Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-11-21
Harry's Majority
BY DAGNEY MAJOR.


was ladled out. There was n gentle
look of resignation in her face. which
was the reflection OF a brave heart
She frightened up as she heard a
quick, light footstep, and her niece
jessie burton, n sweetly pretty girl
or ABOUT IL summers, entered the
room.
Woodworking. auntiel Is Harry
DOWN. she asked. kissing her guard
ian.
mo, dear; but he soon will be. I'm
sure. He can only have one twenty
first birthday"
Many letters for him?"
"A few; one is from Australia"
"Auntie," said the girl, suddenly.
with tinge of lovely color flaming
her cheeks, "I-I-have something to
tell you"
81 do believe esn guess what 1t is.
Jessie"
20, auntie. am sure you haven't a
notion"
MY dear, your face convinces me
that my conclusion Ia correct Come
here and let your old aunt whisper It:
Harry has proposed and you have &C
cepted him"
How did you knowP" calculated
Jessie. "Yes, he proposed last night.
Aren't you going to congratulate me ?"
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 that
there is nothing that would prevent
you from marrying7"
Jessie replied by q look that indi-
Gated such a question was entirely I'M
necessary.
you know, dear. was In love once,
and some one was fond of me. but
but-things went wrong. Some day
you shall hear the story. dear, then
you will understand how IL is am
SO anxious about you. All, here is
Harryl"
At that moment a handsome young
fellow entered the room. Jessie ran
and kissed him. and led him TO her
aunt, who was smiling through tears
of happiness and sorrow-Sorrow be-
cause she forsSaw bitter parting with
Jessie.
After oft-repeated congratulations
and many happy returns, Harry was
permitted to open his letters. The
gist Of the one from Australia ran as
follows:
Ny Dear Son: Y trust you viii receive
this on the day you attain your majority.
Now that you have arrived at an age OF dis
S Srs,lon' wish you TO know as much Of my
history as is necessary. Pray, my
dear son. do not think hardly OF me.
All have done have done for the best
have Instructed that good man.
Rev. william Nayand. your guardian and
counselor all these years to tell YOU IA
much as ne thinks nj. He will see
the lawyers for you. After to-day you will
be able TO draw 500 a year. This
VIII continue until my death. when all
h nave goes TO YOU. Wishing you all
nAppihSsa' my Gear boy. Your most at
fectionAte FATHER"
Harry read this through twice. amid
a strange feeling of uneasineSE and
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 TO be married by some hor-
rible revelation He trusted not.
Somehow or other he thought Of
James Barton, his rival.
MisS Payne had taken a great fancy
to Harry when they frS< met, two
years ago, and he has, latterly been
staying with her nd Jessie. with the
inevitable result that he fell head over
ears in love with her pretty face.
my guardian. Rev. William Nay
land. viii be calling to see me to-day,
Mise Payne" he said at length, about
some business matters. And. Jessie"
he broke of, 81 should like to see
you in the garden after breakfast"
The meal having concluded, with
painful evidence that things had gone
atwist, Harry strolled into the gar
den with her.
Darling. what Is Il? What is the
natter" she asked. gently nesting
up to him. Something has gone
wrong. and who should share your
trouble with you but II"
The doubts and perplexities which
entangled his mind for moment
seemed to Overwhelm him, then, with
out a word he took the girl in his
strong arms and held her closely to
him.
Jessie" he began falteringly at
last, if-if-there should be anything
that might come between our mar
rage, don't think too hardly of me.
II there be a secret in my family, and
have kept it from you, believe me
when L say that II was through no
fault of mine. i had no intention 20
deceive"
20, Harry! Harry" sobbed Jessie
now thoroughly alarmed. "I don't
know what you mean. indeed don't /"
she concluded, with a food of tears. and
nothing would comfort her till sae
had sobbed out her heart to her aunt
That afternoon, Rev. William Nav
land called, and was closeted with HAIR
ry for nearly an hour. Marry had the
greatest admiration and affection for
his guardian, who had been like a IA
ther to him for IL years, and had he
known the painful nature of the duty
which the clergyman had TO perform