Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-12-20

Fancy her Disappointment Aud, oh,
Alice. only think what II capital story
it will make for tho girls !"
Aud the two malicious young con-
spirntors giggled together in an costa
sy of glcc.
II was n cruel plot, but Alice and
Leila were very young, and had mover
known the onvencmed pangs of hope
deferred. That WAS their only ex-
cuse.
Miss Barley had finished her share
of the daily trendmill of lessons, day
or SO aftcrward, and had gone out to
get breath OF fresh air in the dreary
poplar walk Mt tho north cnd of the
house, when n ugh-looking little
boy, with frost-nipped fingers and
toes, and great black eyes, like those
of n gypsy, sided up to her and
slipped II folded bit of paper into her
hand.
| al was told TO give it to you, miss"
said he, and vanished like human
squirrel into the strawberries.
Ruth Barley looked after him in
some surprise, and then she opened
tho note. in it were printed, III rude
imitation OF Roman letters, the
words:
"In the old place beside the Chapel
Pond ut . tonight. John Bates has
returned"
Miss Barley grew very pale; then
the blood rushed III II scnlding torrent
through every vein in her body.
John Bates Was she dreaming? Or
was the thread Of That sweet old love
story to be taken up again Mt the old
place, just where it had broken off
seven long years ago?
Rnth's heart beat, her breath came
quickly, aud sense OF wild exultuticn
filled her soul. For it never once oc-
Cured to her that all this might be
only II hoax.
Chapel Pond was deep, glittering
sheet OF water lying III tho heart of
the woods about II quarter OF mile
away, and deriving its name from the
step rocks which walled il in on three
sides, which were supposed to bear
some Resemblance 10 the gothic pill
lars OF chapel. On the fourth side
tho woods fringed the shore, and close
by was secluded dell wliero the VIC.
lets blossomed earliest i'll the SPRING
time, aud great clusters of maidcnhair
fern grew in rich profusion.
How happy Ruth Barley had been
then, in the old days, before her lover
went away--how wretchcd nfterward
She pressed the crumplod bit of
paper to her lips again and again.
sob, she murnured to herself. al
am tho hnppiost woman in the world
What right have I to expect It scclnl
blossominG time i'll my life? And yet
it has couc."
Half tho girls Mt Applcuooll Scmin-
AIRY had been let into tho secret OF this
excellent joke and were Watching
Miss barley from ono vantage point or
another, rs SHE threw black Shetland
shawl over her head and slipped out
of the house just when the hands of
the old clock III tho hall were near u
quarter to Q.
1t was still mid evening, with The
moon Mt the full; Que could almost
hear The GurglinS of the little brook
outside.
Some laughed MS tho door closed
softly behind the littlo goyerness, who
fondly supposed herself to DO I'M
noticed; some whispered, ono or two
looked grave.
Only the other teachers gossiping
around there, and Nine. Appleton her
sell, writing letters i'll her sanctum,
remained i'll ignorance OF what was GO.
ing on.
Little Louise Bclvillc started to her
feet
Girls" she cried, 'Il's too bnd
It's crucl-that's what it is 1t shnll
not go on I'll run after her, md tell
her the whole thing is dccoitr"
But Leila Wharton pulled her back
MS she was springina to open thc door.
cts too late" said she. ''You
couldn't overtakc her now. And it is
such n splendid joke! Just wait until
you SEQ the expression OF her face
when she comes back. We shall be
avenged for all OF Barlcycorn's
vici0usncss now !"
Slowly the furnished minute
hand Of the venerable clock Travelled
around the dial. Nine o'clock came,
hnlf-past nineteen. Still no Miss
Barley returned,
The goyerness on duty for thai par
ticular evening, one Miss Pussley,
with eyes that looked different ways,
rose up with yawn mt last.
Time for evening prayer aud bed,
girls" said she.
ooh, not yeti" pleaded tho girls
with one accord.
And each had some special reason
to give for desiring five minutes more
delay.
"It's past hours already" said Miss
Pugslcy, "anti--"
just then the door opened; Miss
Barley came in.
But instead of pale, discounted
face, she wore n most radiant ASPECT.
Her eyes sparklod, her cheeks wero
crimsoned with an unusual glow. She
went up to Miss Pugsley (who was n
good soul, although not fair to look
UPON, and Alice Fortoscue could hear
her say in low tones
"Dear Harriet. congratulate me.
NV lover Inns cOnop hoci, on1 ua oro