Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-05-16

sits down on the sofa. AS he does
this two things attract his atten.
ton, the first small linen handker.
chief with the initials &C. M
which he picks up. He brushes it
lightly over his lips, puts it in his
pocket with sardonic smile, say
ing: "This shall he my treasure
trove." Now it must be seen that
this mans fancy was pleased with
Clara's beauty, yet his heart was not
touched; he was one Of the hand
some male flirts who prided himself
on being heart-whole. His fancy
could be captured, but his heart
never. The second article was a
violin. He took it ont of the case.
thinking it belonged to his host,
and softly begins to play, at the
same time thinking of Clara. Care
lessly throwing back his head he
plays and sings this verse:
"The dew drops are dripping from the
lime,
My white dovc's breast must bear no
stain of crime,
Press your lips to my lips this one last
time"
Arthur McArnold, with all your
careless grace and sarcastic smiles, |
do believe some spell is upon you.
do believe you have read something
of your coming fate in the moment
you looked into Clara Maning's
eyes, and Clara, what of her? Is she
thinking of the handsome stranger?
Yes. In her room she could hear
the music and knew it was the white.
shapely hand OF the stranger that
was making those soft, sweet sounds;
he mingled with her dreams, it SEEM
ed she could see those soft, brown
eyes with a sad look in them watch
ing her still. At last she dreamed
the stranger had fallen down some
steep mountain and lay at her feet
with a deep cut above his left tenn
pie. In her dream she stopped down
and brushed the thick black hair
away from the wound and saw the
blood streaming across his face. With
shudder she awoke, saying: "Why
should / dream of him? do hone
he will leave early in the morning."
Sunday morning dawned clear and
bright. Truly it was a pretty sight
to see the sun rising over the hills
and tree tops, and Arthur McArnold
stood at his window looking across
the Valley of Sunset, and as was his
habit, began talking to himself:
"Who would think such a beautiful
spot of this old earth was hid away
few people to see it? BY George!
that girl l saw last night might
well belong to this place, but who
would expect to find such beauty
away out here? l am beginning to
think it is the unexpected that hap
pens to me lately. / am tired of
travelling, so believe I'll stay here.
A day or two cannot make any diff
ference to me-" so IL o'clock found
him walking lightly and gracefully
beside the wide, swift stream that
ran through the Valley of Sunset.
In the distance he heard a bell send
ing out its strong, steady sounds,
inviting the old and young, rich
and poor, to come to the house OF
God and worship in spirit and in
truth their Maker.
McArnold turned and looked in
the direction of the chapel. Ten
minutes of brisk walking and he
was at the door of the little church
He paused as though expecting tC
see the usher appear to pilot hin
up the aisle, then remembering b,
was not in New York, he wen
quietly in and sat on the back seat
The first words that fell on his ear
were the words of the text: "The Lore
lovetha q cheerful giver." "Great Scott
the same old story. Wherever ! g
they all have money for their tex
and sermon. | do wonder how mucl
money that tall, yellow-skinued in
dividual expects to drain from thi
sickly-looking crowd ? l wonde
what they do with all the none
they demand? / believe this oil
world is becoming more skeptica
and that confounded cry for none
is keeping thousands away from tn
church" So busy with his ow
thoughts was he that he did nc
hear word of the sermon until i
loud voice the minister said: are
) member it is to God you are giving
: Count all the benefits you receiy
, from God, then count what you Civ
| to God. o! the difference. Lore
Lord! give us purer minds and pure
!, hearts, that We may feel it priv
! lege to give to Thy cause. Who wi
be the first to give somethingw Oh
. Naming was the first and he gay
= ten dollars, three or four Other
! gave five, some three, two and on,
about fifty-fve dollars was raiset