,
regularly down-hearted, a. learning
But, oh, dear! that was exactly it. Ii
was so queer, so incredible.
Angcline2 Why, she should have been
+ certain, il Aunt Susan hadn't told her,
that MIR. Fenton was possibly four -filths
as old as Angelina, not more. Well, sht
knew it was not infre9uent, young
mans being in love with someb ody moro
or less his semi or
But ALgelines Fannie recalled An
geline, in her bluc-satin wedding dress
plain and matter. of-fact Angelina, with
her small eyes and angular shoulder.
blades, her high color and higher cheek.
bones. Angelina resembled her Aunt
Susan. In love with Angelinel So i
seemed and her repeating the phrase