Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-08-10

III TINT pretty country place where the
richest people were not very fashion
able, was not servant, but u young
lady-Mr. Rushton's only daughter
herself.
"What pretty little SOUL" he
Thought.
Then MS she turned her head, lie
wondered for moment whether some
body had just slapped her on the left
check, there was such singular mark
there, exactly like the scarlet print of
palm and lour fingers.
But that mark had been there nil
Fanny Rushtons life. and it was her
one grief, her perpetual tease and tor
ment. She hnd grown morbid about
1t in these enr'y days of womanhood,
md would willingly have been naycd
alive to he rid of it. But there we're
no cosmetics that could remove it,
There the red slap must he rs long
MS she brcnthcd, its hateful scarlet Mt
iracting the first glance from every
stranger.
"Alr. Rnshton Mt home?" said Luke
Robbins, with bow.
"Nes, said Fanny.
Then she nshcrcd Mr.. Robbins into
the pnrlor and went away; and in n
few moments the mill owner sauntcre,l
in.
Il wns business call, though not
made exactly in n business-like way.
There had been some delay of n trnin
ami the factory was closed when MIR
hobbins reached Mill Hollow; but
those few words about WOODEN siufrs
were easily snid, and the confidential
clerk of the New York firm of Rink A.
liawley knew TINT the manufactures
was man Of strict integrity. The
business was easily completed. and
then Luke Robbins rose to depart.
but you're PIT out of reckoning
by this delny, said the old gentleman,
and the hotel is II long way on, and
should he pleased to have you stay
over night with us. The wife ALWAYS
h"s one or two spare bedrooms. and
supper will be ready in fifteen minutes.
Let us have the pleasure of your cor
pnny."
"Thanks," said Luke Robbins
You 10, are very kind. feel tempted. j"
Then he thought of the pretty fnce
with the red slap upon the check.
Oespetc TINT slap ho wanted to sec il
again.
1t sat opposite to him ut supper
time.
The best and kindest fnce in the
world, he snid to himself dozen
times. And he did his best to win n
chat from the shy girl, who could not
forget her tormenting mark until they
sat III the twilight on the piazza after
ward. Then he discovered that she
could talk. AS it grew dark, and the
chickens chirrupel in the hedges, she
grew merrier and merricr.
Mrs Rushton had call from some
ncighbor and sat apart conversing.
MIR. Rushton, after many aminble
attempts to rouse himself, went sound
~ asleep.
Through The evening shadows Luke
saw the girls finely cut profile and
exqnisitely shaped head; and the
moon turned all to black and white
soon, and blottel out the red mark
And he sat rs close to her as he dared.
And her robin sweet voice charmed
him and what she said WAS bright and
fresh, aud he fell i'll love, as men do.
for IN hour.
Men actually do full in love for IN
honr. Women cannot do that. They
pretend to be fascinated very often.
but IS real or nothing with them nj
heart.
Poor little Fanny gave away her
heart that night in one whole lump.
t is always best to keep little piece,
II one can; but sometimes that is i'm.
possible.
ooh, what beautiful night!" said
Fanny, MS she stood on the porch with
her mother, after the gentleman had
retired. t:5uch fine breeze, and sucl
bright moon!'
"The mosquitoes do bite so dread
fully, though" said the mother, "and
It's qnite damp. We'd better retire.
L wonder whether your pa will he
suited with to .morrow's breakfast. lie
does ask visitors so unexpectedly"
Married forty and single twenty
take different views of life sometimes.
Fannie went to bed to dream of
Paradise; and the next day was all
happy in memory of parting pres
sure OF the hand, and whispered
nope that they might often meet
again.
"What pity that mark is, thought
yonng Robbins. ";She's n DARLING
li'tie thing. And I suppose that Rush,
Ton is very rich man. A young man
might do worse than he his son-in-
lnw.' Then, rs the car whirled him
away, he said TO himself, "What a pity
that mark is"
Nevertheless he went down to Mill
Hollow very often after that, and he
was with Fanny n great deal of tn,
time. Fanny's mother felt that though
illis snitor was not rich, he was elig
ible; and she knew that that red mark
WAS II disadvantage to her FANNY
fanny's papa was an honest, kindi,
old man, who loved his daughter
dearly.
Alone together the old people spok,
oi She probabilities.
"Hc certainly means sop,ath;n,. {,