Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-02-17
''SIis, wiltonl' he exclaimed, started

| Inc girl had started to her feet and
stood facing him with flashing ewes, IN
a burst of childish passion.
'How dare you treat me so7" she cried.
in trembling voice. "What are Won
afraid of You act as though you were
efraid OF somethipgl Haven't I always
been nice to you2 Haven't papa and
mamma always been fricndly1 We've all
liked you so much-you and your sister.
And you take it upon yourself to treat
me as Thoughts though What have
done to you2" she broke off, all her
girlish young beauty shaken by this
storm of words. al sent Miss Hersy
away to-day particularly that 1 might
ask you. And now suppose you think
don't know what you think because
you are good-looking and girls have
fallen in love with you, perhaps you
think the same thing of mel" She was
insulting him ruthlessly in hor passion,
that confessed so infinitely more than she
herself was conscious Of. "But YOU need
have no such fear" she cried contempt
uously. Then, at the door, turning
once more, she added, with the sudden
pitifulncss of scoldcd child, "I liked
you so much, and l thought we would
be such good friends!"
Vincent Dilkley had not spoken a
word. lie had controlled himself thus
far. And now, somehow, he got out
into the street. That evening whom he
reached home, there was such look
upon his face that Barbara, with ire
prcssible nervousness, said:
| Vincent, are you sure you are wcll2"
YES" he replied. Aud for the first
time in his life he spoke to his sister
sharply.
A few days later at the breakfast table
Barbara said:
THE Wiltons rot to their place last
night, it seems. That will make it moro
convenient for you, Vincent, giving
Nina her lessons. You won't have to 20
into town. l suppose she will 90 on
taking the lessons just the same this
summer"
Vincent Dilklcy pushed his chair back
and rose.
81 don't think can quite manage the
time for those lessons, Bah. 1--we
made other arrangements. 1 wrote to
Mrs. Wilton yesterday"
He came slowly round to his sisters
side and laid his hand gently on his
shoulder.
"l'm afraid, too, Bah, as-that source
OF income will have to stop that-unless
can hnd something to take its place,
you will have to give up that little trip
OF yours this summer. am very sorry.n
Inc added. He said it as simply as a
boy. But when Barbara looked into his
face 1t was worn and gray and almost
old.
ooh, Vincentl" It was = mothers
yearning crying. "Don't think of me"
Not think of hcr2 He had thourht
of her always. 1t was to obt1in for her
the comforts of an income which, how
ever meagre aud poor, was yet, at least
comparatively secure, that he gave these
lessons which his soul loathed, spending
his talent and his vitality in a hated
drudgery of every day. If it had not
been for her, he would have lived the
artists free life and painted pictures and
won fame perhaps, and been at liberty
to WOO the girl he loved
For no need to try and conceal the
secret longer, Barbara knew it and when
her brother had gone, burst into tears.
She was still sitting in the little homely
parlor, her busy hands for once idle.
when light step upon the porch reached
her ear.
1t was Nina Wilton.
The young gill came straight in, took
of her broad shade hat and tossed it
upon chair.
"Aliss Barbara" she said, "your
brother won't give me any more drawing
lessons. Why won't he2"
Miss Dilkley was not astonished at the
visit or the question or the manner of
either. Nina was-Mina. Pettcd, idol
ized, us utterly Ignorant of the world as
flower raised in u dollhouse, as lawlcss
as she was beautiful, the only daughter
OF otherwise chiidless parents, Nina, at
eighteen, was no older than the little girl
she had been ut eight.
al am sure don't know, dear" STAN
mered poor Miss Barbara.
"That is not possiblo-you must
know, insisted the girl mercilessly. "It
Is very unkind, her delicate lip quivered.
81 liked him so much"
In her childish, reckless unconscious
~ "''' "'iS"ihe5 icE love TO VIM
cents sister us undisguisedly as she had
confessed it to himself.
"Mamma asked me this morning if
didn't want to go to Europe" Nina went
on. ''1f Mr.. Dilkley won't give me any
more lessons and 1 am to be bored to
death here all summer, shall say .yes.'
And we shall sail In week"
Barbara looked at her. How lovely
she was, how pure, and sweet, and GOOD
in her impulsive innocence! Must Vim.
cent, who loved her so, who was so
noble and so manly, so fit to make any
woman happy, give her up because she
was rich with untold wealth and he alb.
jectly poor2 Was there necessity for
this sacrificed Oh, the bitterness of
fatel
Something in Miss Barbara's face
struck Nina with new meaning.
"Why is it that your trother won't
comet" she reiterated. but with less as.
! surance than before. Then, as there was
no answer, she rose and went to Miss
| Barbara's side.