Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-11-28
Harry's Majority
BY DAGNEY MAJOR.

I y.
breakfast was laid for three. AT the
head of the table sat Miss PrIs-
el'ia Payne sweet, gray haired
woman, with what Is termed a
good face, though lined with
care and trouble. Yes; the bowl
OF happiness was low when her shAre
was ladled out. There was gentle
Took of resignation In her face, which
was the reelection OF brave heart.
She frightened up as she heard n
quick, light footstep. and her niece,
Jessie Burton. sweetly pretty girl
OF about IS summers, entered the
room.
"Good-morning. auntiei Is Harry
downT' she asked. kissing her guard
i'm.
NO, dear; but he soon will be, I'm
sure lie can only have one twenty
first birthday"
Many letters for him2" A.
"A few; one is from Australia"
"Auntie," said the girl. suddenly,
with n tinge Of lovely color flaming
her checks, "I-I-have something to
tell you"
Jessie"
30, aunue, I am sure you haven't
notion"
MY dear. your face convinces me
that my conclusion il correct. Come
here and let your old aunt whisper it.:
Harry has proposed and you have ac-
cepted him"
"How did you knowP" circulated
Jessie. "Yes, he proposed last night
Aren't you going TO congratulate me2"
Yes, yes, darling. May you be
very. very happy" and she kissed her
niece lovingly. Are you quite sure.
Jessie, that you love him, and thnt
there Is nothing that would prevent
you from marrying7"
Jessie replied by look that indd-
Gated such a question was entirely un-
necessary.
"Hou know. dear, was In love once,
and some one was fond OF me, but
but-things went wrong. Some tnaV
you shall hear the story, dear, then
you will understand how Il In I am
80 anxious about you. All, here is
Hnrryl"
AZ That moment handsome young
fellow entered the room. Josaie ran
and kissed him, and led him TO her
aunt who was smiling through tears
OF happiness and sorrow-sorrow he
cause she foroSaw "A bitter parting with
Jessie.
After oft-repeeted congratulations
and many happy returns, irarry w'esa
permitted 20 open his letters. The
gist Of the ono from Australia ran as
follows:
MY Dear Son: trust you viii receive
this on the day you attain your majority
Now that you have arrived az an age Of dia-
erection, wish YOU 20 know as much OF my
history as l. necessary. Pray. my
dear son. do not think hardly OF mo.
All have done have done for the best
! have instructed that good man.
Rev William Nayand. your guardian and
counselor all these years, 10 tell ,sou aH
much as no thinks NJ. He viii soc
the lawyers for you After to-day you viii
bo able 20 draw 81 500 a year This
VIII continue until my death when all
nave goes 10 you. Wishing YOU all
happiness, my dear boy. Your most ar
fectlonato FATHER"
Harry read this through twice, amid
strange feeling of uneasiness and
Z emotion II was the first letter he had
ever received from his father. He
sat down, looking rather pale, crush
ing the letter in his hand. Was his
three months of perfect happiness at
this house 10 be mhrredi by some hor-
rible revelation? He trusted not.
Somehow or other he thought of
James Barton, his rival.
Miss Payne had taken n great fancy
TO Harry when they first met. two
years ago, and hes had latterly been
staying with her and Jessie, with the
inevitable result that he fell head over
ears in love with her pretty face.
My guardian, Rev William Nay
land, will be calling TO see me to-day.
Miss Payne" he said at length, "about
some business matters. And, Jessie,"
he broke off, 81 should like TO see
you in the garden after breakfast"
The meal having concluded, with
painful evidence that things had gone
ntwist, Harry strolled into the gar
den with her.
Darling. what is It? What is the
matter?" she asked, gently nesting
up To him. Something has gone
wrong, and who should share your
trouble with you but ~"
The doubts and perplexities which
entangled his mind for moment
seemed to oyerwhelm him, then, with
out a word he took the girl in his
strong arms and held her closely to
him.
Jessie" he began falteringIy at
last, 'h-if-there should be anything
that might come between our mar
riage, don't think too hardly of me.
If there be secret in my family, and
have kept it from you, believe me
when 1 say that it was through no
fault of mine. 1 had no intention to
deceive"
80, Harryl Harry!" sobbed Jessie,
now thoroughly alarmed. II don't
know what you mean, indeed don't"
she concluded, with a food Of tears, and
nothing would comfort her till She
had sobbed out her heart to her aunt.
That afternoon, Rev. William Nay
land called, and was closeted with Har-
+ ry for nearly an hour. Harry had the