Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-02-07

Puuity una maze MIN fng Tor them
bigger boys simply ignored him.
Grown to manhood there was but
little change in him. IFS juniors
I q'H'aDbed him and voted nmr.sG1to]-::.
his seniors for the most pait imposed
upon him. lilo submitted to it all
with tho best possible grace, glad only
to DO taken notice of in any way, and
apparently considering that it was tho
only thing ho could expect Then, as
though lifo itself, rs it stood, did not
hold sufficient bitterness for him, he
fell in lovo.
lie must hGvo known from tbs very
iirst that it was all hopeless, and that
it could at the best only disturb his
peace of mind. But he went on,
nevertheless, in his own dull, stupid
fashion, content only to touch her
hand occasionally, to get q sort of
second-rate smile from her. 1t is
probable that there was no thought of
any future In his mind.
Howould turnup quite unexpectedly
at any place to which lie knew she
would be going. He would linger
about ncrvously and unhappily in
corners, so that he might have the op-
portunity OF looking at her. lie
seemed to ask for nothing more.
He would carry parcels and run
messages for tho pretty child she
was but little more-and considered
himself well paid if he received only T.
smile in return.
Onco she was i'll, aud he scarcely
left the house in which she lay until
she was we'll again. He haunted it by
day; no fingered about aimlessly ut
night. He ruined himself by his Law
lsh purchases oil flowers and hot-house
fruit.
When ut last one summer dav he
was told thai eho was convalescent.
and that sho would sec him, lie felt
that heaven was within sight.
lilo was shown out INTO garden,
where sho was seated in great chair,
with oil her delicate beauty thrown
into stronger relief by the whito bear
skin rug against which che leaned.
She looked SO pale and weak that,
II anything could have increased his
love for hor, her appearance alone
would have dono it.
You have been very kind, Mr..
Tucker" she said in low voice. "and
l am very grateful. You have done
so much for me, and your flowers have
been with mo every day."
There were tears in her brown ewes
as she finished speaking and held ont
her hand to him. Then it was that
William Tucker made tho ono chief
mistake OF his life, and, in stammer-
ing utterances, tried to tell her of tho
emotion which possessed him. But
she stayed him with light hand upon
his lips.
II nm m oro grateful even than be-
FORE she said slowly, "but YOU offer
me u gut which L cannot accept. I
cannot tell you how sorry am or how
much believe in oil that you have
told me. But love another man.
and love him very dearly"
He was silent for few moments
standing there with his eyes cast upon
the ground like scolded gcboolbov
But he looked up at last, with some.
thing Of smile breaking across the
whiteness of his face
81 might have known" he said
slewly; 81 might have known, above
oil things, that it is not for such man
as am to snatch so great prize. 1
might have known that it was the best
and wisest thing for me to remain
only your friend-only your faithful
dog, who may try to DO of service to
you sometimes. Can you forgive me
sufficiently to let me still hold that
place in your thonghts?"
VI shall hope that you will be nv
very good friend always, Mr.. Tucker"
she said gently. 81 am to marry
Lieutenant Lacey. she uld have told
you before"
believe me, am very glad" he
replied. 81 am only dull dog, but
should be a poor sort of fellow in
deed If l did not appreciate your kind.
ness and your confidence"
Thereafter tho dull, stupid, com
monplace man showed so delicate a
tact, and was also SO cheerfulIy gener-
GUS to the man who had taken the
place he had hoped to occupy, that
she grew to have q regard for him that
was almost like that of a younger sis
ter for brother in whom she implic-
lilly believed and trusted. For his
part, he was proud OF the position.
and would not have lost 1T for any.
thing else that the world mioht oAcar