Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-03-20


leaving hardly property enough to
support my stepmother and the two
children that were here. Still, there
was sum set apart by my fathers will
for my education, and it had been
placedin the hands of my Aunt Dorcas,
who was to SEQ that it was properly
applied; and from that time | re-
garded my aunt MS my protector and
guide, and her house became my homo.
In those othor years there came n
beautiful girl sometimes to SEQ my
mother, and after my father died sho
lived with my mother all tho time.
She WAS my stepmother's niece and
her name was Leonora Carter. She
was not only the most beautiful girl |
had over seen, but she was ono of the
best.
Time wore on, and my freedom day
was close at hand. 1 had graduated
with honor, and my aunt was de-
lighted; and all that now remained
was for me to select what profession 1
would follow, and go into preparation
for it. During my stay at college 1
had correspondent with Loonora ms
often us was proper, and her love was
the polar star of my ambition.
Three months before | left college,
Leonora went away to visit n distant
relative, and was gons until hal
graduated. She returned fow days
before l did. But you will under.
stand that We did not return to tho
Same town. came home to my uunt's,
while LeonoIa lived with my step.
mother in the adjoining town. As
soon as | got homo l snt down aud
wrote long letter TO my love, telling
her that should DO ono-and-twonty
in n very few days; that [ was going
into business for myself, and that
wanted her to be my wife.
l posted tho letter and 10 answer
came. | waited week, and then |
wrote again. inquired if Miss Car
ter was at home. She was. wrote
n third letter; and ut the end of Il
third week L was still without m
answer
In the meantime l heard something
said about yonnS man of tho name
OF Johu Walworth, who boarded with
my stepmothcr. He and Leonara were
very much together, it had been said.
lie was handsome and accomplished,
and WAS doing an excellent business
and moro than one mother had thought
OF him as n good match for her mar
riaSeablc daughter. Good heavens
Was it possible? I sat down and wrote
once more. This letter I carefully
posted myself, and waited anxiously
for reply. 1 felt sure she would
send me some sort of word; but che
did not. | waited week, aud the
last spark of hope died.
forgot to say TINT when I came
homo from college l found my cousin,
Kitty, stopping with my aunt. She
was sixteen.
One day my aunt asked me to ride
over to Berkeley, and do some business
for her. told her l would, and at
the same time L resolved that would
call at my stepmother's and SEQ Leonoa.
While the groom was Harvesting the
horse Kitty declared that she would
go with me. Aunt was willing, and ]
could not object. So away we went
together, and MS We rode through tho
village of Berkeley we met Lsonora.
She was walking, and John Wnlworth
was by her side. I did not then re.
fleet that it was the dinner hour, and
that Walworth might have accidentally
fallen in with Leonora on his way tc
his meal. only thought of my I'M.
answered letters, and my soul wa.
filled with jealousy of the most poic.
nant kind. Kitty asked me whit wa,
the matter; l told her 1 had a head
ache, and she pitied me as only girl
like her can pity. And thought, n.
looked upon the happy face by my
side, "Wby not cast oil the the false
love, and take this in its place?' But
it was more easily said than done.
That old love was too deeply rooted to
be cast of.
1t was near the middle of the after.
noon when L called at my step
mothers. 1 know that Leonora wa,
in the parlor rs we came into the ward,
because / saw her arise and pass by
the window; but she had left the
room before I entered, and though ]
remained there an hour she did moi
mako her appearance. did not ask
for her. She knew that was in the
parlor, and yet she avoided me. Wa.
it not clear enough that 1 had lost
her?
l spoke with my step-mother about
John Walworth, and she praised him
in extravaSant terms.
AT the end of an hour 1 took nv
leave. Before calling for the horse
Kitty wished to go to the Postoffice
to see if there were any letters there
for her, as she had intended, wher
she left home, to spend some time a.
Berkley. We found the Office in on,
corner of John Walworth's store. III,
waited upon us. There were five
letters for my cousin.
l looked at Walworth, and he looked
Mt me. 1 fancied that he REGARDED m,
with feeling of triumph. In short
the look was not to be mistaken
What he detected in my face cannot
tell, though if he had thought hatet
him, he would not have been far ont n
the way.
One day Mr.. Dinsmore, friend o.
my aunt, called to see us. He wa.