Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-12-15
ovingly. 'fYou only want some

LILY gave .llttie cry. ''Ah, flowers
But they are impossible.
''Not at ali, said Jasper, taking a
box from his pocket "Nothing i'm
possible if you want it badly enough. F"
Lily opened the box and gave an
other cry. Orange blossoms!" she
said.
Eyes" answered Jasper. "From
Florida. People there stick the ends
in potato to keep them fresh. Capt.
tai dodge, isn't it?"
He took out the orange blossoms,
threw away the potato and pinned
thom to her jacket
"Now we're ready to start. Stop a
moment!" and he drew her back be-
hind tho curtain as the cashier drove
past on his way to the schoolhouse.
Lilly began to laugh. "It's very
wicked of You, Jasper"
"That will tench him to go sleighing
with my sweetheart" said Jasper,
calmly.
Lily protested. you've no right
to say that, Jasper. 1 only promised
you sleigh ride once year for seven
years, and then il liked you well
enough, then perhaps 1 might marry
You"
Jasper was drawing on his sealslsin
gloves. "rhat's all very WE'LL" he
snid, 'but we haven't the time to waste
which those old biblical people had.
In seven years time / expect to be in
the Cabinet.
Lilly followed him to the door, only
to recoil in dismay. ''Thati" was all
she said.
"Hes not handsome to look ut, /"
said Jasper, drolly. "Rather three
cornered and lop-sided. Still don't
suppose that cashier fellow can over
take venerable ruin like this
IF he does, flashed Lily, "I'l
change slcighs.
"Well, that's fair" gently asserted
Jasper. elm YOU go. There isn't
much fuss and fenthcrs about the old
sleigh, but it means business all the
same"
Lily was furious Mt being treated
like child. Besides she had deter
mined to teach Jasper n lesson.
"Rnther like Deacon Platt's SER
mons. They always hang fire at the
stnrt," said Jasper. "Now, we'll 90
to Hawesbury by the river track. That
fellow can see us coming. All, I
thought so. He'll be down here in n
minute"
Lilly looked rather frightened rs the
chestnut came along at furious pace.
1t was evident that his driver resented
being made fool of, and that there
would be scene rs soon As he could
get his horse alongside Jasper's
funereal qundruped. But no sooner
did that detected animal touch the ice
than ho became ent-looking
horse altogether. His head went mn
aud his tail out, at the ring of the
chestnut's hoofs on The smooth ice
which connected tho river with the
shore. Then, Jasper leaning bnck,
waited until the chestnut was within
twenty yards and suddenly looscd the
reins.
"Why, w-what-" said Lily.
Hes running away, Jasper?"
Eyes, he's doing his level best"
snid Jasper, rs the bnnk seemed to
spin by. elf the chestnut catches lis
you can have his master"
Jasper kept the black head straight.
That was all he could do with the I'M
manageable beast. ''You see, Lii,
he explained, you've been fooling one
OF MS to the top of your bent. Now
you'll just take the chances of war. If
he collars us L shall have to give in"
81 won't" said Lily, stontly, begin
ming to realize the situation and how
Jasper had awakened to life undor tho
influence of jealousy. "Nothing shall
make me m-m-marry him. L only
drove with him because it was SO dull
down here. That was all."
"Chestnut's coming up bit" said
Jasper cheerily after another mile. :
Hope Baalbec will hold out. -
Lilly gazed anxio,ls51y Mt tho mi
mated "ruinn-i1fi the shafts. The
chestnut was gaining. Then she
looked Mt the black horse.
"C-c-c-couldn't You whip himP" she
asked.
ri could" said Jasper, .but it's
hardly fair. He isn't tho ono that
should be whipped for this
Lilly turned white. you're very
cruel, jasper, but L deserve it ali.
Nothing shall make mo marry him.
I'd rather go to tho bottom of the
river with you.
AS they neared Hawkesbury tho
chestnut steadily gained. Jasper had
succeeded in pulling the old blncl1
back into his gait md began to
whistle. Suddenly he turned pale.
"How FAIRS that fellow behind, Lii ?"
lie asked
"Forty yards" said Lii, in nm
agony.
Jasper spoke quite lightly. Gill"
he said, '.did you mean you'd rather
go to the bottom of the river with me
than let that fellow catch up?"
eyes, said Lii, without hesitation.
WHAT do you mean, Jasperq"
"This," said Jasper; "I forgot the
spring thnw. Three hundred yards
ahead of us the rivers split right
across. Shall pull up?"
Lilly stood up in the sleigh and
looked round. She gave little shud-