Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-05-30
THE VALLEY OF SUNSET.
IContinued from last issue.1
BY MRS. V. A. CHOWNING.


BY MRS. V. A. CHowNING.
The snow for long time had
been over the valley and each day
saw these two young people more
happy, but at last he said he had
just received letter from his sister
Stella, saying she was i'll aud wanted
to see him. "But before l 60 mus,
tell you of city," Clara was al
most stunned, the one word "away'
kept repeating itself over and over;
too well she knew she had given her
hearts first and best love to this
man aud now he was going and
would never know. Oh, why had he
ever come? That night, the last one
he would be with her, they we're
standing by the mantle. He took
her by the hand, led her to the sofa
and sat down.
SNOW, Clara, can you imagine a
city with only two people? 'Tis a
strange, sweet city and its name is
Love. You and inhabit it. love
you, sweet girl, with all my heart.
| know now | loved you the first
moment our eyes met. Dearest,
speak to me, hsve frightened youf
Look up, Clara, and tell me you
will try to love me-"
She raised her head and he read
his answer in her eyes. "Clara,
promise me when l come back you
will be my wife" "Yes, Arthur,
love you more than | can tell" lie
drew her close to him aud their lips
met in one long kiss.
The next morning Arthur Near
mold turned his back on the Valley
of Sunset and began his journey to
New York, but he had promised to
return in the spring aud claim Clara
for his bride, when they would be
married in the little church on the
hill and he would make the old
tavern his home as long as her
father lived, for Clara had said she
would never leave her father.
The engagement was soon noised
abroad and talked of throughout
the Valley. Some said they would
be handsome pair, others said the
man was bad at heart and he would
turn Clara's heart wrong with his
cold pride and one old woman, who
knew everything, said George Man
ing was fool to let his child en-
gage herself to that stranger as he
would never return. But no one
paid any attention to the old wo-
mans words and in spite of her
warning the people were looking
forward to spring when they would
see their favorite of all the Valley
in her bridal robes.
Six pretty girls were busy with
their white dresses to act as Clara's
bridesmaids. George Naming and
the old housekeeper held whispered
conversations, for his child must
look like an angel on her wedding
day. At last one morning Mrs.
Bennett called to Clara and when
she came in pointed to the dress
lying across chair.
The day before the one set for
the wedding all the young folks met
at the church and with ferns, flow
ers and white satin ribbon made the
little church look like fairy-land.
That evening Clara said: "Come,
Cap, let's 60 for a walk, Arthur
is coming tomorrow" Everything
Clara said to any one that day she
would be sure to end by saying:
"Arthur is coming tomorrow"
She put on her hat and. with her
faithful old dog, started down the
Valley. After sauntering along for
time she found herself at the foot
Of the steepest hill in the Valley and
looking up she saw man standing
at the top of the hill waving his
hat. o, the glad light that sprang
to her eyes as che recognized Ar
thur!
Slowly he began to pick bis way
down the rugged hill, but in his
hurry to reach Clara stepped upon a
loose piece of earth and fell down,
down, down, till he lay close to
Clara's feet. With a low moan she
knelt beside him and saw deep
cut above his left temple, the blood
streaming across his white face. He
opened his eyes and, seeing her
above him, drew her head down
close to his and feebly whispered to
her. At the words she started,
shuddered and turned pale. as death,
butrsat last said: s'God forgive me,
but even if what You say is true,
forgive you and must love you until
l die" He was growing weak and
with difficulty she heard him whis-
per-; "Clara, If you love me, press your
lips to my lips this one last time"
AS she complied with his request
Arthur McArnold's life went out.
How long she knelt there with