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

bigger boys simply ignored him.
Grown TO manhood, there was but
little change in him. His juniors
sa'd'DDed him and voted rrrrr4-Snol:
his seniors for the most pant imposed
upon him. Ho submitted to IL all
with tho best possible grace. Glad only
to be taken notice of in any way. and
apparently considering that it was tho
only thing he could expect. Then, as
though life itself. rs it stood, did not
hold sufficient bitterness for him, he
fell in love.
He must hGvo known from tho very
first that 1t was all hopeless, and that
1t 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 a sort of
second-rGte smile from her. IL il
probable that there was no thought oil
any future In his mind.
Hewould turn up quite unexpectedly
at any place to which he knew she
would be going. He would lineer
about nervously and unhappily in
corners. so that he might have the on.
portunity of looking at her. lie
seemed to ask for nothing more.
lie would carry parcels and run
messages for the pretty child she
was but little more-and considered
himself well paid if he received only .
smile in return.
Once she was Ill, aud he scarcely
left the house III which she Law until
she was we'll again. He haunted il bv
day; he fingered about aimlesslv at
night lie ruined himself by his Law
lsh purchases OF flowers and hot-house
fruit. '''N
When at last one summer dav he
was told thai she was convalescent
and that she would see him, he felt
that heaven was within sight.
lie was shown out into a garden.
where she was seated in great chair
with all her delicate beauty thrown
into stronger relief by the white bear
skin rug against which che leaned
She looked so pale and weak that
II anything could have increased his
love for her, her appearance alone
would have done it.
'You have been very kind. Mr.
Tucker, she said in low voice. ssand
am very grateful. You have done
SO much for me, and your flowers have
peen with mo every day."
There were tears in her brown evas
as she finished speaking and held ont
her hand to him. Then it was that
William Tucker made the one chief
mistake OF his life, and, in stammer-
ing utterances, tried to tell her of the
emotion which possessed him. But
she stayed him with light hand upon
his lips.
Il am m ore grateful even than be-
fore, she said slowly, "but YOU offer
me gilt which 1 cannot accent 7
cannot tell you how sorry I am or how
much 1 believe in all that Won have
tol1 me. But L love another man,
and love him very dearly"
lie was silent for a few moments
standing there with his eyes cast upon
the ground like scolded scboolbov
But he looked up at last, with some
thing Of smile breaking across the
whiteness of his face.
II might have known" he said
slewly 81 might have known. above
oil things, that it is not for such a man
as am to snatch so great a prize. /
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 be of service to
you sometimes. Can you forgive me
sufficiently to let me still hold that
place IN your thonghts?"
Il shall hope that you will be nv
very good friend always, Mr.. Tucker"
she said gently. 81 am to marry
Lieutenant Lacey. / shcu ld have told
you before 'N
believe me, I am very glad" he
replied. 81 am only dull dog. but
l should be poor sort of fellow in
deed II / did not appreciate your kind.
ness and your confidence. "
Thereafter the dull, stupid. com
monplace man showed so delicate q
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 a regard for him that
was almost like that of a younger sis
ter for brother in whom she implic-
itly believed and trdsted. For his
part, he was proud of the position.
and would not have lost 1t for apv-
Ih'pg else that the world might offer.