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

longed to be in some great city tc
live as others lived; she thought OF
, the theatre, music halls and lecture
, rooms, wondering how it would be
to live like those ladies who came to
her in summer time. Clara called to
her dog "Cap" and went out to hook
at the sunset" She stood looking Q
over the valley with far away look
in her eyes, then turning, this grrl of
eighteen summers threw her arms
around dear old Caps neck, saying
"Cap, wise old dog, look around at
this valley with the mellow shadows
over it aud tell me true, is there any
thing in the great cities as pretty
and charming As this?" The wise
old dog seemed to understands; he
looked around with his great serious
eyes, then shook his shaggy old
head as if 10 say-"nothing." With
a gentle pat on Caps head she
sighed and, turning quickly to return
to the house, slipped on some peb-
bles and fell. Her father, who was
looking at her, went quickly to her.
"Hurt Clara?" 81 think not, father.
only my foot just little spralned,"
but when she tried to walk she was
surprised to find she had to lean
nearly all her weight on her father.
lie helped her into the house and
then called the good old house keeper,
who, after examining the foot,
said, "Now, Miss Clara, you'll have
to be still for once in your life"
go, how long Mrs. Bennett?" ex-
claimed the girl. "Well, l think a
week, but surely out Of eighteen
years you may keep still just one
week, though, l must say It's CON-
fort to my old ears to hsrr you trip
ping about this OIL house. They
both stop talking to listen, as the
sound of Il horse coming down the
valley is plainly heard. Nearer and
nearer, bark! some one is calling the
stable boy. "Cone, boy, sleep al
ready" The house, keeper bustles
away after binding the sprained
ankle to put a few extra touches 10
the room intended for the traveller.
Old man Naming, as he is called,
goes out with a hearty, "Well friend,
come in, come in and I'll have your
supper brought at once" Clara gets
aglimpse of him as he enters and
thinks him a 6ne looking young
------i - 50 n a.A-.a-
of the room and as there was no
light, save that which flickered from
the log fire, she could without being
seen have a good look at this stranger.
He walked straight to the fire, took
off his wide hat and turned down the
collar of his great coat, rubbing his
hands together. He smiled, saying
in musing way, "Well Stella, so
far ] am safe and sound" Clara's
quick mind and bright eyes had de-
cided that this man was handsome
as it was possible for mortal man to
| be, only for slight sarcastic smile
that played around his handsome
mouth. The proprietor came bust.
, ling in to say supper was waiting to
be served in the next room. Then
, seeing his daughter he went up tt
her, saying, GLOW is thatsprain little
girl?" In a very low tone Clara said
"Why father, | have been asleep
She could never tell why she tolt
that falsehood, because lie was
thing she hated, yet, she had told
one without any cause. Then tn
r father introduced his darling chile
e to-Arthur McArnold. George Man
e ing, if you could but see the futur
It you would rather your tongue woul,
o cleave to the roof of your mouth thai
. to speak the words that will CIV
n this man the right to call your child
IS name, but he only smiles as he hear
'e Clara's sweet voice saying 'excus
: me, please, for not rising, l had tn
It misfortune to sprain my foo
= this evening" The stranger ex
'e presses his sympathy in cold, polit
d way, when a boy enters bringin
E in large brass lamp, puts 1t on tn
y stand near the sofa and lights il
d AS the boy turns up the lam
8, Arthur McArnold for the first tim
ID realizes that the lady on tire sofa
pretty, second glance at Clara hal
J" sitting, half reclining, and he think
,e surely this is being from som
le other world; so gentle and sweet sh
r looks. In all his travels he ha
e. never seen a face so beautiful or
I'd figure so perfect. The polite. col
as tones were in second changed to p,
er liteness of the softest, gentlest kin,
ly With another bow he left her, but
ID he sat down to supper he was sti
ne thinking of the girl in the next roo
ty and remembering he had spoken ,
it Stella he ground his teeth.
10 had intended to stop for the nigl
o. and on the morrow push on mp Il