Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-04-26

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poctedly to tho door. 1t was the post
master for the key. Peter cried out,
"Coming. I'll attend to iti' And
in his furry dropped the three letters
on tho floor, and left the envelopes on
tho table. Tho postmaster departed
with trustful Cali right" He picked
them up again. trombling with fright,
for the carrier WIS waiting below.
"1Irs. Browns letter." he said,
examining it into its envelope.
"Mustn't seal that. All, what's this
A valentine?" 1t was hideous one
IA skeleton female, with n hump back,
sewing on machine" D1r. Tommy
Traddles had sent it to his six-year-
old sister for tho righteous purpose of
making her mad"
Then he picked up nn envelope.
"Mliss Pitcairn. That sewing girl.
This is for her, of course" no said.
sealing it up.
Then he crammed Nelson's love-let-
ter into Annie Traddlo's envelope. and
went down to unlock his drawer
Whereupon Cupid, i'll high ecstasy,
saw TINT hideous valentino wing It's
way.
She sat ut her window watching for
it. She walled eagerly. At last the
carrier appeared in sight, stopped ut
tho grocery, stopped at the Traddles',
stopped ut Mrs. Smiths, and then
came right to her own door. slfiss
Pitcairn" he shouted, aud tossed tho
missivc into her hands, and was of
again.
She flew to her bedroom and snt
down upon tho floor, and kissed tho
envelope, and opened it daintily with
her scissors, and swoored away.
81 wnnt to die, said Mamie, Creep
ing upon her bed after she catne to
herself. "Ob, want to die" But
death did not come to hcr-only su.
pine sort of sorrow woven in and out
OF her life, into her eating and Sleep
ing-into her work and her church
going, for she went to church, though
not to Mrs. Ruthuen's pew. From
that day she never spoke to mother or
son, but fled their approach in n kind
OF horror; and fled tho villngo Mt Inst,
finding work i'll great city.
Nelson Ruthvon thought it was her
way of saying "No," aud tried to bear
it. lie did rot notice how littlo ton
ycnr-old Annie TraddIes walked past
his shop, giving him baby-loyo glanccs.
Ho did not notice anything. lilo
worked and said nothing.
Ii even Cousin Peter had known of
tho trouble he had cnused 1 hardly
think his stolen money would have
given him my comfort.
Ono dry Nelson bado his mother
goodbye, and started from home.
He only told her of business pros
poet, but she suspected more. Sho
looked after him tcarlully.
"What could have como betw cen
that girl and Nclson?" she said.
And just then she saw litile Annie
Traddles running after her son.
She caught him Mt the depot, just MS
the cars were in sight, and held him
by his coat tails.
"A1r. Ruthvon," sho said, "are YOU
going away?"
eyes, Annie"
Then, MS he kissed her, she poutcd
and snid:
"You ought to be ashamed of your
self"
"I?" cried Nelson.
eyes, said Annie, 'to treat mo SO I
After asking mo to be your wife, never
to como and SEQ me! It's shame
Pm mad |"
"Did I ask you to be my wife p
sAid Nelson, STOPPING down, for she
was little even for her ten years.
"Well, grow up quick, and we'll see. u
'lll have you now, and go along"
sAid Annie. "Tom is such tease,
I've never let him see your letter, but
I've got it here"
Nelson snatchcd it, read it, and
cried: "Where did you got this?" SO
iierccly that Annie began to cry.
SIT came by the letter man." she
said, con Valentines day, and I'd
have answered, only I can't writo
yet"
SIN tho name of heaven, what does
this meant" said Nelson Then he
turned away from the train and Annie
Traddles and walked home. Some
how Mamie had never Ind his letter.
There was hope in that, at least. He
went alone to his room, passing his
wondering mother without word,
and locked himself in. The mystery
was arcns, but he saw light beyond it.
flo knew that Mamie had gone tt
New York, and ho also went thither
He searched for her vainly for long
long while, but Mt last pale face
Looked Mt him from n window ant
turned away, but not before he knew
it.
He ontered the door and climbed
tho stairs and raped. Some one nd
mittcd him. He hardly dared to raise
his eyes, but he felt that itw Annie,
md held out his hand.
"fhis lis quite unexpected, Mr..
Ruthven,@' ahe!said, but did not take
his hand. Then he looked Mt her, and
sho was so1pale and worn that his
heart tremkled. :
"Oh, Mamie, how can you be SC
cold to me?" he said out OF his heart.
ga least Lam not a .hypocritc," she
answered.
He knew she flung the name at him,
and he heard the pain in her voice.