Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-12-21

w Dccu IOTCCu
&C lament moro thnr
once, calais, that
this should be! The days of on,
pence have gone"
Brother Cox felt tho trouble more
than the other members of tho com
munity. for he knew that he was
partly responsible for it. To thinl,
that his nephew, his only brothers
son, should come out to Hillsboro, and
in these few short months raised such
connection among the people!
But there WAS redeeming virtue in
tho young man which Brother Cox
dwelt upon with feeling of relief.
Before the saucy fnce and blue eyes of
Ella Strattan were seen in Hillsboro
Jack Cox was MS quiet and lemure MS
the most conservative Quaker.
True, ho only attended meetings
once weeil and then it was gener-
ally out of respect for his uncle but
he never entered into tho gay life
which Ind since shocked the sensibili-
ties of the Quakcrs.
Naturally, Brother Cox took per
sonnl dislike to the new tenants of the
deserted cottage OH the outskirts of
the fillage, and he could scarcely con-
ceal his disapproval of tho young
girls actions. He felt convinced that
she was Mt the bottom of all the tsvl-
BILE. sasFss
Her snowy iress pink Shet.iSs Blue
eyes and ripping laugh teis ge,tssi
the world too strong fot fine aay efs
to enjoy.
"Shc belongs to Hiesworld +, Brother
Cox said one day, aa he passed her.
".Sho has no rightf1oHt here among
orr peaceful people. 1T will be we'll
for us when she leaves"
They were only summer tenants,
and consisted simply of Mrs. Stratton,
her daughter, and two servants. They
did not exhibit much wealth OF finery,
but to the plain Quakers their dress
and general appearance seemed alto
gether out of propriety.
Then tho way ELLA laughed, and
tramped over the fields on foot or
rode on horseback, shocked the good
housewives. Jack Cox had known the
family in the city, and he soon joined
Ella i'll these rides and walks
1t was from such simple beginning
That the trouble arose. The old en-
ticement of woman had led the young
man astray, and he was soon looked
upon as being as great q sinner rs the
fair temptress.
The two wepo practically ostracizcd
in the community, and the upright
Quakers passed them with only nod
and simple word of greeting. Ella only
wondered, but Jack shrugged his
shoulders.
Brother Cox was inclined to be moro
.lenient than the others. His fields
stretched nearly out to the cottage of
the STATIONS, and he would often stop
in his work to glance Mt the red house.
One day he paused in his labors, and
looked up TO discover the bright face
of Ella Stratton. She was leaning on
the fence which separated the two
grounds.
''Don't You get tired-of work, Mr..
Cox?" she asked, in n sweet voice. ST
do, dreadfully, and you are older than
Fan"
The good Quaker Strengthened him
self up to his full six feet. He was
still tine-looking man of fifty, with
gray locks, calm, noble face and
dark eyes.
"Work keeps lis from mischief"
he answered seriously.
81 know that, and / suppose you
think l ought to be at work now, and
not standing here to bother you, she
replied.
SIT would BIO better for you," was
the rather unexpected reply.
Tho girls cheeks colored n little at
tho ungallant words, but she asked,
denurely: "Do you think I'm so very
wicked?"
"Yo are of the world and worldly
minded. I cannot Judge thee, but
thy actions have not my approval"
ooh, what do / do that you don't
like?" she asked, in penitent voice.
"You know that have been brought
mp so, and how could know whnt to
do?"
"That isn't the question; ye can do
better now"
"Oh, would like to do better-so
much! Will you tell mo how? 1
should like so much to haze you, for
like ou."
This was snid in 80 artless and in,
nocent n tone that it went straight
home to the mans heart. As he
walked away from tho place five
minutes later he recalled the look
which accompanied the words. Such
face, such eyes, mouth and ex-
preston are not often seen in this
prosaic world, and Brother Cox should
be forgiven for thinking of them
again, and then again. He never
knew before how pretty and winning
the '''Stratton girl" was.
eff she was only OF our belief and
number" he muttered to himself.
"But 7 might try TO naka her one