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


myself now. Miss Nancy" declared
Octayia, as she came down to break
fast. In pink mo ning-dress. not at
all suitable to her light complexion
and red hair. "Pa ant afford TO keep
hired housekeepe, now I'm at homo.
so you had best 10 k out for another
situation. OF course we could give you
references for honesty, and so forth"
and Octavia jingled the teaspoons In
the cups, and took her place at the
head of the table with flourish of
trumpets, as II were.
Great was the surprise OF Farmer
Mavis when Octavia informed him that
Miss Nancy was going away.
Going away!" he repeated. staring
half stupidity at his daughter.
That's what | said. amt it?" snap
ped Octavia, tartly. Going away. She
knows you don't need two housekeep-
ers; and now I'm here, of course it's
my place.
So there was no help for It, and
Farmer Mavis harnessed up the horse,
and helped Miss Nancy into the spring
wagon.
That's the last of her, thank good
ness!" muttereu Octavia to herself
when old Dapple had trotted out OF
sight; "and I'd give Viney hor walk
ing-papers, too, II 1t wasn't that
really need somebody to do the heft OF
the kitchen work. But I'll teach her
to know her place. She's no better
than servant-girl. II she is pas niece.
And Nuhnn L.,
the visit he promised l shall keep her
ont OF his sight or of course she'd be
asserting her cap for him when she
knows how rich he ls."
The sun had slipped quite out OF
sight in the crimson west, and night
hawks and bats were fitting about I'm
search of their prey. when the sound
of wheels was heard in the lane, and
old Dapple came trotting into sight as
briskly as If he had been In the pas
ture all day, instead of travelling
twenty-four miles to and from tho
railroad station.
Pas come!" announced Octavia.
sailing out to the back porch, whore
Viney sat, with dropping head and
aching heart. sighing over the happ>
days that were gone forever. And
good gracious. he's brought Mlsa
Nancy back agaln!" she cried, snap
pishly. as two figures came up the
walk in the purple cleaning.
"Oh. no. Octavy. haint brought
Miss Nancy back!" returned her
father. good naturedly. This here's
my wife. Mrs. jeremiah Mevis. |
hadn't no use for two houseSeepers,
you know" he added with SLY
twinkle in his eye. so | concluded TO
keep Nancy"
Octavia tossed her head. and nounced
off to her own room.
II won't stand i'll" she declared TO
herself. "I'll marry Archie Grey, and
snap my fingers at pa and all the rest
of them"
She went sultily down to breakfast
the next morning, without deigning
q glance at her stcpmother, who sat at
the head of the table. pouring out cof-
fee. Her father seemed in high spirits.
wal, 0ctavy, II you can't be the
housekeeper. you kin soon hev Viney's
place. l reckon" he remarked, with
twinkling eyes. "One weddin' makes
many, they say; an she's a-goin' to be
married afore long"
Married."
Octavia was thunderstruck.
YES" said Farmer Mavis, while
Viney blushed like n brier-rose.
"Archie Grey has been a-comin' to see
her off an on fur n good spell now;
an yesterday we met him nigh the par
sonage, an he asked me plump out for
Viney. So l said reckon l could
spare her. seein you was home now.
to take her place"
Viney made pretty, dimpled, blush
ing little bride, but Octavia is an old
maid still.