Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1898-08-19
GETAWAYS WORK.

They are coming, Viney!"
Miss Nancy Crowfoot tucked her
ball OF blue yarn into her apron-pock-
ct, and shading her eyes with one
hand, looked down the lane. where tall
municipalities threw their long shad-
ows on the velvety grass.
Coming, Miss Nancy!" echoed q
sweet voice
And pretty Viney Mavis hastily
showed a gooseberry pie into the oven.
and came out on the back porch, with
Its drapery OF pink and violet-cupped
morning-glory vines.
She, too, gazed eagerly down the
long lane, and soon the sapphire-blue
eyes sparkled and the pink-tinted
cheeks broke into dimpling smiles.
It's them!" she cried Il could tell
old Dapple's jog-trot a mile away"
Viney had been up since peep of day.
when the first touch OF pink blushed
IN the eastern sky, and when the
thrush and the cat-bird were thrilling
their earliest morning peans.
She had MIXED the sleepy-looking
cows, their dew-laps still wet from
contact with dripping grass, and had
breakfast ready just as the crimson
sun was peeping over the cloud-capped
bluffs, lining the shores of the great
Father OF Waters.
Ii was an extraordinary occasion, as
Farmer Mavis was going to the rail-
road station, twelve miles distant, to
bring home his only daughter, Octavia.
from the boarding school.
Don't you bother yourself about
breakfast. Viney," said the farmer,
good-naturedly. as he lighted his cob
pipe at the kitchen fire. Il kin eat
snack, and hev breakfast when We git
home"
But Viney would not hear to IL. and
with her own hands she fried her
uncle's favorite pancakes. yellow with
eggs, poured his coffee. and set a glass
of fresh, sweet milk at his plate.
Dinner will be all ready when you
get back, uncle. so bring a good ap-
petite" she said, kissing him good-by.
1t was happy family that dwelt at
the old brown farmhouse.
Farmer Mavis was good nature per-
sonified, and Miss Nancy, the house
keeper, was a sweet-tempered old
maid; not so very old, either, for
youthful crinkles still lurked in her
soft brown hair, and her cheeks were
as rosy as a winter pear-main just
touched by the frost. She was q dis
tant connection of Farmer Mavis, and
had kept house for him ever since the
death of his wife, six years ago.
Viney was his niece, and was as dear
to him as an own daughter.
Great were the preparations which
were made for Octavia's Homecoming.
Miss Nancy had secured the windows
; and made up the plump bed, with fresh
! lavender-scented sheets and pillow
; slips, and the best homespun coverlet.
And Viney had cooked substantial
dinner-roast chicken and cream bis
cult, new potatoes and green peas and
caulifiower, with custard and goose
berry pie for dessert.
In the meantime, Octavia was on the
cars, speeding along at the rate of a
mile minute. She was sharp-feat-
ured, thin-lipped girl, with light hair,
and face as freckled as a turkeys egg.
II am going home TO keep house for
my pa" she had said, affectionately, to
her girl cronies. "To-be-sure, he has
a sort of relative keeping house now
an old maid-but / shall soon set her
adrift. l detest old maids!"
In due time Octavia reached home.
She bestowed cool nod on Miss Nancy
and touched Viney's finger-tips frig-
idly.
: Mercy on usl" she cried, in a thin.
high voice, as she entered the house.
Dinner at this hour? How horrid!
I fashioned hours?"
D Miss Nancy and viney stood aghast
/ at this unlookedfor reception.
1--WE had it earlier than usual on
s your account, Octavia," ventured her
t cousin. I'VE thought you might need
something"
Need something, indeed" shifted
p l0ctavia, with a sneer on her thin lips.
O DO you s'pose I've been starved where
I came from? BESIDES, l had lunch
on the cars. I'm going up to my room
to take nap now" she added. 1T
will be soon enough for dinner after
THAT" and she swu1g oct or the room
without waiting FOR reply.
wal, ef that don't beat ALL" grum-
Ibled Farmer Mavis, his honest blue
I Ieyes expanding with surprise. "Ef
lOctavy thinks we arc goin' TO wait for
her 20 nap afore VIC eat dinner. she
: kin think so. that's ~, Fetch along
1.-The coffee. visey.