Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-01-31
,fore. And all who witnessed this


attempt of hers were. wonder struck
by the extraordinary powers OF fas.
cination which she could discover at
will. Poor little Bob's simple, COM
monplace talk stood no chance against
tho new and attractive brilliancy of
Alice's conversation. Armloigh list
ened to her with delight. He was
clearly impressed. An intellectual
man himself, no could appI eciate in
tellectual talk, especially when il was
set off by sweet and musical voice.
Then, too, the whole expression OF her
face seemed changed. Tho calm i'm
mobility, which usually had graced it,
was there no longer. 1t had given way
to new and radiant vivacity. In her
Dyes, when she addressed Armleigh,
shono brilliant something, which
almost looked like q challenge. To
meet that look from such quar-
ter, and not to feel the pulse quicken
and the heart leap, would have de-
marded superhuman restraint Ronald
Armleigh had many fine qualities, but
restraint of this description was not
nmong them. He was clearly being
fascinated by this new development in
Aiice's charms.
T. What 'pcople" say is not always OF
much moment. They are given to
speaking without knowledge and eriti-
cising without judgment. But what
people said upon this particular
matter did have some groundwork Of
reason and good sense. They asserted
that if Alice Baines had taken this line
in. tho first instance, nobody could
have found fault with her. 1t would
then have resolved itself into
contest between the two sisters for
prize to which neither had greater
claim than tho other. But to have
acted rs she had done, to have taken
no pains originally to strengthen her
hold upon Armleigh, to have let her.
childish sister s affections becomedeep-
ly engaged with him, and then, when
he was on the point of making that
childish sister happy by declaration,
to use every effort to draw him back
to herself-at tho risk of wrecking
poor Bob's happiness, and, perhaps,
breaking her hoart-why, this was as
cruel thing ms jealousy, in its most
extreme form, could devise. Such
conduct toward friend would have
been odious toward q sister it was
shameful, objectionable. Heaven
grant the effect might meet with thai
failure which it handsomely mcrited
Heaven, however, did not grant it.
The effort proved successful. Bobs
white face and miserable expression
betrayed that, long before Armleigh's
engagement to Alice was announced,
Bob's little dream of happiness was
over. Alice had dissipated it finally
and forever But twas not merely
tho loss of her lover. though this was
chief, but also her sisters conduct in
the matter, which cut Bob to the
heart. Until this unhappy affair, Bob
had experienced nothing save tho ten
!. derest kindness, tho most caressTt.
T. avg from Alice. And thep-on q
sAaaeh-to be SO treated by Iner, it was
M .nc.mrrraG.. s4e5arssiblo 90 it was un.
natural and cruel.
Only once had Bob ventured on n
timid remonstrance. Alice had an
swored her thus. hardly, and almost
with scorn:
why were you not happy and con-
tent with Gerald? Gerald is far moro
suited to you than Ronald Armleigh
You would never have made Ronald
happy"
Bob had burst into tears ut this un :
feeling rotort, and, without apology or
any attempt ut solace, Alice had left
the room. No other word on the sub
| iect passed between them.
Tho Gerald of whom Alice had
spoken was an old admirer of childish
Bob's, and, until Armleigh's appear
ance, had been that young lady's first
favorite. He lacked all Armleigh's
brilliance of manner and distinction
of bearing. AS love maker he was
his hopeless inferior. Many people
called him stupid. That lie was not.
If rather slow of speech and silent of
temperament lie had plenty of good
sound sense, and, withal, possessed a
kind, true heart and,loyal disposition,
which far outwcighed his external dis.
qualifications. Everyone could see
that he was devoted to Bob. Bob had
liked, had oven been very fond OF him.
She might, perhaps. have thought that
she loved him, had not Ronald Arm
leigh taught her what love really was.
But now her eyes were opened. She
knew love now. She know, also-ho "
many have known it thhs?-that Will,
tho loss of her beloved had gone from
her tho capacity of that first sweet
sentiment; that It's sublime inspira
tions, its deep intensity, its pure de-
light, would never throb in her quick
ened pulses again.
Bob did not feel bitter against her
sister. She scarcely felt indignant
she was simply crushed end broken.
All who saw her hollow eyes, her sad
fnce. her dispirited bearing, were
struck with pity for the poor child.
Alice alono remained obdurate, and,
so far as could be seen, unfecliug. 1T
was unlike what Alice had ever been
before. until this miserable affair. But
her obduracy was easily explained.
Those Of us who have wronged our
dear ones nro the last to betray pity
for them in their suflcrings. For those
very suEerings are our own condamno.