Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-04-30
WHOLE NO. 2,7lO

the merit OF being true. Shall rive st,u
the ineideutSY"
IF you would be so kind, ! should t,e
extremely grateful"
Then here you are BY curious CO.
incidence. your name is that OF tho
heroine. and il is that fact which has
recalled everything to my mind"
llnrdinge proceeded with his tale. Tl3
dared not look at his visitor as he re.
'norseleSSly went on; perhaps Il was
wei he did not do so. as the iudescriba-
Ole agony which oversprcnd her features
would have acted upon his chiyairous
instincts and forced him 60 stop. But
ms he did not look i'm her direction ne
lid not notice this. and cruelty cona-
mcnced:
Some years ago-i forget hoty inaov
Ia young fellow, who was my chum at
oxford. spent his vacation at Milneld,
little village In the north. While there
fred--Fred Cover wns his name-mek
and fell In love With the wears daughs
ter. Annie Raleigh. They became ens
gagged, and shortly afterward be went
out 10 India, in order 10 represent his
fathers business hoiise IN cnlcHtta.
For some months o correspondence
passed between the two. but at length
Fred received word from soine friend
IN the village that the squire's son was
paying close attentions TO Miss Raleigh:
ana u was rumored that they were en-
gagged TO be mnrried. In az OF pas
sion. Fred wrote. breaking OFT the en-.
gagement, even before he reeeiteti anv
4 A
either stung by the letter. or the rtimof
was correct. as she did not reply, and
from that day he has never seen or
heard OF her. lie did not make any In
Puiries. he did not write 10 his In
formnnf, but simply waited at Cnls
cutia until he had set the business
affairs In order. lie then went Oft into
the hills. intending 10 lose himself
there, and cut himself Off from all
things which would bring to mind his
unfortunate love.
"Poor fellowi | often wonder whnt
has become OF him. lie has not writ
ten TO any OF his old friends, and Is. [
suppose, almost forgotten by all. But
really. Miss Raleigh" he added, turnl
ing TO her and noticing her agltcted
Il
get anything FOR your"
NO. thank you. Mr.. Hnrdnge. But
no doubt you will think me foolish
your story has quite upset me-"
i am nwfury sorry. would not have
related II had known. Dut why should
IL upset you?"
Well" said the lady. her pale lips
trembling, 81 nm the Annie RnlciRh YOU
have been speaking Of Fred dover
wns my lover. Poor Fred" she added.
mcdltativcly, "ard all through a mis-;
understanding"
"a MISUNDERSTANDING" said far.
dingc, In an ihcrcdulous tone. '1Iow
was that? Pardon my curiosity, but
NJ doubt you will understand why
should be curious"
We'll. ns you were a friend of his. and
knew one part OF the story, perhnps II
would bc IA well n yotf were nca audlii,ed
with the other part" She sighed deep-
ly and went on: ut il true that tho
S1ulre's son did pny me attentions. Ns
were busliy engaged in organizing soyn9
amateur -thcatricals at the time, and as
we were both taking prominent parts
we were thrown into each Others So
ciety great deal. But I was efSfireIy
faithful 10 Fred. and when Iiihtoh aid
make love 10 me promptly gave him
his arswer.
"But' j am sorry To say. tho idle
tongues OF the villagers had already
commented wnRging, md beard some
OF the rumof's. Then Frcd's petnlnnt
letter came. and felt 80 iiqued and Of
Tended at his suspccting me that did
not answer. At length the feeling
wore Oft, and wrote, explaining ali.
Euf the letter never reached It's des-
unat'on and was returned TO me.
Twelve months later ms father died;
and gradually I was forced 10 adopt
some means OF obtaining a living. and.
always having taste for literature. {
have tried 10 make my way in the lits
eTary world. Poor Fred. his petulance
and my pride ruined two lives, anu
afraid. But, Mr.. Hardinge," she said.
raising her sweet blue eyes; now suf<
fused with tears, "T have remained
faithful to my lovers memory
For heavens sake. Annie, look nS
mel" cried IIarCIinge. springing TO hia
feet end selling her hand. do you not
recognize me? Do you not know my
volce?"
Startled and surprised. the lady rose.
and, prompted by a sudden impulse,
gazcd into his eyes. She paled. drew
back, and then, in q voice of mingled
agony and delight, cried:
1T is-are my eyes decciving mel
no. IL cannot be-Fred Cover Is dead
and yet-oh. merclful heaven-it isl"
and ina ~ OF passionate tears she threw
herself upon his breast
lIardinge-or rather Gowcr-pressed
her closer to him, and in a sweet, Tow
voice consoied her, begging forgive
ness for all he had done.
"My life. my love. my All. Fate
strangely parted us. Fate has strangc-
y united us. Yon are mine now for
ever"
Forever" was the almost inaudibi6
reply. ms she raised her glistening eyes
TO his.-FitBits.
American Dried FSrufS