Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-11-01

d make my partner n
little present in remembrance of the
event which had made us ono for life.
As L knew how much moro delightful
gift becomes when it is unexpected,
said nothing to my wife of my in.
tcntions, wishing to take her quite by
surprise. Tho accompanying nara
tive will. / think, show how comploto-
ly 7 succeeded in that endcayor.
My business lay in The city, whittier
it was my custom to travel every
morning from the quiet of little
suburban residence, returning home
IN time for II coy dinner in the early
evening. Ii was my invariablc prnc-
tice to carry with mo n small Glad
stoDo bag, and on tho day in question,
after plncing into this, along with Il
fow other things, tho articles hal
purchased for the purpose named, and
which consisted of gold bangle, n
pendant for the neck with ruby star
attached, and II small diamond brooch,
| took tram at Cannon street in the
very lightest OF spirits on my journey
home.
y
iirst-class carriage in which rode,
with my bng in hard. L was for timo
the only occupant Of tho compnrt-
mcnt. but rs the train was on tho
point of starting l WAS joined by a
person of very gcnilemanly exterior
faultlessly dressed, who stepped into
the carriage with an nir of some con-
Germ. Like myself, no carried n bug
n circumstances not Mt all striking in
itself, but noticeable on this OCCASION
by the solicitulc which it seemed To
cause its owner, who, seating himself
opposite to me, first put tho thing
under tho seat, then by his side, and
finally elected TO carry it rs / was do
ing mine.
1t WAS not long before we were in
conversation. The season Of the year
WINS late summer, and the subject
naturally suggesting itself was that
of holiday-mnlsing, My companion
had evidently travelled a great deal,
for ho discoursed huenily of journey
ings on the Continent, comprising I'D
ventures III tho Alps, trips up til,
Rhine, nrnl.%c..uursions into Italy. II,
,trdil, of the beauties OF tho Riviera, tn,
delights of Baden, and the glories o
Berlin, and waXcd enthusiastic over
the charms OF Continental women, tn,
fair girls of France, and the darl
beauties of Italy.
'But after all, there nre no wome1
like tho English, concluded my com
panion, more quietly; "they may laf
behind tho Continental girls in thu
matter of personal beauty, but dcpent
upon it they mako up for it in nj
other qualities.
This was quite in accordance will
my tastes. for my littlo wife Mt HON,
was, | am proud to sny, an Englisl
girl, and fully bore out his estimate
warmed to my companion Mt one,
on his saying this, and it was not lon.
before l had informed him a goot
deal about my private life; drawing
glowing picture of my country home
and tho little genius who, like NJ
angel, presided over it. He appeared
SO interested that even went n ste,
farther in the lightness of my hear
and told him not only that this wa
the anniversary of my wedding day
but TINT was intending to surpris,
my wifo on my return homo with
little unexpected present. In ex
change for this frankncss my compan
ion also became confidential.
"You hardly ,!i;nk," he said, speak
ing in low voice MS ho leaned owe
toward me, "that this bag which
hold in my hand contains jewelr,
worth close on 100000, would You
All, you look surprised And vet i
weighs but very little. Try It'll"
placed my own bag on the sea
beside me in order to take the one h,
offered me.
"Jeweis arc not necessarily heav,
articles" 1 said, balancing the bas
critically, which seemed no heayie,
than my own. But" added, smil
ing, while flutter passed through
my frame at holding it in INV hand
SO much wealth, sit is none too wis
to trust stranger with SO precious al
article MS this, is it?"
"Oh, l have no fear of you." h.
replied, with charming cnndor. "
sNinn L AHom rogue Wnen see one
In my line Of business have occasion
to mix with oil sorts of people, an.
nearly lifetime of experience hn
given me sufficient insight into tn
characters of men to be able almos
to Judge them at glance"
Wondering who my companio,
could be, but convinced in my owl
mind that he was some one of impor
lance, and fattered somewhat by hi
confidence, I handed him back tn
bag, which he placed on the seat be
side mine, and Immediately started nm
other run OF entertaining converse
ton. Considerably to my regret
this was interrupted ay tho train pull
ing up at station.
"Ah, here is my destination" sal
the stranger, rising at once and takin,
up his bag. "Good afternoon hon