Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-03-22

tIIdH sue lnOugnI, nut mr IItte mana WAY
held by One Who would not let her fall.
As she rose from her devotions, she saw, for
the first time, a box on table bv the bed.
II was addressed on the cover simply 10 Vir-
ginia.' She opened it, wondering, and
found a set of exqust pearl ornaments, for
the arms neck and head. Her little heart
beat with girlish delight. She hurried to the
glass and wound around her hair chain OF
snow gems, less fair and pure than the limo.
cent brow beneath.-Next she barred her
graceful arm, and clasred bracelet there.
How exqnisitey the delicate ornaments be.
came her childish, lovelness She thought
she had never looked so pre,ty--not even
when she used 10 deck her hair with wild
flowers by the clear pool in the woods.
And she could wear them to the ball But
who could have sen, them! Again she look
ed at the box, and this time she saw a note
peeplng beneath the cotton wool, on which
the gems had rested. Virginia's fair cheek
flushed as she read.
Let innocence and beauty we're the gift
OF Love. IlowARp GREY.'
Had the bracelet been serpent, with its
deadly sting in her arm, Virginia could
scarcely have unclasped i, with more fearful
haste. The chain too was snatched from
her head, and both. with, the note, replaced
in the box; and then the fair child threw
herself again on her knees and buried her
face in her hands. After silence of somo
minutes, broken only by faint sobs she sung
once more, in low and tremulous tones, the
hymn, which seemed to her tailsman for all
evil, and then calmly laying her head on the
pillow, and murmurng the name which was
music TO her soul, sunk into the soft and deep
slumber Of innocence and youth.
| For nearly year had the young !iber.
tine, Howard Grey, pursued her with his un.
hallowed passion, aided as he vainly imagin.
ed by his costly and tasteful gifts; but there
seemed magic halo around the young Vir-
ginia. through which no shadow Of evil could
penetrate. Besides the native purity and
delicacy Of her mind, there were two other
influences at work in the beautiful web Of
her destiny, 10 prevent any coarse or dark
thread from mIngling IN its tissue ore was
her spiritual communion with her mother,
and The Other, her afcctionale remembrance
of Russell Harlley-the only being in whose
eyes she had ever read the sympathy for
which her lonely and loving heart yearned al.
ways.
TWAS evening again. The young ladies'
had assembled, dressed for the ball, in tho
drawing room-all hut rirginia.-'Where
is the sweet child " asked an invalid teacher
10 whom she had endeared herself by her
graceful and alfrcliona,e attentions.
She was so long helping me and sister
dress said little shy looking girl, tina, she
has been belated.'
l will go and assist her myself said the
principal of the school, pleased with this
proof Of kind-heartedness on The par. of her
new pupil.
She softly opened the door of Vireinia's
room and almost started at the charming pic.
ture which met her eve. ROBBED in white,
with her sIngularly beautiful hair falling in
fair, soft curls around her face, which was
lighted up by a smile of almost rapturou.
hope and joy, the young girl stood in an at
tllude OF enchanting grace raising in both
hands to adjust, amidst the braids behind. a
half wreath Of glowing and richly tinted au.
tumn leaves.
Let me arrange il for you, my child
said The lady approaching, and Virginia bent
her fair head modestly TO her bidding and
then, hand in hand, they descended 10 tho
drawing room. Many of the company had
arrivrd-ihe doors leading to the ballroom
had been thrown open, and Virginia was al
most dazzled by the splendsr of the scene in.
to whi'h she was thus suddenly ushered.
She blushed beneath the eyes tina, were riy.
eted upon her as she passed.
AN angel! "A grace!' A muse !'-whi,.
pered the gentlemen TO each other.-There
was one among thrm-a noble, chivaric
looking n,an-who did not speak his admir-.
alton An indefnabe something in tho
heavenly beauty Of that face had touched in
his soul, chord which had not vibrated for
many years before. Virginia knew h,m at
once. The rich chestnut curls of the boy of
twenty had now assumed darker inge, tho
eyes softer fire, and the youthful and Arx-
lie grace had given place to manly dignity
OF mein; hut there was no mislakinp the soul
in the glance of Russell Hartley.
And Virginia was decidedly the belle Of
the ball. Gay, but gracefully so, for her
sporlve mood was soflenrd and restraining
by charming timdiiy that enhanced love-
illness ten fold, she looked and moved like
one inspired. She had met Harl-y's ad.
mIring gaze she was almost sure he would
ask an introduction, and she felt as if her
feet and heart we're suddenly gifted with
wings. She floated down the dance like ne.
ri 'hroug the air, and then Russell appeared
and was introduced.
The sunny smile Of the little match.pirI
shone in her eyes, as she accepted his arm
for promenade. Surely have seen that
look somewhere before = he exclaimed, half
aloud. Matches Six for Gpr murniured
Virginia, looking aIchly up in his lace, and
the mystery was at once explained.
lmogen Grey's diamond necklace was worth.
less dross in comparison with the wreath Of
Autumn leaves. which Russell Hartley laid
beneath his pillow tina, night, and al her
brothers costly offerings could not have pnr.
chased the smile which accompanied ,h. eift.
Reader If You ever go TO Kentucky, come
to me for letter Of introduction TO Mrs, Rus.
sell Hartley. She is looked up TO, respec,.
ed and beloved by all the country round. and
am sure Your will enjoy her graceful aud
cordial attention, and the luxurjss of h., .,..