Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-11-01
From the Summit Beacon.
VIRGINIA HALE.
BY CASTERS.

She was my friend; dark-eyed beauti-
full girl! They say that opposite natures
attract each other; but true as that may be
there was great exception to. this theory
in our case, for we were much alike, and
cherished most tender affection for each
other. 1 remember well the beginning of
our mutual admiration, and the incident
that rendered US insepaEable friends.
We were pursuing our studies with few
others under the superintendance of Mad
anne Hesler, lady very highly educated
and refined, and most worthy of the re-
sponsibility committed TO her charge. L
thought her q most lovely woman, and un-
til then had considered the rest as being en-
tirely beneath my notice. l sought no
companionship with them; it made me
half angry to have 10 listen, to what SEEM
ed 10 me, their senseless talk aud silly
laughter. 1 always sought some seclu-
ded retreat, when we were permitted TO leave
the school room. My mother used to tell
me l was "strange child" and when l
mingled the little l did with the world
l know they thought the same; but l
cared not,-nay, rathered gloried in my
strange faLcies and uncongenial nature. 1
may truly say that was no love-sick SEN
timentalist,-that was what l scorned
above all things. l never tainted nor grew
poetic over birds and flowers; but o, how
| loved the grand, the sublime! / would
90 alone and sit on a rock for hours, watch.
ing the great waves of the powerful river,
or stand charmed-fascinated- by the
roar of the majestic falls, as they plunged
down into the restless depths of mist and
foam.
But VIRGINIA HALE! she came to us
an entire stranger. My schoolmates SEEM
ed rather TO regard her as an Intruder. 1
knew she perceived their jealousy, though
she said nothing; but l had often seen
half scornful smile play over her face
as some whispered taunt reached her ear.
l admired her exceedingly, and thought if
could gain her confidence, in her society
l could forget many wearisome hours. |
knew she had a proud heart, yet warm
and passionate as my own.
One day, in the warm flush of the
sweet summer, l took my book and started
for my favorite retreat. l remember how
beautifully blue the sky was, and how rich
and dark the shadows fell under the grand
old trees; and standing there under the
arches Of the trembling leaves, was the
beautiful young stranger-the ouly one l
would have named an intruder; as she
heard my footsteps she turned TO 60 away,
but sprang forward and caught her hand,
saying: You are arelcome herr, will you
let me be your friend?'
She clasped my hand tightly in her own,
and pressed her warm red lips to mine. l
was answered and then continued
"You are proud and fiery, so am 1; you
look like a queen sometimes, but that
makes me love you; detest these little
bugs that crawl on the ground all their
lives.
She laughed as she replied:
"There could not be a better mate fol
me: we will make glorious team won't
we?"
Then we sat down in the beginning o.
our acquaintance and tried to unfold hearts
to each other. Proud and naughty as she
seemed, there was grand religious ele'
ment in her nature, and deep-toned feel
ing that acknowledged, with reverence, the
supreme greatness of the Creator, that
bowed with meekness and humility to the
demands of just and unallerable law
l was satisfied then. thought had
found the beautiful compliment which
should afford delicious communions with a
soul whose aspirations were what had
long sought for in others, vainly.
| know it seems strange to the plain
practical portion Of humanity, that there
can be such restlessness of spirits, such
tossing of souls-bm happy are they acho
escape this, ,uhieh IS indeed very terror
to it vietim. But enough of this.
Time flew gaily n-bearingtbat sweet
summer swiftly away-and too soon bear
us to our sad parting. We were alone
that last hour We were permitted to spend
together on earth. We knelt down TO-
gelber in the dim twilight, when the stars
were rising slowly above the beautiful
world, when the young moon was climbing
the eastern hill-and there breathed ou
her vows of sweet remembrances and eter
nal faith. l severed one dark lock from
her head, and as l wound it around my fin
ger she said; -.-
"Corrinne, when that turns gray know
| that l have forgotten"
They were strange words-I did no
think of DEATH / returned to my home
The monotony was broken, often, by let
tiers from Virginia Hale. As months ad-
vanced, it seemed to me that her vague
wild fancies were now subdued. SO
wrote and asked her "if the fire had gon,
out of her hearth" l told her-"in tn
place of the glorious sun, she was GROWN!
; tender as summers eve." remembe
her reply-I remember how, for momen
cruel, wicked thought flashed throug
my heart at the knowledge that I, even
had been supplanted, and crushed tb
: letter under my feet; that letter! tha
!; told of "one whose love was to her NOR
: than life!' In my selfish love had nc
thought of Mis. gathered all her let
ters together, with potrait she had give
. me, II did not look at it then,) and WI
y ting one brief, cold note, sent them to he
Very quickly came back an answer, but
r cast it into the fire, and as the flame
curled up around it, exclaimed bitterly