Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-04-19

Though dizzy height. perchance,
With faltering feet stand, 8
No dread shall dim my upward glance.
| For God will hold my hand
| Doubt, and danger, and sin were nearer than
she thought but her little hand was held by One
who would not let her fall. As she rose from her
devotion she saw for the first time a box on ia
bio by the bed. 1t was addressed on the cover
simply to Virginia. She openedit it, wondering,
and she found set of exquisite orna-
mcnts for the arms, neck and head. Her little
heart beat with grlish delight. She hurried 10
the glass and wound around her hair chain of
snow gems, less fair and pure than the innocent
brow beneath. Next she barred her graceful rm
and clasped bracelet there. How exquisitely
the delicate ornaments became her childish love-
illness She thought she had looked SO
prctty-not even when she used to dock her hair
with wild flowers by the clear pool in the woods
| And she could them to the ball But who
could have sent them :! Again she looked at the
box and this time she a note peeping beneath
the cotton which the gems had rested. Nir-
ginia's fair cheek flushed she read
Let Innocence and Beauty the gift of
| Love. Howard Grey.
Had the bracelet been serpent. with its dead
ly sting in her ARM Virginia could scarcely have
unclasped it with moro fearful haste. Tho chain,
too, snatched from her head, and both with
tho note, replaced in the box and then the fair
child threw herself again on her knees and buried
| her face in her hands. After a silence Of some
minutes, broken only by faint sobs, she sung once
moro. in low and tremulous tone, the hymn.
which seemed to her talisman for all evil and
then calmly laying her head on her pillow. and
murmuring name that was music to her soul,
sunk into soft and sweet slumber of innocence
and youth.
For nearly a year had tho Young libortine,
Howa I'd Grey, pursued her with his unhaowed
passion aided as he vainly imagined by his cost
! Nv and tasteful gifts; but there seemed n magic
halo round the young Virginia, through which
shadow of evil could penetrate Besides the ma
tive purity and dellcacy of her mind, there were
two other influences at work in the beautiful web
| of her destiny, to prevent any coarse dark
thread from mingling in it's tissue; her
spiritual communion with her mother, and the
other her affectionate remembrance Of Russell
Hartley-the only boing in whose eyes she had
ever read the sympathy for which her lonely and
loving heart at all times yearning.
1t evening again. The young ladies had
assembled. dressed for the ball, in the drawing
room-alI but Virginia. "Where is tho sweet
child!'' asked tho invalid teacher, to whom she
had cndeared herself by her graceful and affec-
tomato attentions.
She was SO long helping and sister Dress,
cxclaims little shy looking girl, that think
she must have been belated.'
! Il will 90 and assist her myself said the prin-
cipa of the school, pleased with this proof Of
kindness the part of her new pupil.
| She softly opened the door Of Vir9nia's room,
and almost started at the charming picture which
met her eye. ROBBED in white, with her singu-
larly beautiful hair falling in fair, soft curs
round her face, which was lighted up by smile
of almost rapturous hope and Joy, the young girl
stood in attitude of enchanting grace raising
in both hands to adjust amid the braids behind,
half wreath of glowing and most richly tinted
autumn leaves.
81 of II f1ry q SaId he
lady approaching, and Virginia bent her fair head
modestly at her bidding, and then, hand in hand.
they descended to the ball room.
Many of the company had arrived-the doors
leading to tho ball room had been thrown open
and Virginia was almost dazzled by the splendor
of the scene into which she thus suddenly
ushored. Sho blushed beneath the eyes that were
rivetted upon her she passed.
AN angel! a grace! q muse! whispered the
gentlemen to each other. There was one among
them-a noble chivalric looking man, who did
not speak his admiration! An ndefnable some
thing in the heavenly beauty of that face had
touched, in his soul, chord which had not vi
brated for many years before. Virginia knew
him at once. The rich chestnut curs of the boy
| of twenty had now assumed a darker tnge, the
ewes somewhat softer fire, and the youthful and
flexible grace had given place to a manly dignity
of mein; but there was no mstaking tho soul IN
the glance of Russell Hartley.
| And Virginia was decidedly the belle of the
ball. Gay, but gracefully so, for her sportive
mood was softened and restrained by charming
Etmdty that enhanced her loveliness ten fold, she
looked and moved like inspired. She had
me. Hartley's admiring gaze she was almost
SURE he would ask an introduction and she felt as
if her feet and heart were suddenly gifted with
wings. She foated down the dance like peri
through the air, and then Russell approached and
was introduced.
| The sunny smile of the little match girl shone
in her eyes. as she accepted his arm for a promi-
made. Surely have seen that look somewhere
BEFORE he exclaimed, half aloud. Matches
matches! six for a fip.' answered Virginia, look
ing archly up In his face, and the mystery was
explained. :,
imogene Grey's diamond necklace was worth
less dross in comparison with the wreath OF au-
Ftumn leaves which Hartley laid beneath his PM 10"
| bo.h rof costly inu