Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-08-03

iss my aunt. You see it iss the hiring
time, and she ISIS so busy then that one
of uss, my sister or me, comes to help
her with tho shop-it iss amusing,
too!''
every, ] should think, Claudia. An
uncommon name, Claudia, and not so
astounding either! Oh, good gra-
cious, what's up?"
The girl laughed as Mark righted
himself. His chair had broken through
the floor.
ut ISIS too shocking, tliss house, to
ask you into. Indeed, l am sorry for
you Mr.
Darlington, Clnudia-- clark PR
lington. And you mustn't say such
things. nm we'll content"
They went to chapel together in the
evening--Mr. Darlington, Mrs. Grit
fiths and Claudia. 1t was Marks sug-
gestion, and it seemed to raise him in
the postmistress's regard. After the
service, however, he had compensa-
ton. The rain had set i'll again. Mrs.
Grifliths locked the house door. The
three sat together until ten O'CLOCK.
The postmistrcss did not understand
English. Mark thanked heaven for it.
But she kept her eyes on him, and
even when, at Claudia's request, she
sanctioned the cignr for which her
guest was pining, sho watched the
smoke of it with nm expression that
was not exactly comforting.
"You must not mind aunt" whis-
pcrod Claudia ut that moment, when
the elder lady had left the room and
the girl was kneeling to use tho bel
lows to the reluctant fire. Her pretty
head touchod Marks arm while she
workcd--it was such very small
room. ".5ho iss stricter than uss
younger ones. Aud, besides, wass
two years with an English school, be-
cause my father he wass resolved his
children should know the English and
the Welsh-but speak it badly yet"
81 don't know when I've heard Eng
lish spoken so swcetlv," said Mark;
and he meant it.
His second day in Aboranllyn did
but confirm his earlier impressions
about this Welsh girl. He saw her
now i'll her role of busy worker, doing
everything that came i'll her way, and
doing it NIL with the most winsome
checrfulncss.
The shop was full of customers al-
most from daybrcak. 1t was odd whore
they came from, and also how they got
their money. But, us the girl said,
they mostly had six months wages in
their pockets and they meant TO spend
them quickly. Every one wanted
Clnudin. 1t annoyed Mark very
much to see how she was ut the dis
posal OF little girls of thirteen or four
teen who wished for ostrich feathers
anil sufphur-colored bonnets a foot
high, and snt down TO make sure she
did not forget their desires. And it
annoyed him most of nil to perceive
the cordial footing she was upon with
all the handsome young seafnring men
who dallied so long in the shop on
the pretcxt of letters, pipes or snuff.
He dined on tin salmon of nm indif-
ferent brand; but Claudia served it,
and Mt his request shared it with him.
She was not II bit troubled at being
asked To dine with him, but there was
just IL soupcon of Difference in her
manner, which made her all the more
charming.
Then she again took up her bonnets
and continued TO run between the
stop and Mr.. Parlington's room till
even Marks obdurate nature yearned
i'll pity for her.
"Will you not come out with me ?"
he asked. She excused herself with
smile. Tho bonnets and her aunt
were her plea; but Mark saw it in
her face that Il sense of propriety also
deferred her. Yet this same sense of
propriety did not prevent her sitting
with him for hour after hour in the
evening, while she worked by the
light OF one candle, and Mark smoked
cigar after cigar, and studied her face.
Mrs. Gritiiths came periodically to
peep ut them. She did not seem
pleased by her niece's conduct, but as
there was no relaxation in the bonnet
making she uttered no audible protest.
Somehow the talk took literary
turn. Claudia's father, who was a
trndesman in town at some distance,
was also preacher. The roll of paper
~ ITO iiuhNS VII tuc Will NuS one OF Ills
sermons. Claudia climbed the stairs
to fetch manuscript copy of the SER
mon the old gentleman had preached
in Aberenllyn only the last Sunday.
Mark read little of it, praised its
vigor (which was undeniable), set it
aside, and again turned his attention
to the girls gray eyes, which had al
most II morbid sparkle of beauty in
them by the candle light.
81 suppose, Claudia, you don't read
many novels?" he asked
"Nc, Mr.. Darlington, and it ISIS
strange yet that should not though
l cannot tell you altogether Why. But
when l wass very little girl my Uncle
Owen there took me upon hiss knees
and said [ wass never to read those
books, and | said would not. They
are wicked things, novels, Mr.. Par
linston, and put idle and vain thoughts
into girls minds"
81 myself am writer of novels,
Claudia" said Mark, stopping to SEQ
l,,,s