Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-02-16

~. II
hours anda quarter by my watch did
he preach.
Poor old man! How sorry. I felt for
him as he ,wiped this perspiration from
his face and Numbered forth again.
Tho sermon was about Abraham and
Isaac, and 1 will bs honest and say
that IN spite of the length of his dis
course the simple old man drew tears,
from the congregation rs no pictured
the sublime faith of Abraham and his
trust in his God
1 declined the ride home in the old
carry-all and strolled homeward, mind
full of Mr.. Perkinss last instruction.
"Alind you're back in time for dinner.
We don't have but two meals on Sun
day" should have liked Miss Hazel's
company, but L fear it is too soon.
She might have refused.
So the happy care-free days go on.
1t does not take long for Hazel and
mo to become the best of friends
Such walks rs we take; Hazel, with
her big red Irish setter, and myself.
We fish, not in the shallow brook that
runs through the meadow, but further
down, where the little brook has
widened into quito stream.
When have been there about three
weeks Uncle Lauton comes down and
develops as much activity rs myself.
lie does not seem to know what fatigue
means and tramps in all directions.
Instead of staying two days he stays n
week, and leaves i'll the best of spirits.
"I'll be down agnin before you come
hnnnT'' or Inc Il.
train starts.
Yes, ho docs como. He comes every
Friday and stays until Monday or
Tuesday. How he enjoys it'll 1t does
me good to watch him. One morning
Hazel (Which Hazel" L have chris
tened her) and | so out for stroll.
She carries book Of poems under
her arm and know where wo shnll
stop. There is grassy sent under the
willows and near the Witch's ford, rs
Hazel calls the stepping stones.
Witch Hazel throws her broad
hrimmed hat on the grass md opening
tho book hands it to me. I always do
the reading while she pulls the clover
heads and listens silently. To-day she
has handed me Tonnyson, open Mt those
iio"i III III NcthOs, SONIC OF tno most
beautiful lines ever written, L think
Break, break, break.
On thy cold, gray stones, sea-
And would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in mol
look up and say: "Hazcl, love
you" She springs to her feet.
"Mr. Lauton!'
s'1ndocd [ do Hazel" as rise from
my place Mt her feet.
AT this sho retreats or rather Mt
tempts it, but J. am in the way and sho
turns TO tho Witch's ford. The stones
are slippery from recent rains. She is
trembling and slips when in the mid
die. OF course she could not drown.
but she could soil tho dainty muslin
dress and spoil the pretty slippers so
| take her i'll my arms and carry her
back. Sho struggles to free herself,
but will not let her go until she an
swers me.
Finally she gives in md says:
II do love you, Harry. There Docs
thnt sntisfy you, you silly boy?" with
wondrously tender look from the
bright brown eyes.
Tho next day finds us at the Same
place, and MS we throw ourselves on
the bank, sho with her head on Maps
neck, she says:
"Harry, where will VIC live when wo
are married?"
[ start. Mnrriedl I SEQ I have n
hard task before me. She does not
seem to understand that this is merely
summer pastime. How ignorant these
country girls are.
My dear little girl, putting my arm
around her, "why look forward to the
morrow? Let it take care of itself"
eyes; but we will be married some
day. You know"
Listen, Hazel" say gravely. 81
am i'll no position to marry now. Let
us love each other this summer. We
will enjoy every minute of the time :;
but when l go back to town we mnst
forget this. You will marry some one
some day who is worthy of you"
"Mr. Lauton Harry !" with pite-
GUS look.
know it would never do to give in,
SO l say, firmly: "I mean it, dear.
We will be happy this summer and not
look forward to the winter"
"Ileave me, she says, imperiously.
81 want to be alone and think"
try to kiss her, but she waves me
back. "Not now" with shake of her
head, and L so up.the path. am still
where L can see her and hear us she
talks to Nap.
"He doesn't love us, Nap. He was
only amusing himself. He doesn't care
bit how much he hurts us. Oh, Nap !
Nap J" and she puts her face down on
the dog and cries bitterly.
This makes me feel very uncomfort-
able. J. have just started toward her
when she raises her head, looks at the
dog and says: 81 have IN idea, Nap,
n brilliant one. No, I am not going to
tell it to you," rs the dog wags his
tail in sympathy; "but We will get
even with him, Nap, or am not Hazel