The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-10-01

Virginia was not discouraged by bis tail
ure bat determined she would sttcmpt 10
unrayel the mystery herself Her lover
attempted 10 dissuAde her, bat neither
his nor Miss Malabones entrcatics were
Of any avail. She completed her piepa-
rAlions and set oai alone.
Her inquiries At l5 Post place were as
unavailIng as her lovers. From there
she went to New Orleans and made iu-
quires at the bank from which Miss NAL
sbone's drafts came. She there learned
that the drafts were bought by man
named Lamar, but they could tell her
nothing more. A letter was written Fox
at ST. Louis and in few days be called
upon her But be was as obstinate rs a
mountain; be would not tell her word
Of her fathers or mothers history more
than. she already knew. She entreated
and commanded him by turns, but he sat
as immovable as stone. She realized,
at last, the utter hopelessness OF getting
Sny Information from him and gave up
her questioning, She arranged to return
home aud Fox agreed to go up the river
to St. Louis with her When they went
on The boat she was so tired with anxiety
and disappointment that she went TO her
state-room at once, but it was well along
In the night before she fell asleep. She
had hardly, as she thought, closed her
eyes when she was aroused by hurryiug
feet and loud cries. She sprang from the
room, supposing the boat was on fire or
sinking, but had gone only few steps
when she met others returning TO their
berths aud was informed 1t was nothing,
only man shot
In the morning she waited for Fox, but
he did not come near her A promenade
up aud down the boat failed to discover
him, and when, at last, she inquired OF
one of the officers about him, she learned
It was be who had been shot. He was
still conscious, and the surgeon thought
he might recover, but there was already
pallor In his face that spoke of the
tomb. She heard nothing as to the quar-
rel merely that Fox had some words
with gentleman aud was shot. lie was
still alive when they reached st. Lonis
and she conveyed him to Post place in
accordance with his wishes.
In few days 1t was evident TO them
all that his life was ebbing away. Vir-
ginia had renewed her attempts to per-
suade him to reveal her fathers address,
but he remained sullenly silent. When
the physicians told him his hours were
numbered, Virginia determined to make
one more effort. He heard her through
aud then, after a moments silence, said:
will put the information in writing
on one condition: that you will not read
1t until after your marriage.
She promised accordingly.
Pull out green box from under the
bed, he said
She drew the box out.
In that box you will find tho informa-
liOH yOu WhH's lOu HdfC piOulloCu hiC
not to open it until after your marriage.
But what has my marriage TO do with
it?
Nothing, only 1t is my fancy to have 1t
SO.
A few hours later and bis spirit had
Ged, his last words being, / have your
promise.
When he was buried she started back
TO Brigtwood with her treasure-the
green box. Her lover laughed at her for
promising not to open the box, saying,
lightly, Who knows but there is some
reason there why we should not be mar
ried; and think how you would feel
when II was too late,
She knew that he put no meaning what
ever in his words, aud yet they remained
with her long after he was gone. Who
could say what might not be hidden in
the green box? II there was not some
horrible mystery connected with heI
name, why had she been kept in such ig.
norance of her fatherI And only thai
day she learned that the servants namC
was not Fox but Lamar. The New Or
leans banker wrote her that he had news
Of the death of George Lamar in ST, Loui,
on the 23d, and he held $4,000 which by
Mr.. Lamar's orders were to be paid tC
her upon proper proof, etc.
Why was his name Fox to her aud La
mar to the public? Ii did not require &
long course Of reasoning to convince heI
that il was her duty to open the box theI
G and there and not wait until there ar,
A others TO be compromised. A promis,
TO the dead was very holy thing, bu
duty to the living was still more sacred
Q Another moment aud the box wa
!. open. Within II were two packages 0
! papers, one marked, to be sent to Mis-
i Malabone, Bnghtwood, n. Y, for Vir
n ginia Mason when she is married; th
a other, 10 be burned unread. She too
the package addressed to Miss MalabonC
!. and among records of deposit, aud certif
4 Gates OF stock, she found the folowin
Il letter to herself 1t was written, like th
r writing on the other papers, in a eleaI
. round hand. DO not blame her IL be
r lips grew white and her heart cold as sti
.. read il. Do not condemn her II she f.
on her knees and cursed her life, an
a prayed God 10 end II there Judge he
\. as tenderly as il she were your o@u si
.s ter, aud thank God that you aud souI
re are spared such revelation.
b. ! atm writing this, the paper said,
8 tending 10 send Il 70 you after you ~
well settled ia life II / should die b