The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-02-01
A HEROINE OF RoMANcF.
nY ErrIn RoaKRa

Gtt1tain 0ulNNfB Will n6teF grow
old" said his friends, which meant
that he would be hale aud hearty to the
last, when death would take him sud.
denly, with no worrying prelude Of
lengthenel, helpless decline, as might
reasonably be expected, as lie had al
ready passed his allotted term OF three
score years aud ten.
The beautiful girl ot his side was
known as his daughter and prosperity e
heiress.
Virginie Dalnare was shapely in fig.
ure, and not too tall. Her features
were exquisite, her lips scarlet. her eyes
large and brown, and her silky hair ike
q fleece of gold.
just now the young, flushed face was
hidden on the old mans knee.
"Do you really love the poor fellow
whom they call Hugh Girard p asked
Captain Dalnare, in fond, lisappOint-
ed whisper.
"Vel-y dearly, papa" was the smother
ed reply.
With both his white, withered hands
he lifted the dainty, blushing face, and
looked steadfastly into the big. wistful,
brown eyes.
"Yirgie," he said, in those firm, stern
tones that no man had ever dared to
disobey, sit is nv wish and will that
you marry Sextus Weldon. You think
you love another, but at yonr age love
is but a lightning flash of passion and
fancy. | know best what will make
You happy. Therefore 1 have chosen
your husband for you.
81 distrust and despise Sextus We'll
don" returned the girl, passionatelY,
springing to her feet. sit is your mon
ey, not me, he cares for.
A strange look wavered over the
round, rnddy visage of the old man.
"Another romantic halluc;nation, nv
child" he said. '.Ti,e young maa idol
ICES you. Do you th nk your old father
does not know the signs of lovei And,
my pretty lamb, Sextus Is very rich
and 1 would like to have you the wife
of wealthy man WHEN / an gone.
81 had rather be pocr and c0ntented,
papa" sobbed his cbIld
Then the old mans eyes grew stormy
with the anger she feared.
''You ungrateful girl ho,g migrate
full you will never know till am dead
Have not been kind to you7 Have
ever asked you TO do anything that was
not for yonr welfarel Have you not
been happiest when You pleased me
mostl What is the experience of twenty
compared to that of seventyl Virginie,
promise me that you will give up Hugh
Girard and pledge yourself to Sextus
Weldon when he asks you.P
Il PROMISE answered the awed aud
weeping girl, and then with tender
kiss, Captain Dulnare sent her away,
being well pleased
What varied and momentous events
are ofttimes crowded into 4 single hour
of lifetime.
Before the sun of that day set, Vir-
ginie Dulnare wore on one lily white,
rose-tipped finger magnificent diamond
ring-the symbol of her betrothal to
Sextus Weldon. And scarcely had the
cold, yellow circlet grown warm on her
finger, before Hugh Girard came for the
decisive answer he had expected for
many weeks.
There were passionate words ON the
bearded lips of the handsome, blue-eve,g
man, but single gesture of that se...e.sl
hand stopped their utterance.
He lookeil into her face. That face
was icily white, but the brown eyes
were like stars of fire.
81 understand, Virginie," he said,
slowly ''they have sold you for gold.
You loved me, but you were weak.
Ged help you, my darling"
And so Hugh Ctirard went his way,
and Virginie DaInare fell on her knees,
weeping piteous tears in the twilight
dusk.
A strange sound aroused her.
They were calling her to her fathers
chamber.
Trembling, shivering and heart-sicl,,
with strange, portentous dread heavy
on her heart, she Obeyed the summons.
Captain DnlRare sat as she had left
him, in his easy chair; bat the frost.
white locks that struggled over the
crimson velvet, framed in hloodless,
rigid face.
Captain Dulnare was dead.
There was mouruful time-the nee
essary inquest, the death-watch, and the
rather pompous funersl-but it l.assel
as all things of anguish and delight
must pass in this world of changes.
Then came the reading Of the dead
man will, and the settlement of his
financial affairs.
And with these gross matters of bus
mess and lrc.e, tiu.e came to the pale,
stricken Yirginie, terrible disclosure.
Capt. Duluale's large liabilities, Sc
cured by heavy m ,rtga ses, and his Il iat-
ing debts, swallowed up everything.
The heiress in prospective was utterly
pennjless.
But that was the smallest sorrow.
For by papers of proof left, Virsinie
was declared to be a child of adoption.
She had been left when baby on the
rich mans door step, and he had reared
her as his own.
And after three weeks of grievous
embarrassment, Vifginie was thrust ont
into the world with no hope except
what she had fixed upon Sextus Weldon.
He only came once, and his tones were
altered and supercilious.
No matter what he said.
But Virginie's sweet face flushed, and
she tore the betrothal ring from her
shaking hand and gave it back to the
man who was no5 10th to receive it.