Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-02-06

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come OF her approving father.
In Harry himself she had never seen a
single fault to condemn. while she saw
everything to admire. His chiyalric
courtesy to her mother. his deferentia
manner to her father, his unconstrained
poetical language, the dark, spirited beau.
tty OF his Intelligent face, his graceful
bearing and proud independence of char
acter, that from the time OF. his return
from Oakland College. where he had gra
duated with all the honors, nobly pronp
ted him to carve his own way to fortune,
being himself its architect.
One there was who, in that noble struggle
for independence. felt a sisters holy pride
and anxiety on noting the lines Of care al.
ready traced on the noble brow of him
who. through all change, had continued
unchangeably the same to her. A grea,
ter calamity, however, than all the past
awaited her now in the black sealed let
ter that bore from Rio Janerio the melan.
choly account CT her fathers death. He
had left New Orleans a bankrupt. and
failing in his anticipations Of retrieving bis
losses, now filled suicides grave.
Silently. yet fast as autumn rain, fell
the orphans tears upon the sheet that
told of her fathers suicide and her own
destitution. While sorrowing in her
young hearts desolation over her bereaye,
ment. she was aroused by visit from
Mr., Barret, her mothers early admirer
and guardian.
Kindly taking hand of The fair orphan
girl, he silently drew chair near hers,
and sat down to offer words of comfort,
but anticipating him. she was the FIRST to
speak.
This is very good-very considerate," !"
she said. :" TO come to me in this lone
hour, Mr.. Barret. 1t does me good for
my mother told me you would be my
friend, as she said you had been hers
"And did ConstaEce-your mother l
mean-realiy tell you to come to me %
inquired Mr.. Barret. al Poor Constance,
you are her very image at this moment.
Virginia. She never knew how loved
-worshipped her. 1 had been her faith j.,
er's partner. She never gave me thought
save as being her guardian while l..
with crushed heart. noted her preference
for your father, Robert Carson. On mar
rying him she went on visit to his Vir-
giuia home, where you were born. It
was long after her fathers death before |
could summon up resolution to see her
When did. she brought you into the
room. and from that hour. Virginia. l
loved you for her sake. AS you grew up.
need l add that it increased for your wn?
She or you never knew it, but never
watched miser his treasure as | did
your sweet spring time, from budding
girlish beauty to graceful. accomplished
womanhood. You are now alone, unpro.
:ecIed. with matchless beauty, and i'm
poverished. Be mine ! l offer you rich.
es, not simply to make you independent.
but as ilimitable means Of doing good
Toll for such as you. Virginia, with scan.
ty and poor fare, will soon do its work !;
your beauty will fade, your health wear
away. Do not promise or reject my love.
On one hand view yourself as you are,
then as you may be. See the present
beautiful, poor, surrounded with memo
ries Of a brighter past, surrounded too.
with snares while on the other, offer
you wealth without limit. that in your
sweet stewardship might be the means of
iIIimisabIe good. Not. Virginia. that
gold, or equipage, or diamond, beyond
your widest dreams. could btibe you. If
the worship Of an honest heart and The
independence Of all obligation failed
Reflect, ere you refuse. 1 offer you
station. wealth. the power of doing good.
Will you be mine.'
Slowly and sadly were the young girls
fearful eyes raised to his, as she answer
ed mournfully. Chords there are in the
human heart. strangely. sweetly musical.
but which are only reached by accident
chords that would have remained mute
to passionate and earnest appeals. yet re
spond, giving forth their melody TO some
slight and random touch, reverberating
long strong, and deep. The pure sisterly
regard OF Yirginia's heart for Henry Vim
cent now FIRST assumed different form,
revealing itself, as all great truths have
done. by chance. She thought on him
young, gifted. and toiiing his form rose
up before her there in his graceful beauty.
Her mind was made up and decided for
ever.
I" feel grateful. Mr.. Barret. very CRATE
full" she said, g but you must not deny
me the privilege of toiIiug for indepen>
dence. The references l can bring from
former teachers will procure me place
as one as in q school. My independence
is now my all, do not ask me to resign
it,
Long and earnestly the merchant plea
ded but though Harry had never by word
told her that he regarded her as other
than sister. still did his slight graceful
form rise before her aud the mau who
would have made her the wealthy pos
SCISSOR of means whereby she might have
placed affluence within his reach. Mr.,
Barret rose to 60. There. was a painful
pause. broken BY his faltering voice.
g Yirginia." he said "You are toe