The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-04-24
A Little Virginia Romance.

AT Petersburg, In the yellow fever year,
say two decades ago, when the terrible
disease was brought thither from Norfolk
by a panic-stricken fugitive from the lat
ter city, q certain family had but two sur
vivors from the pest, a little girl, and an
uncle of hers who had dweltin the house.
hold as nurse. The uncle had bravely
remained at his post while his brother
and sister-in-law were dying; but upon
finding himself left in the stricken home
at last with only his little niece to keep
fever yet ravaged all around, he suddenly
suffered reaction of cowardce, and af-
ter placing the orphan in the care of q
neighbor for day fled hurredly from the
town no one knew whittier. Like many
another fugitive at that time, he might
have remained with safety, for the disease
abated rapidly thenceforth. Gone, he
had, however, and when it was apparent
that he would not return-perhaps had
sunk and died in the contagion elsewhere
-the deserted child's lonely and helpless
situation excited much public sympathy,
resulting at last in her acquisition of an
unexpected benefactor. Among the be-
reaved of the city was wealthy lady
whom sorrow had made mother for the
motherless, and she in her sanctified
womanliness, adopted the poor orphan,
without reservation, as her own. Thus
the little heroine entered upon life in
which all things seem to have been so
sufficient for her every need that, but for
the one ungraciOus memory of her
childish trials, there might be no ro.
nance, even to the record of her subse-
quent years. 1t CHANGED, however, that
| about 1858 some unknown bearer brought
to her letter without address from her
lSNtl INcn rbn,,S
humbly implored pardon for his abrupt
desertion, informed her that he was aware
of the good fortune that had befallen her,
and with passionate self-reproach, declar.
ed that she should never hear of him
again in this world until, by heavens
blessing, it should be in his power to
| make her some compensation for leaving
her as he had. This communication was
wondered at and speculated upon for
some time with thoughts that were only
forgiving but as months and years roll
ed on without further revelation, it was
nearly forgotten at last. OF course the
old style novel-reader forsees the sequel.
Within the past few days, relates the
Petersburg Indec, the adopted daughter.
now blooming belle in her first twen-
| ties, has received from China a huge case
of curious and highly valuable gifts, ac-
companied by a letter to My dear niece,''
announcing that her uncle is a rich man
in the Celestial kingdom, and sends these
offerings in token of his risen fortunes
and determination to make the recipient
an heiress in her own right. All sorts OF
rich jewelry and wonderfully-carved
caskets are among the treasures; and
probably the early summer months will
witness the return of the Chinese mer.
chant-prince for home visit, to tell the
strange story of his twenty years ab.
sence, invest his departed brothers
daughter with a munificent dowry, and
claim her pardon for the one unworthy
act of his life, for which more than divine
forgiveness is necessary to his peace. A
little love romance, now, would make the
whole narrative perfect; and if the Indea
can add that ingredient at any future
time, it should certainly subserve all po-
etic precedent and complete the artistic
effect by so doing .-EIchange.