Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-02-15

ho loyed, why
"!Miss Warrington, he said, hur-
riedly. "Miss Warrington, You aro
IN trouble OF some sort. Will You
tell me what it isl" Then, MS she did
not answer at once, his hand fell
heavily on her shoulder, and he add
ed, "For Cots sake, don't cry"
Gwen checked her sobs with IN
effort, and raised her tear-dimmcd
eyes to his face.
ooh Mr.. Hclms!cigii, she exclaimed,
81 am in great trouble, an,l---and you
are SO good and kind. II only you
could help me-"
Give me Il chance" Bob returned,
shortly. "'I'm u stupid sort of II chap,
| know; no good ut tall talk. Eut il
there's anything in the world T can do
for you, Ill do it. Do you believe
me?"
ooh, yes" answered Gwen, putting
out her hand to him will, IN impulsiya
gesture, while the tears brimmod
over aFrcsh.
Bob too:' the trembling lit;la hand
md held it iii II strong, close clasp a
clasp that seemed to carry help and
cohiiort WIN Al.
That's right, he said. "Now, let
me hear all about il. But don't cry
FOR PHYS sake, don't cry like that.
You'll send me mad if you do. Come.
dry your eyes"
Irs about Phil" Gwen went on,
mopping her eyes obedicntly. "Of
course, it's about Phil. oh, Mr.. Helm
sleigh. yoa have known Phil so much
longer than [ have, and you must I'M
derstand him better. Can YOU tell
me why he is SO so queer with me?"
This was somewhat of II facer. Bob
ran his fingers through his short dark
hair and drew Il deep breath
Don't you know?' he asked.
Gwen shook her head.
"No."
"WclI, I'm blessed if 7 do, said
Bob.
Gwen went on in low, hurried
tone.
"Phil has never been 60 me what
other girls lovers are to thom; but
don't know why. only wish did.
He seemed fond enough OF me before
we were engaged, but now--wcll, 0f,i
course the whole thing is1I miserable
falllirc. a! Il gets worse. 1t isn't
thnt Phil is unllind to me; he is Ms
kind md good and patient as II man
could be. He considers mo before
there is nothing he wouldn't
do for me, but--but tho doesn't love
me. That is the root of the whole
Her voice broke with Il pathetic lit
tie culver that went straight to Bob's
heart He looked down ut the child
ish forlorn figure, half lost in the big
lenthcr chair, and felt II wild impulse
to take it in his arms. But he re-
strained the impulse somehow
well" he said, ns quietly rs hc
could, cts riddle, isn't it: wish
could help You to read it, Old Phil
must be II luna;ic nothing less than Il
lunaiic"
"No," Gwen answered, sadly, "hc
is not n lunaiic far from it-bnt
there is something northumberland"
She looked up Mt Dob again, and laid
her hand lightly on his arm. Such
pretty little hanl. It looked like IL
snowflake on his rough coat sleeve.
"Will you do something for me-" she
asked; 81 know ] can trust you, and
you are Pills oldest friend but you
must say ii you mind very much"
Bob turncd his head away, for he
dared not meet her eyes just then. But
he took hold Of her hand and squeezed
it hard.
anything" he said.
90 Dhpu ~ (,,Vnu ,vnui ~,
find out from Phil what it is that has
como between us, and if | can do any
thing to put it right. / have tried
and failed. But yoa may succeed.
Will you try?"
eyes" said Bob, just rs he would
have said it, if she had asked him to go
to the other end OF tho world for her
That same evening he broached the
subject to Phil. 1t WAS rather big
fence to tackle, hut he shut his eyes
and rode hard ut it, going straight TO
tho point III his LAUNDERING, honest
way.
Phil hestatcd a little nj first, but in
tho end he told the truth.
"You sec, old chap" he said, "it's
like this. The whole affair is IL CHASTITY
mistake ali through. never pro
posed to Gwen Mt all.
Bob gave great start.
"You never proposed TO her ut all ?"
he echoed. "Ihen how, in Heavcn's
name, did yon get engaged?"
"Wcll," said Phil, addressing him
self to the fire, cit happened in this
way. You remember Charlie Thomp-
son of the til? Well, L was staying
down in Devonshre with him last
summer, and there met Gwen. She
took my fancy awfully at first, anl [
seemed to take hers; 50 we started q
Irritation, and that worked all right
until her sister Lilly appeared on the
scene. When saw her-Lily, / mean
i know L was done for. Sho's-shc's
different from other girls, somehow.
"Well, l soon made mp my mind to
ask her to marry me, but | was bit
shy about it, and. like fool, before
speaking TO her I thournt would fry