Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-05-23
THE VALLEY OF SUNSET
Continued from last issue.l

/ ID MfSc. v. "A. OHOM IL.
After services were over McArnold
returned to the tavern with George
Naming. When they entered the
dining room Clara was sitting in 8
chair with Cap by her side. After
greeting them she turned to heI
father saying 81 was SO sorry to miss
going to church this morning. Just
think it is the first time since Mr.
Fielding has been with us. What
was his text, Father" "The preacher
was trying to raise money to pay the
debt off onr church and our new
friend, Mr.. McArnold, was kin /
enough to give us City dollars.
have been trying TO thank him all
the way home but my heart was 80
full | could not. Clara, my child,
can you thank him for me?" Then,
with her large beautiful eyes full of
tears, she turned and in her sweet
way SAID "Mr. McArnold, these poor
people have worked hard, indeed,
this year to pay our minister and
build the little chapel and ! thank
you for your gift" "Miss Naming,
| beg you not to mention it. Why,
father Fielding promised to remem-
Der me in his prayers and that is
worth cool thousand. Had known
you had the affair so much at heart
[ would have helped them even
more" After dinner old Naming
entertained McArnold by telling him
about the people he lived among but
after awhile excused himself to visit
one of his oldest neighbors who was
sick.
Left alone, McArnold began to
wonder what to talk about to this
girl and at last said al looked over
the valley this morning when the
sun was rising and it was something
beautiful. l really wish ] was an
artist that i could sketch this beau
tiful old valley" "Then, sir, YOU
are not an artist?" "No Miss, l have
no talent" pardon me, but think
you have talent, Judging from the
music you got out of fathers old
violin. You spoke of the valley being
pretty this morning, yet it is more
beautiful at sunset; you see it must
be, judging from its name. If the
weather continues the sunset will
be beautiful this evening and then
you can judge which is the prettiest,
the sunrise or sunset"
That evening not cloud appeared
to disturb the beauty of the sunset.
Arthur McArnold stood silent by
Clara Maning's side watching the
soft gentle rays fall lower and lower
when Clara exclaimed: "I some
times feel like I have left this world
and entered the beyond" McArnold
sighed and said: 81 can we'll believe
that, for never in my life did ever
behold any thing so holy and surperb.
Miss Naming, if / could think
that by my being better man j
would at last be rewarded by q life
so calm and beautiful as this, would
think such a reward we'll worth
striving for" "The girl, with her
beautiful eyes meeting his, answered
"while this is beautiful it is a sweet
comfort to know we are promised a
mansion in heaven and it will, I am
sure, be far more beautiful than this. {"
and. pointing to the sky above her,
she repeated these lines:
Brighter than this glorious sunset
Which delights this earthly chime;
Than the splendors of the dawning
Breaking Ger the hills of time,
Is the richness OF the radiance
OF the land beyond the sun,
Where the noble have their country.
When the work of life is done.
The two turned slowly and walked
to the house, when Clara said: 81
must confess / have often thought
of large cities and wondered if there
was anything in them to compare
with this dear old place." He looked
at her earnestly, then said. "Lady, as
sunlight to midnight, so is this valley
to a city. This is free, fresh, beauti-
full and joyous. One need never
know misery or heartacbe here. The
city is cramped, stihing-wicked, -
what is one mans loss is another's
gain. 1t is a hurry-skurry from the
cradle to the grave"
A few days later they were sitting
around the log fire in the parlor
when Clara walked to picture hang
ing on the wall and said "Mr. Nc
Arnold come and look at this aud l
defy you to ever again say there is
No hanninaeo in fba c;fvv Tko