Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-02-17

face. All tire Dilkleys had been hand
some. Miss Barbara herself, in her
youth, had been we'll nigh beauty.
And even now she had fair, nobly
womanly presence, upon which years Of
physical suffering had set peculiar
stamp of remuneration, even of spiritual
exaltation.
"Vincent," she said, and with the
delicacy OF Il rcticent woman aud one
who respects the reticence of others, n
sensitive color mounted to her pale
cheeks, "is-is anything the matter1"
Vincent Dilklcy started from abstrac-
ton. He changed color also, though
very slowly, under the loving scrutiny OF
those clear blue eyes.
mo, Barbara, nothing" he said, n
little hastily, but there was wealth of
affection in the glance that rested on her
for moment.
Then he was gone and Miss Dilllley
stood there an instant, looking after him,
her idol, her boy, yet the strong stall OF
her always ailing life. He had denied
that ought was amiss with him. Well,
that was his right. But Miss Barbara
heurt WAS heavy rs she walked back to
the little cottage.
"Of course, he knows the Wiltons are
coming out in Il few days" size muscd.
"They are getting the house in order. +"
The cottage was smothercd in clam
bering roses at this time of year. 1t was
pretty place "for wretch of poor
man," Vincent had sometimes said, with
n bitter laugh
"Why were you not vouchsafed a man
for brother, Bah, who could make his
mark in the world and give you all YOU
should havc2 instead of a good for
nothing dreamer, poor drawing master,
an lmpotent manufacturer of unsuitable
pictures, who will be pnupcr and keep
You one to his dying day2"
Then noticing the pain on Barbara 9
sweet face he would stop abruptly and
laugh.
"Never mind me, Bah. You see I'm
good for nothing-as say"
But it was unlike Vincent to be bitter
1t was only recently-only recently
that he had changed.
And meantime Vincent Dilkley was
plodding through the various stages of
his days drudgery in the heat and dust
of the city. The schools were about to
close and the drain upon his attention
and time, patience and nerves was heav
Ter now than ever.
1t was toward the middle of the after
noon when he assembled the stems of n
large house on the upper part of Madi-
son avenue. 1t had temporarily n par
TALLY dismantled appearance, as though
in anticipation of an early vacancy.
Lowered awnings tempered the light.
There was cool fragrance of flowers in
the rooms which Dilklcy entered, some
what dazzled by the glare outside.
A girl had been standing near one of
the windows. She wore soft. pale
blue dress drawn in by satin ribbon
that bound her round young waist.
Her golden hair made nimbus about her
head.
"You are late," she said, half appeal
hgly. She had put out slim, high
bred little hand, but Vincent Dilkley
had not seemed to see it.
III was Detained" he said briefly. q"
He began settling her drawing board
and pencils.
care you quite ready to begin, MISS
Wilton" he asked tremendously. he
had glanced about the room.
sab, Miss Hersy 10 not chaperoninp
me to-day" said the young girl petu.
lantly. She sat down and took up her
pencils with the wakefulness of a child.
The drawing lesson began IN silence.
TO the invisible third looking on il
would have made in itself pretty pic.
ture. The girl with her delicate dress
and her still more delicate fairness; the
dark man standing over her with that
refined look on his face; the beautiful
room with its rare pictures, its great
bowls of roses, its soft, rich darkened
GOODNESS. The sounds from the street
came in vaguely through the open win.
dows robbed of their harshness. They
did not seem to wreck the stiffness which
wrapped the man and girl in magic
mentel.
Vincent Dilkley felt the perilous
sweetness OF this nearness falling over
him like spell. BE moved anerlly.
BE cold and rough to her, indeed
Heavens How else was he to keep his
own control2
Suddenly, as he bent forward to make
correction, he saw the little hand hold
ing the pencil stop unsteadily. The next
instant Nina Wilton had turned her head
away and he was aware that she was
crying.