Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-03-31


SI5SsSA and her frock is yell
IMZlllSsI3 WAlow and brown, with
lN4SSlGl NJ pins here and there
SSseA=@ foot long and when
NJ they are not in use
~ she keeps them in
u her hat, through
which she stabs them far down into her
brain. This makes me shudder; but so
is she constructed that it does not seem
to hurt, and in that human pincushiou
the daggers remain until it is time for
her to put on her jacket again.
She comes here occasionally (always
looking as If she had been born afresh
that morning) to sit In the big chair
and discuss what sort of girl she Is,
with other matters of moment. When
she suddenly filings herself forward
clasping her hands on her knee-and
says, "Oh" know that she has re.
membered something which must out
at once or endanger her health; any
whether it be az don't believe in any.
body or anything-therc! or s.Why do
we die so soon2" or 81 buy chocolate
drops by the half pound" am expect
ed to regard it, for the time being, as
one of the biggest things of tho day.
allow her, but no other, to mend nv
fire; and some Of her most profound
thoughts have come to her with Jerk
while holding the poker. However, she
is not always serious, for, though her
face is often so wistful that to be within
yard of it is too close for safety, she
sometimes jests gleefully, clapping her
hands; but l never laugh, rather continue
smoking hard; and this she Every
properly puts DOM to my lack of hui
NOR. The reason we get on together SO
we'll is because l treat her exactly as if
she were man, as per agreement.
Ours is platonic friendship, or, at
least, was, for she went off half an hour
ago with her head in the mir.
After only one glance in the mirror,
she had spread herself out in the big
chair, which seems to one to put its arms
round her. Then this jumped out:
"And had thought you SO trust
worthy" (she always begins in the
middle.)
"What have doneG" 1 asked, though
knew.
yesterday" she said; "when YOU
put me into that cab. Oh, you didn't
do it, but you tried to-"
"Do what?"
She screwed her mouth, whereupon I
smoked hard, lest should attempt to
do 1t again. But she would have an
answer.
"Alen are all alike" she said indic-
nantly.
"And you actually Think broke
out bitterly, "that if did mediate such
an act Qor one brief moment) was
yielding TO the wretched impulses to
which other men give way! Miss Gun
nings, do you know me no better than
that2
~ don't see what you mean," she
replied. (Her directncss is sometimes
little annoying.)
/ wagged my head mournfully and
there cnsued pause, for did not quito
know what meant myself.
"What do you mean2" she asked more
gently, my face showing her that was
deeply hurt-not angry, but hurt.
l laid my pipe on the mantelpiece
and, speaking very sadly, proved to her
that had nothing in common with other
young men, though forget now how
proved it. If I seemed to act as they
did my motives were quite different and.
therefore, should be judged from
another standpoint. Also looked upon
her as q child, while 1 felt very old
there are six years between us).
"And now" said !, with emotion. uas
you still think that tried toto do it
fiom the wretched ordinary motive
(namely, because wanted to-, 1 suppose
you and l must part. 1 have explained
the affair to you because it Is painful to
me to be misunderstood. Goodby: I
shall always think of you with extreme
regard"
Despite an apparent effort to control
it, my voice broke. Then she gave way.
She put her hand into mine, and. with
tears in her eyes, asked me to forgive
her, which 1 did.
This little incident it was that showed
her how different I am from other men.
and led to the drawing up OF our pla.
tonic agreement, which we signed, so to
speak, that afternoon over the poker.
promised to be to her such friend as I
am to Mr.. Thomson; even undertook,
if necessary, to scold her though she
cried (as shs limited she should probably
dog, and she WAS to see that it was for
her good, just as Thomson sees it when
scsld him.
II shall have to call you 'Mary.'n
~ don't see that"
"Yes, it is customary among real
friends. They expect it of each other.n
/ was not looking her in the face, so
cannot tell how sho took this at first.
However, after she mad eaten chocolate
drop in silence, she said:
"But you don't call Mr.. Thomson ty
bis Christian name2"
"Certainly do"
not2"
tHe would be extremely pained.s
''What is his Christian name2r
"Thomson's Christian name9 Oh. his
Christian name. Thomson's Christ;on