The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-02-01
. Tie n,i,Ioysa who have been with ua

weak lFUlh hNliSef3 hhu on the marble
iteps sank down IN deathly swoon.
A lady in velvet and silk with plumes
Of gray sweeping over her silvery hair,
had just asceided from her carriage.
She saw the l,rostl4ite form, and looking
into the drawn, white face, started.
ePat this child into the earfiage, and
lrive hame,' she said, abruptly. TO the
lieeried groem
The mahaoheyed, thinking that of all
mad freaks ,f his honured mistress this
was the madlest.
50, when yirginie awolse from her
long, still swson, she found herself in n
quaint, old-fashioned chamber, nnd not
alone.
"Where am /, and who are you r
,he askel f.aiutly, of the stately woman
who bent over the couch
'.Yon are with one who will never
frsake you, my child, even il you had
known sin and shame before l found
you,n sail the sweet-faced woman, hold
ing close the quivering hands.
81 have never sinned, but hRve been
shamel to the soul by the frowHs Of
poverty" answered Virginie, while the
hectic flush grew hotter on her cheeks.
''Be calm, dear, anl listen to what |
have to tell you. When l saw yen
iirst, lying like one dead on those cold
granite steps, l Lowell you. You looked,
Yirsinie, rs my husband looked when
he lay in his coffin found your name
marked on your clothing. 1t was the
name of little child who was stolen
from me years and years ago. While
you have been lying here i'll, | have
made happy discovery. Can you guess
what it is q'
Virginie could not mistake the ex-
preston of the fond, sweet, handsome
face bent so close to her own.
"You are my mother" she said.
Il am your mother, my darling"
answered the lady; ''and hencefOrth, for
Yirginie Champney, there shall be no
more toll nor trouble, it can prevent
it.
Aud only for the memory of Hugh
g lard, the girl would have been quite
Aapiy.
As the daughter of one of the wealth
est and IN ,st nristoeratic lalies of the
city, she was perhaps more admired and
sought for than Virgiuie Dnlnare hal
ever been.
Anl 50 it happened that ono day
Ssxtas Weldon came to WOO her.
1T was very cruel for YOU to refuse
me as you did. Why did you break
,ur engagement, yirgiel" he asked,
with mocS sorrow and humility. ~
want you. for my wife, dear"
Aud with scorn in ner eye, and dis
balm on her lips, the girl rejected his
suit.
"The imsudonce of the fellew is
amusing, laughed Mrs. Champney.
when C1psain Diinare chose 4 hus-
band for you, he should have chosen
more wisely. thiak shall be u bet
ter matchmaker. Eirgie."
Are You so anxious to, lose me 9
a4ked the girl, with humorous naivet
Mr., Cham2ney smoo.hea her tresses
soberly.
"Virgic, you must marry some time,
you know. But that is no reas ,n why
you shall not still remain my daughter.
1 only hope that Your future husband
IN. prove as good. anl tender and
faithful as your father was And now
put on your hat and shawl, for | am
going to take you TO sec the hero of
romance He Is the son of one of the
old friends of my schoolgirl days. Once
ulson a time we made foolish compact
tu;,s our first son and daughter should
bacome husband and wife
'.Oh !" gasped Virgin;e, thinking of
Hugh Girarl, and wondering, with II
shudder, if she was to be victim of
matchmaking all her life.
"Well, this poor fellow fell in love
with beautiful girl, who loved Kim,
although she rejected him for richer
lover In his despair be left his native
place, aud in California-that land of
gold-he made fortune But with
money came misery alsc. He came
home, aud it is said to die; Virgie, you
are SO fair and sweet and winning, that
| think you can catch this desolate heart
in the rebound, you know. Then that
iId com aact shall not have bsen made
Ia vaill'
Yirgie listened with sinking heart.
81 can't marry this man unless be
asks me" she returned, bitterly.
"He will ask you," was the decisive
response, as tho big, p;ebald roam was
refined up before q Fashionable boarding
house.
Mrs. Cham?ney led her daughter to
a beautiful room ON the second floor.
Listen" she said, pausing before
the door that was slightly eiar.
''Virgie, my lost love! Virgie-oh,
my Virgie !"
The culor flew into the white checks
of the astonished girl.
"God bless you for this, mother 1"
she said, rushing into the room where
Hugh GiFarI lay sick aim ost unto death.
81 am here, Hughl T. she cried.
What words were said in that cham
Der of illness may not bc told.
Vlrsie come out after n half hour,
with a c1ntentel smile on her sweet,
young lips.
"He will livei" said her mother, kiss
ing the blushing face.
Eyes" answered Virginie che will
live for me-
And somebody who witnessed the
grand wedding that occurred month
later, spoke of the lovely bribe, Virgin
ie, as heroine of romance.
II bed baeath comes from deoayed