Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-11-01
you will allow mo to wish you many
hnnnY rniurna of Tho dnv ~

Inalneu III my company mucn longer,
felt convinced it would have resulted
in my contracting new one. How
delightful it would have been, I
thought, to nsk him to mako ono of
orr littlo dinner-party that evening.
What charm would his interesting
conversation provo to my wife, whose
knowledge of tho world, like my own,
was unfortunately not based on very
extensive personal experience. With
an indistinct intention Of acting upon
this hnlfformed idea, / rose from my
seat and pcGred through tho carriage
door, but the man had gono out of
sight, and 1 sat down again with u
feeling akin TO disappointment. In
ten more minutes, however, L was Mt
my own Htopping.place, with my
thoughts and steps both homeward
turned. The brightness Of the even
ing and the lightness of my heart made
my step quicker and more elastic than
usual.
"My DEAR" I said, gayly, to my
wife, when ] reached home, "you
know what to-day is?"
''Our wedding.day." was her quick
response.
eyes," / said, returning her kiss
"anl I've got little surprise for you
in the shape of smull present 10 mark
tho day."
] knew it would be welcome nows.
"You dear creature, how kind OF
you'll exclaimed my wife, simply
clapping her hands in delighted OK
citcmeht "I am so inquisitive nj
ready. Tell me, what is it,"
"5cc for YOURSELF" said, handing
her the bag and my bunch of keys Mt
the same time. "Unlock the bag and
SEQ what it contains"
1t was n happy moment I stood n
little apart to watch the expression of
her face rs she picked out tho key and
pressed il into tho lock, and if over /
felt proud of my action of my own, /
did then. | would havo gone miles
for such IN effect; and although
knew that in the purchase of these
trinliets Ind made big hole in my
none too largo banking account,
felt that [ was more than justified in
mourning the expense.
''Whnt arc you waiting for?' I
asked, presently, rs my wife seemed
long timo turning the key.
ar cant move !" she replied, af-
ter several futile attempts to fit the
key into the lock-
"Givo it to mel" L said, and took
bunch and bag from her.
How tirosomc / supposed was
whatever the reason, ] was no moro
successful than she. wrigglcd and
twisted until got myself into state
of perspiration, but all 10 no purpose.
The key wouldn't perform its Office.
1t was either too big or too little.
albeit it had always hitherto fitted
easily enough. / examined the bng.
Yes, that seemed ali right, although it
certainly did look n triile moro shabby
thun I had imagined it to be-
"rhcre must be some dust in tho
key !" said, after several futile Mt.
tcmpts to turn it. My vito immedi-
ntely produced pin, and we picked
both lock and key, but with no better
result.
This was annoying, to say the least
of it. Already my little surprise was
robbed of half its effect, and the eager
look OH my wife's face was getting
tinged with disappointment. But tho
thing should not be wholly spoilnd by
such II trillng, oecn.rcence. The pres
Tent was in the bag, and my vito must
have it ut once. 1t would lose Lalf its
value by waiting. Tho only course
open under the circumstances was to
burst the bag open, and this I ut
onoo proceeded to do. Grasping it
firmly in both hands, 1 give two or
three sharp wrenches, aud with n jerk
it came asundcr. | saw in moment
it was not mine. My railway com.
panion had evidently taken my bag in
mistake for his own, aud I, of course,
had got his. 1t was an unfortunate
error, anyhow, and might take days to
rectify.
OF course, [ had to toll my wife all
about my companion of the railway
carriage, in order that she might I'M
derstand how the mistake occurred,
and rs I recounted to her what could
~ wv VI tuO COn-
versation which had SO fascinated mo
and won my attachment to tho enter
tanning stranger, my wife's face lit up
with unwonted interest, and l moro
than ever regretted not carrying out
my half-formed intention of asking
him home.
AS spoke I recollccted about the
jewels, and wondered what the owner S
feelings would be on discovering his
loss. The awkward part of The affair
was that, although [ had told tho
gentleman good deal OF my private
affairs. [ had not disclosed to him
either my name or address, nor had
he impaired his to me, therefore tho
idea of direct communication could
not be entertained What would be
best to do hardly knew.
My wife's womanly interest in tho
jewels was naturally great, and as my
curiosity Was also considerably
aroused, wo decided that we would
empty the bag in order to have look
at them. We began to do SO Mt once.
At the top was quantity of paper,