Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1918-01-25
EIerAwakeniing
By MILDRED WHITE
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.)
By MILDRED WHITE

She could remember. His patient ador-
alton, was like that of the shaggy dog,
who adjusted his devotion to her
needs. When Lydia desired To walk,
Jack. the dog. was all joyful anticlpa-
ton. when absorbed in Il book she ig-
norcd outside sunshine lack content
cdly lay nj her feet.
Often rs he sat late at night nj tho
desk In his store OF Books and Fancy
/ Articles" he longcd To throw the thing
M una 20 To the city. but there was
Lydia! He could not bring himself to
leave hcr-Lydia, brlght-cycd and win
some, with her lndisputnble charm
The homestead was growing old mud
worn, and when that slow accumulation
In the bank should he sufficient, Dan
hoped to remodel the house, ind then,
his heart missed beat ut the thought,
If Lydia stu was kind, he would dnrc
To nsk her to share II with him. TO
what height Dan planned and added
his figures, Lydia pulled IL red tum
over her waving hair, and walked with
Jack UP the hill.
At the very top III auto was stalled,
| It's previous occupant working over Il
silent engine.
81 wonder" the man nsl;cl plcns-
antly. III you could direct me To Il
| gnrnEeT And rs Lytllu was return
Ing TINT way, they walked down tho
hlll together. lie was the son of old
Lawyer Tiles. ns It happened, and had
| come bnck to look after his mothers
estates. Perhaps Tho Cooking nrtcr"
might have been accomplished In
shorter order, hnd Robert TILES not
met Lydia. AZ II was. the days length
| rncd Into weeks, the weeks into
mouths. still ho remained I'm the conn
try town.
To LydIn. the courteous n,otllsh
young mnn of the city, was II delight
inl innovation. Her checks were flush
cd with pride as he led her into The
Country club, his generous gifts of hot
house roses. never ccnscd 10 bring II
sense of Joyful surprise. And Dan?
We'll, she remembered him with IL
smile, just nv she would stOop 10 pat
Jacks shaggy hcnd. And then came
one glorilicd night when Robert TILES
took her into his arms nnd told her
That he loved her. The next dny he
was going away, bncls tn his mother IN
California, but when he came again
so he sud, they would announce their
engagement, and DO married. Lydin
could hardly discern his departing fig
'ire for the tears I'm her eyes, Jucli's
hcnd brushed her hnnd I'm sympathy.
and turning, she found Dan looking
down upon her.
I'll couldn't help it friend" she
snid softly, ~ just had to love Rob.
crit"
Dan nodded silently, understanding
The dnys were long after TINT and the
column OF figures at night seemed 80
useless to unrnvcl. And now Il wna
the months which grew into Il year,
nnd-morc years. but Robert Tiles did
not return. Letters came bringing
doubtful comfort to Lydia, and those
telling of brilliant achievement IN Rob-
cr's profession Of lnw-she took over
to rend to Dim.
Chocrily confident was Dan. "Of
course Tile would be hnck soon" he
encouraged, "thcn Lydn would find
her happiness with him out there I'm
Tint golden country"
But l.ydln's eyes clouded doubirully.
"Ohl / could not 20 away" she
brcnthcd.
Dend hope revived I'm Dnn's heart
TINT night, but the next morning Il
wna destroyed. Lydia came running
over bringing letter.
from Robert" she explained, her
voice sang, "hc's coming bnck"
Dan snw the luxurious car drive M
TO Lydin's door, saw Il distinguished
man ascend the front steps. Then Dan
turned away. Ycnrs Ind brought TO
that other man assurance nnd power,
while to hlm-mcrcilcssly Dan studied
his own fnce with Its lines of sadness.
Lydia waiting In the quaint pnrlor
felt strangely dl0dcnt, as Robert TILES
advanced to greet her. All ut once her
little blue frock seemed very inferior.
Tho color In her checks still held It's
youthful freshness, her eyes shone
bright through all the years, but there
WINS quick disappointment III tho
glnncc he cast upon her; through ey-
cry nerve she felt It's keenncss, what
could 1t be? Then while responding
nbsently to the cnsy grace of his con-
vcrsation. the realization cnmc to her.
He had forgotten, through his yenrs of
travel and study, that she Ind re-
malned here In this one little town.
The women to whose society he was
accustomed, had found also his oppOr-
tunities. Sweet and fair she might be,
but she was after all only Lydia of
Fnrmisdale."
"You Will excuse me-" she said hur-
riedly, and put forth her hand-"good-
by"
There was evident relief In Robert
Tiles perfunctory hand clasp. Across
to the old homestead ran Lydia. Her
eyes smnrted with sudden tears as
she saw Dan through the window his
face Graded I'm his arms. A passion
Of tenderness stirred her heart, how
dear he was, how true.
"Dan," she cried and he raised his