The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-17

In due time TINS orphan, Drought up IN
the household of Sir Julian, became the
chosen companion of his heiress; and
when tho family took up residence at
Steepside, Virginie Giraud, who had been
associated in Julis's studies and recrea-
tions from early childhood, was installed
there as maid and conidant to the hope
of the house.
Not long after the settlement at Steep
side, Sir Julian, in the summary fashion
of those days with regard to matrimonial
affairs, announced his intention OF be-
slowing his daughter upon certain
Welsh squire OF old ancestry and broad
acres. Sir Julian was practical man,
Thoroughly incapable of regarding wedlock
in any other light than as II mere union
of wealth ard property, the owners Of
which joined hands, and lived together.
This was the way in which he had mar.
ried, and it was the way in which he in
tended his daughter to marry; love and
passion were meaningless, if not vulgar
words in his ears, and he conceived
il impossible they should be otherwise
to his only child. AS for Lady Sarah,
she was an unsympathetlc creature,
whose thoughts ran only on the ambition
OF seeing Julia married to some gentle
man of high position and heading a fine
with social success and dis
tinction.
So it was not until all things relative
to the contract had been duly arranged
between these amiable parents and their
son-in law that the bride elect
was informed of the fortune in store for
her.
But all tho time that the lawyers lad
been preparing the marriage settlements,
a young. penniless gentleman, named
Philip Brian, had been finding out for
way to Julis's heart, and these
two had pledged their faith to each other
only few days before Sir Julian and
Lady Lorrington formally announced
their plans to their daughter. In conse-
auence of her engagement with Philip,
Julia received their intelligence with in =
dignation, ard protested that no power
on earth should force her to act falsely TO
the young man whose promised wife she
had become. The expression of this de-
termination was received by both parties
with high displeasure Sir Julian in
dulged in n few angry oaths, and Lady
Sarah IN u little select satire; Philip
Brian was, of course. forbidden the house,
all letters and messages between the low
ers were interdicted, and julia was COM
manded to comport herself like dutiful
and obedlent heiress.
Now Virginle Giraud was the friend
rs well as the attendant of Sir Jullan's
daughter, and it was Nirginie, therefore,
who. after the occurrence Of TINS outbreak,
was despatched to Philip with note OF
warning from his mistress. Naturally
the lover returned an answer by the same
means, and from that hour Virglnlc con-
tinucd to act as a9ent between the two,
carrying letters to and fro, giving coun-
sci and arranging meetings. Mean
while the bridal day was fixed by the
parent Lorringtons, and elaborate
prsparstions were made for the wedding
festival which should be the wonderment
and admiration Of the county. The
b,cakiast room was decorated with law
ish splendor. the richest apparel be-
spoken for the bride and al the wealthy
ana titled relatives of both contracting
families invited to the pageant. Nor
were Philip "nd Julia idle 1t was
arran ged between them that, at | clock
on the night o; the day preceding the
intended wedding. tho young man should
present himself beneath Julia's window,
Virginie being on the watch and in readl-
ness to accompany the flight of the low
ers. All three under cover ot the dark
ncss, should then steal down the avenue
of the coach drive and make their exit
b. the shrubbery gate, the key OF which
VirgInie had in keeping. The appoint
cd evening came, the 22d OF December.
Snow lay deap upon the ground and
more threatened t. fall before dawn,
but Philip had engaged to provide horses
equal to anv emergency OF weather, and
the darkness OF the night lent favor to
the enterprise. Virginies behavior al
that day had seemed somehow unac'
c0untable TO her mistress. The maid S
face was pallid and wore strange e1'
preston of anxiety and Apprehension
She WINGED and trembied when julia
glance rested upon her, and her hands
Quivered violently while she helped hel
to adjust her hood and mantle as the
hour OF assiCnst,on approached. En
desvoriug however to persuade hersel
that this strange conduct arose troLl
feeling of excitement or nervousness nat
ural under the circumstances, julia usec
a hundred kind words and gestures &c
support her companion. But the more
she consoled or admonished, the more
agilated Virgirie became. and matter'
stood in this condition when ii O'CLOCK
arrived.
Julia waited at her chamber window
which was not above three feet from th'
ground without, her hood ard mantle
donne6. listening eagerly Tor her lover
voice; and the French girl leaned
behind her against the closed door
nervously tearing into fragments piece
of paper sne had taken from her pocket
minute ago. These torn fragments sh'
flung upon the hearth, where brigh
IRE MS p4hLlISt NV NbFN' a. sSs
mean while Julia had opened the window
easement. A gust of wRd darling in
TO the rooa from the outside caught III
q FRAGMENT of the unconsumed pape
and whirled it back from the fame
to Julis's leet, She glanced at 1t indif
ferentiy, but the sight of some character
on il and attracting her. she stopped an'
picked it up.
Il bore her name written over sn'
over several times, first in rather labor
ed limitations of her handwriting, thel
mere successfully, and lastly in so per
feet manner that even Julis hersei
was almost deceived into believing 1t he
genuine signature. Thea followed sew
eral L.. and Us, as though the copylst hs
not considered those initials satisfactory
counterparts Of the original.
Concluded tomorrow.