Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-01-06

TINT has almost forgotten how to behave
in company. For Pm eighty years old,
and though you'd hardly believe it.
was young and gay once. I've sold the
manor house, subject only to my life.
lease, and my husband lost all his
Southern slaves when President Lincolp
sent out the Emancipation proclamation
but I've my string of golu beads left
yet, and Paulina shall have that to wear
at her wedding-Aunt Eunice's pres.
ent"
There was asecond's silence.
Mary flashed mischievous glance over
Aunt Eunice's head at her friend, ere
Paulina answered:
dear Aunt Eunicc, it is very kind OF
you, but couldn't think OF taking them
from you"
"But you must, my DEAR" insisted
the old lady with gentle chucklc.
TITS bad luck to come to a wedding
aud bling no present. And those gold
beads will be tie very thing for your
white neck. l shan't grudgc them to
you, dear. Nothing is too good for
richards bride, the s~eet-naturcd girl
who has asked her old aunt all the way
IRON 1ackensack to her bridal. IN
clasp them around your neck myself
when you have your wedding dress on. :"
"Thank you, Aunt Eunice," said
Pauline, smiling, while Mary signalcd to
her slyly, behind the old lady's back.
"Thcrc ! Didn't tell you so? Cousin
Higgins and the old aunt Rag tag Hall!
What wedding you'll havcl Oh,
there's no use hoping for floral bell
now. That sort of thing would be quite
out of place, ms plainly scc."
Ibid she give you the old gold bclds?'
said Richard Graham, when he came
that evening. "Bless the dear auntyl it
was all she had. But she's right. She
and Uuclc HARDWOOD were rich once,
though you'd never think it. And Pvc
always heard what beauty she was
when the century was young! You didn't
refuse them, Polly, hope?"
''Rcfusc themn echoed Paulina. uNo.
certainly not"
g rhnt's my own darling" said Rica.
ard. 81 know they're old. fashioned
things, but | wouldn't have Aunt Eunicc's
feeling hurt for the world"
"On," cried Mary Ncllis, lmpaticntlv.
"what geese you and Polly are! III
risk her feelings! Only to think that
I've been looking forward all these years
to Polly's wedding, and it's going to be
such Il two-pence half-penny affair, after
ALL"
Richard laughed.
"Wcll," said he, "if we're suited.
vino else has any right to find fault.
And when we have our silver wedding,
Polly and I, I'll show you floral bell
and 4 set of diamonds and all the pretty
things that my little girl deserves. Only
wait"
"Humph!" said the sconful Mary. ~
may wait forever for that"
The day of the wedding came. Cou-
sin Higgins brushed up lis well-worn
suit to nicely, tied his cxubcrant lawn
cravat in a c.au Brummel knot and put
on the furnished pearl stud that had
had Ec: his fathers before him.
81 couldn't do much for the Young
people, " said he, "but they'll find that
barrel o Pound Sweets that came by
express this mornin' as good an article
to pass round ut dinner time-or break.
fast, the fashionable folks call it, don't
they!-as they make nowadays"
And old Mrs. Graham EXCHANGED the
black lace cap with the three poppies
for Il white lace barbc of priceless old
Point de Vcnise, fastened by pins which
Mary Nellis said "loolled like real pearl
beads, but which, of course, couldn't
be-"
81 don't attend wedding every day."
said Aunt Eunice Graham, com placently.
The Ortons had sent nm etching of
"Thc Anyelus." The Ellingtons gave
nothing at all. The Falklands, of Phil
adelphia, dispatched five dollar pocket
handkerchief by mail. The Luceys sent
plush photograph album Mary Mel
lis's gift was II pretty lunch set OF double
damask linen.
"Sincc you like useful things so WE'LL"
said she, IN .l;ciously.
And iaulina was innOcently pleased
with all the offerings.
EVERY one is SO kind" said she.
"Ah, but think what you might have
had, sighed Mary, "if only YOU had
stood under floral bell and asked the
right sort of people"
AT the last moment there was DELAY.
Don't let Polly get married till |
come" called out Cousin Higgins. "pvc
been down stairs a-seein' to the opcnin'
OF that bar'l O. Pound Sweets. THEY'VE
all come In fust-rate order; and now I've
got to wash my hands. Sorry to keen
folks waitin' but"-bustling into the
room-''l'm ready now. Go ahead,
parsonm
''Stop minute" said Aunt Eunice.
moving forward, in her gentle, old lady
way; and then they saw that the gold
beads were gone from her skinny throat.
~ have to clasp my present around
richards wifes neck first"
Something flashed across the sunshine.
white and brilliant, like glitter of dew.
drops.
Diamonds gasped Mary Nelis, in
hysterical whisper. .'Ol, I'm not
dreaming, am II"
"The little gold cases do very we'll to
keep them in, said Aunt Eunice quietly.
3sNObo1u would th;nt, or 49,.