Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-04-19

that the dresses destroyed were velvet
and satin, and tho money lost come
thousands at least and being mean
and contemplate person, was disposed
TO be. very amiable to Ruth Edward
In consequence.
A little while after, Clifford called
aSa!n at the store-and again and
again. AZ last he saw Ruth In neat az.
elio, pretty with knots of ribbon. trim
with bright belts and snowy cuffs. and
aainty CATERS. And though sbe never
looked sweeter to him than she did
tnat night in her ragged dress. and
with her wet hair blown about ber
iaco,, whom no frat saw her. ho eaw
now how proud my man might DO OF
nor. lie did not measure his worth
by cllars, as his father did. and tbe
worthy grocer had beon yerv oconom. :
ioal IN the matter Of poor GffHord's ed:
ucatlon. Now he had fallen in love.
no pegan to wish lie knew more
could DO or be something better. The
idea that he conferred favor on her
because sho was poor, aud he was or
would BIO rich, never entered his hon.
est mind.
But no wont whore he could SEQ her
Otter, and asked her to walk with him
OF bright evenings, and took her now
and then to SEQ play, and carried her
aowers; and Mt Inst, ono evening told
her that he loved her, and asked her
to be his vito. When he did that, she
burst into tears, and told him by way
of answer oil her story.
Her botrothed husband, Jaolk Perry.
had left her three years before; he
was sailor, and sho had waited and
waited, but he had nover como again.
Ho might DO dond, but she could not
believe it. "And," she said, "whilo
believe he livos can lovo no other
man. I'm fond of you. You'd make
mo happy, l know; but must be true
to Jack. Forgive me, il give YOU
pain. I'm MS fond of you rs n sister
could BIO, but-but you arc not Jack. /"
mo, I'm not jack" said Clifford
sadly, "and I'll not trouble you any
more. but just DO your friend still, If
you'll let me-"
lilo kept his promise for year. In
1t changes camo to pass. The grocer
died, and he was his own master. lie
was lonely, for he had no other rola
tive. Tho house seemed desolnte. md
he used to think how Ruth's presence
there would brighten it. Ho saw her
growing sweeter and swooter and
dearor to him every day, and so ho
spoke again.
"Aro you waiting for Jack still 2"
he said.
Sho answered.: 81 nm always wait.
ing"
Lilo was her friend again rs no had
boon, but ho could not think of INV
other faco by tho fireslde OF his homo,
nor did no seek to place one there.
Weeks slipped away and months. An
other year, then. AS tho holiday
time was coming on, aud people were
trimming up their dwellings, with
evergreen and holly, no took her q
great nrmful of fragrant branches for
her little room, and meeting her faco
to face, saw u look in her eyes that he
had mover seen before. Ho took her
hand in his and held it, and her check
flushed. He bcnt his head low and
kissed her mouth.
'Aro you waiting for jack still ?"
no asked softly. She answered.
II havo waited long, long whilo.
1 shall never forget Jack; but"
but you'll remember mo a little"
When they parted Clifford thought
himself the happiest man on earth, for
Ruth had promised to marry him in
week.
Tho afternoon before ho went to
SEQ her, and thoy spent long and
happy hour together.
morrow sho would be his-to-
morrow--to- morrow Flo told her
oil his plans for their life together.
AT last no arose to go.
Ills hand was on tho lntch, and he
had kissed her, when there came
knock upon tho door. He opened it.
a man stood there. in sailors dress,
bronzed, Drowned with wind and
weather, who opened his lips to sneak
stopped with the words upon his
lips, and uttered low cry. 1t was
echoed by Ruth-Ruth, who tore her
hand away from Clifford, and screamed:
cts jack My Godl it's Jack,
como back! !"
o"SN' N'iAOlu ucuTu UIut, anu knew
what it meant. His heart seemed to
turn to lump of stone.
Jack has como back to her /" he
repeated; and then remembering the
woman no loved moro than himself,
he spoke bravely:
"Good-by, Ruth. Don't mind me.
I'm glad you arc. happy"
Then he was gone, leaving them to-
gether. What was to have been his
wedding eve had como, and Clifford
lay cast down upon the carpet before
the blazing fire, with his head upon
his hands. If he had been woman.
he could have sobbcd. As it was. he
only moaned. He was thinking. Just
now tho clergyman's servant was
lighting the gas in the parlor to be
ready for them. and tho clergyman
was waiting and his good old wife.
just now, but for Jack, ho would
have tapped ut her door, and he
would have handed her into their car
riage, and they would havo driven to