Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-01-12

yonu the SlOplnS lawns stretched Il
wide cxpansc OF sea.
Mr.. and Mrs. Messenger were sim
pie unaffected people, devoted to their
children, and to Nancy, Mrs. NIessin-
gers young step-sister. They treated
her with II kind of revcrentinl tender
ness, chiefly due to tho fact tina. sire
was entirely dependent on them. And
i'll her turn, Nancy filled the place of n
loving elder sister to the tribe of little
ones, and of fricnd-in- chief TO her
gentle sistcr-in-law.
One sunny afternoon in early SUM-
MGR Mrs Messenger snt Mt the open
bay window Of the drawing room, read
ing. She was placid little lady, sell
dom ruilled i'll mind or temper, and
her sweet face and soft blue eyes were
pleasant 90 contemplate. The door
opened presently, and Nancy came in
rather slowly. Her expression was rs
sweet and gentle us her sisters, but
her great dark eyes and firmly cut
mouth and chin bore evidence of much
greater strength and individuality of
character. She came over to the win
dow and seated herself in low bas-
chair with M mir of constrnint.
81 have had IL letter from Jim," she
said.
eyes; l saw it OH the hnll table, "
replied Mary, laying down her book
''Docs he say when he is coming?"
eyes; he came by the same steam
ship MS the letter. lie will be here to-
morrow, [ suppose"
Nancy! really" asked Mary, look
ing almost excited. care you not
delightcd?"
"I-l-hayo IL confession to mnls,, :"
said Nancy, ncrvously, looking out
over the sen. 81 thought | loved jim
when he went out to India five years
ago, but WIS only seventeen then,
and did not realize what love meant.
We had known each other all our lives,
and mistook our friendship for love. "
when did you make this terrible
discovery" ask ed Mary, in distress.
81 have felt it dimly for year or
two, but what made it all clear to me
was Jim's last letter. saying that he
was coming home 1t filled me with
dismay and fear. l felt that [ simply
could not meet him MS his bethrothcd
wife, so l wrote last mail, and asked
him to release mo from my engage
ment"
"And what does he shy ?" Mary asked,
anXiously.
"Ho is delighted" said Nancy,
frightening. Gle says that his feel
ings have changed too
g always think of you in the future
MS his wife" sighed Mrs. Messenger,
whose mind was slow to welcome new
ideas. care you sure you aro wise,
dear?'
"Quito sure" Nancy answered,
firmly. "And you will break the news
gently to Ned, won't you? And please
get reconcilcdtot the arrangement soon.
feel so delightfully."- airy and freel"
'You never limited ut any change
before" said Mary, little repronch-
fully.
81 only knew it limly, or 1 might
have done So replied replied Nancy,
gently "And since 1 wrote to him |
have been silent, to spare you any
anxiety. / have felt it for the last
three years i'll writing to him. NY
letters have never been from the
present Nancy, but from the
Nancy ms conld remember her
ut seventeen. In fnct, 1 have been
writing down to the level of his in.
telligence rs shown in his letters, and
that level is painfully low. But hap
PLY, you see, he is as pleased to end
our engagement MS / am"
Gle would be much more likely to
object II he once saw YOU, said Mary,
frankly, ''for these five years have
done wonders with you in every way"
ooh, he is so boyish That he will
think me strong-minded, and therefore
dislike me-" said Nancy, laughingly.
And L did send him my last photo
graph, you know"
"Did you send that hideous thing ?"
asked Mary in surprise.
well, confessed Mary, rather re-
luctantly, 81 believe had some secret,
unconfessed hope that he would offer
to break off the engagement if he once
saw that hideous caricature. But here
comes Ned; L shall leave you TO ex-
plain things to him."
A day or two later Nancy started for
her usual afternoon walk along tho
cliffs. Since she had been released
from the engagement, which for some
years past had been weighing on her
spirit, she had been in state of ex-
hilaration which surprised her. The
world seemed wholly beautifully; life
was an unmixcd blessing; sin and
poverty were rarer than she had
thought. Walking quickly along,
absorbed in these pleasant reflections,
she did not hear footsteps behind her,
and was surprised at hearing herself
suddenly addressed. Looking up with
startled eyes she found q young man
gazing at her with puzzled, intent
expression in his handsome face.
You are Nancy, are you not?' he
SAID, doubtfully, holding out his hand
= "Why, Jim, is it really you?" asked
Nancy, regarding him with surprise
GLOW You have grown! When did You
come? and how did you find me?"
81 came two days ago." he said, red
dening slightly in irritation Mt her first