Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-08-16

lnBiy forfeit oil noDlo sentiments OF
mind and heart, and selfihly debase
himself and her pure young woman
Eoo6,
And she herself would make this
union possiblel
An overpowering losthing of herself
possessed her with The thought; o
terror che strove vainiy to control;
and tho pent up torrent of her dread
burst forth, sweeping her away upon
lite turbulent waves in paroxysms Of
despairing tears.
An atmosphere of feverish expect
auoy pervadod the usually quiet sur
roundlngs of the Post. People wore
hastily gathering from all quarters
upon tho little mound beside tho
church. The oil depot aud factory
were deserted, end tho wolfish dogs
might pass tho unguarded door and
drink their fill from the uncovered
watts of oil.
The missionary's tidy children JOS
tied with tho crowd of natives un-
noticed by their nurse. The baker
and brewer stood on tho Mission
house porch, putting vigorously at his
long Dutch pipe, while his little frau
beside him conversed oxcitedly with
the gardeners vito who leaned from
an open lattice.
a rising hum of eager voices came
from tho hillook where the throng of
dusky EsQuinaux was steadily in
creasing and every eye was strained
upon tho entrance to tho little bay.
The causo of this unusul agitation
had been signal gunshot from tho
hill, fired by tho sontry stationed
there to keep lookout for tho long
expected ship. 1t was to bring them
news from DER the sen, the history of
tho great worlds doings for o year /;
letters from relatives and friends,
presents and messages, supplies and
stores; their first intelligence for q
long twelve months. What wonder
then that they looked forward anxious
ly, counting tho months and weeks
and dnys and hours until tho time the
vessel might arrive.
And ono there was to whom it
brought bride. Ho was the young
est whito man ut tho post. Ho had
had her picture, brought through
winter SHOWS and stormy twilight by
the nntivo messenger who journeyed
over tho frozen channels with his
sledgo to the lower Missions, whero he
met tho factor of tho great company
buying frIrs, and who brought few
precious letters for tho Post forward.
/ mi Inv xviT1tnr
Two thousand miles tho print had
como by slodge, and every day the
young man studied it, noting the
charms of youthful oyes and mouth,
of rounded check and wavy hair,
specializing upon her character and
longing for, yet dreading thut mo-
mentous time when they should meet
to either love or hate.
Which would il be, and could he
gain her love? How should ho greet
her2 BE, a gawky youth, who, guard
cd in his school, nscetically trained,
hud no experience with tho other sex,
regarding them rs quito beyond his
ken, knew nothing of the pangs of
boyish love, aud ouly had crudo ab-
strnct idea of tho happiness, duties,
sacrifice md pain involved in the mys-
teries of married life.
The elder of tho Post had said tho
time was ripe for him to take wife.
Obodient to tho magnate of the church
ho had written, of dictation, his re-
quest.
And now the signal shot had let
thom know tho vessel bringing hor
was drawing near.
He left the store with speed, fled to
his room, bathed, combed and dressed
him in his best; looked at the photo
graph and put it back within its vel
vet cover next his heart, laughed an 4
half cried, and paced the polished
floor, and through the open window
nervously watched and waited for tho
coming ship.
The murmur of tho voices now in
creased and swelled into shouts of
"Gleanorakoot-a-ko-o-o-tl" and round
the precipitous point with white sails
set and pennnnts flying swept the
noble brig. The bay was dotted now
with bright kayaks, and volley on vol
ley rang from hundreu guns; the
church bell poaled, tho dogs got up n
howl and sang their word chorus lust
lily; flags fluttered bravely from the
Mission roofs and presently the briggs
signaling cannon doomed.
The novice hid his face within his
hands, with futtering heart of mingled
Joy and fear, and wished himself ten
thousand miles away.
4
A week had passed; the brig still
lay ut anchor in the bay.
Within his study tho Mission older
sat; his long gray beard falling in
tangled waves upon his breast.
His keen gray eyes were bent upon
the novice and the girl who stood TO-
spectfully waiting till he should
speak.
For forty years he had lived his
mission life, and his thoughts were
busy with that time long passed whom
he had been just snch another youth
and had obeyed just such call to
wed. His helpmate's s:lvery hair was
auburn then; her dear old wrinkled
face was smooth and fair. The chill.
dren of their love were scattered wide