Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-11-08

II gave noe much trouble. sim Marsa
helped me. and
az see"
''My leg did hurt me quite little at
nrst but with frequent rests we had
gone a good distance. when suddenly
the path made n sharp bend TO one side
and widened out. We were In Sena
Julsa.
at was as II all life had suddenly de-
parted from the place. and my ears
were on the alert TO catch any sound Of
Joy or note Of welcome. None came.
however. Spellbound we stood and
watched the melancholy aspect.
."An at once loud groans came from a
neighboring cottage and then curses
and shouts OF delirious laughter. 1t
seemed as II bedlam. held in allegiance
by the lack of sound, had broken loose.
From every house there issued strange
noises, as OF souls struggling with their
death agonies, peals OF laughter and
curses. till the air was rent with the
horror of the plague and filed with the
Infection OF the pestilence.
Never did 1 work as 1 did In those
few awful days which followed. Their
memory l can never efface from my
mind, for even now often wake out OF
a deep sleep with Precipitation starting
at every pore, enduring again In fancy
the suffering of those terrible hours.
MARSH showed great courage and
soon developed into an ideal nurse,
dreading nothing, constantly by my
side, ministering to the many wants OF
hea
true woman. Shrinking from no
danger OF cOntagion, she never once
failed in consoling and giving rest.
And then came a time which can
never recall without trembling, for
Marsa herself was stricken at last, and
for days her life was in the balance.
Many and many a time 1 despaired OF
her life. but her constitution, though
wasted by the rayages OF disease, final
~ conquered, and had the pleasure of
seeing her daily grow more strong and
healthful. and not long after we were
able to leave the dismal scene Of sick
ness. for help had begun to arrive from
the surrounding villages as soon as the
nows OF the pestilence had spread.
eve were married here at Geneva
some days ago, and now, Annerly,
comes the reason 1 have told you this
story.
My mother, with her ridiculous no.
lions Of our rank, will never forgive
her son for this mesallIance, as she
would call It. She was earnestly look
ing forward to my union with the
Princess Elsa-in fact, IL has been her
chief hope for many years past. AS
yet she knows nothing OF Marsa, for I
have written her nothing. She arrives
tomorrow morning. telegraphed her.
Annerly, have l acted rlghtly?"
Here Annerly took his hands from
his trousers pockets, where they had
remained during the relation OF the
story, and calmly lit cigarette.
We'll" shouted n young guardsman
of the group, 'what did you tell him ~
Nothing" said Annerly.
"Nothingr'
why, my dear fellow, what would
you have told him; that he had done
rightr
"Of course would" rejoined the
other disgustedly.
An echo OF assent went around the
little circle.
Throwing away his cigarette, Annerly
put on his hat. walked over TO the door,
hesitated and then said:
Gentlemen. my little ruse worked bet
ter than ! knew. The Graf Won Alburg
figured under the more romantic title
of Tom Annerly. Ny wife, Mrs. Marsa
Annerly, looks forward with much
pleasure TO her first ball tomorrow
night, and shall take great pleasure
in introducing you ALL"
The door closed, the sound OF Toms
footsteps died slowly away, and the
little group regarded one another In
silence.
"By Jovew murmured the little
guRrdman.