Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-04-30

years back when he was the happy
lover of young girl of IS. His mind
rambled for some time among those
days of long ago, and at length he rosa
aud opened u cabinet standing on hia
dressing table He rooted out a bundle
OF old letters, and from among them
took out a slightly-faded photograph:
IL was photo OF young lady. attlred
IN pure white dress. II was a dainty
iittre figure, slim and neat, with pair
OF laughing eyes. surmounted by a mass
Of beautiful hair.
He held II In his hand for some time
and gazed on Il ss though spellbound.
At length his lips parted, and in a voice
of agony he groaned:
"Oh, Annie, Annie. why were you not
true? oh, heaven. how loved you--
loved you with a love which was hy
very existence. / thougbt-fooi that /
wos-you loved me, too; but no, no. no.
you did not. was simply a toy-a toy
TO be played with-and when tired of
thrown ruthlessly aside. All, well, I
was FOOLISH 10 be entangled by q pretty
face; and yet--no-I WINS not. 4 man
( loves but once In his life, and truly
loved then. IL was destiny, destiny,
md shaped TO curious end. but surely
IL Is time had got over that feeling;
nnd yet. Annie. my blood rises at this
cold picture OF you, and ] love with
the same intensity rs OF yore. Those
were indeed happy days-tlayH when
lived In n fools pnradise.r lie laid the
photograph down and popjercd. IL
wonder where she Is now--tloes she
ever think of me-docs she feel any
pangs of regret? Possibly she thinks
me dead; perhaps II would be better II
| were so. She would not recognize me
now" and he carelcssly stroked his
beard.
lie put the photo back in the cabinet
and threw himself into his chair again.
But the gates OF memory had beer
opened, and in that night he lived again
the life OF years ago. lie rcveleJ In the
self-iorturo. and whipped with unspar-
ing hand the cruel sores which time
could never heal. and the deep groans
which occasionally burst from his COM
pressed lips revealed the ngony OF the
soul within.
When he arose from his chair and
went TO bed IL was four n. m.
IA lady wishes 10 see YOU. sir"
llardinge wns seated at his table with
n pile OF "d0ilics" before him. studying
with immovable face the press notices
OF his play. Lifting his eyes for n mo-
mcnt. he briefly exclaimed: "Ahi what
namci"
lie took the piece OF pasteboard hand
ed 10 him. and the color rose 10 his pn le
/ H..- 4 al. 4
VERY well. tell the Lady III see her.
Show her up"
Curious" he soliloquixcd, "none OF
these criticisms can raise the slightest
emotion. but that name" and lac
stopped.
a few moments later the lady en-
tered. and as he turned TO greet her
caught sight OF her face.
Good henvens!" he gasped. "'tis An
MEL" and then he became cool again.
lie offered her n chair, and. seeing
that she was Mt loss as To how she
should commence. opened the conver
! sntion.
$50. Miss Raleigh, you wish 70 inter.
view mc?"
81 am afraid ! cannot adequately ex.
press my sense of gratitude" she re-
piled, with n sweet smile, which caused
his heart TO bound again; "you are In.
deed too kind"
We'll, I am afraid you have chosen
rather n poor subject" said Hardinge:
''you see ! am hardly yet n celebrity.
but II l can assist you In any way
shall only be too pleased. Cross-cxam.
ire me as you like. for. as you know. IL
will he quite novel experience. as far
as am concerned"
THANK yen. Rut. Mr.. Uardnge. I
really don't know how TO commence. !
suppose l lad better jot down a few
particulars about your surroundings.
! etcetera."
She took out n notebook nnd a pen
I Gil. and. as she bent forward TO write.
Hnrdinge carefully scrutinized her
She was still the same sweet girl ne had
loved. True. she looked older, and N
great deal more serious, giving hisu the
impression that her life had not alto
gethcr been cast In pleasant places.
81 wonder how che came 10 this" he
Thought. 'IIer husband must either he
r. wastrel. or ne must be dead. and I'm
taking up literature she has gone back
TO her maiden name. All. well: | sup
pose ! ought to feel highly delighted 10
see ono who scorned me brought 40 this
state; but upon my word don't. My
heart goes out TO her again. How |
should like 10 know what has happened
during the last eight or nine years: and.
as Providence has placed the oppor
tunity In my power. will make bold
effort to fathom all before she leaves"
The interviewer looked up. and in
rather bcseehing tone said:
"Mr. Hardinge, ] have very crude idean
ss to how should go About this inter
view. ] wish you would give me few
Details about yourself. your work and
methods. and then perhaps could jot
down few particulars. which { could
weave together afteTward."
He smiled sadly. and then gave her
fhe Information required. She made
Some notes and then nj the corcl,,.so,,,