Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-06-19
A HEROINE OF ROMANCE.

His hair was white as snow; but his
round visage was ruddy still, and his
black, bead-like eyes glittered as with
the fire Of youth.
Captain Dulnare will never grow
old" said his friends, which meant that
he would be hale and hearty to the last,
when death would take him suddenly,
with no worrying prelude of heightened,
helpless decline, as might be expected,
as he had already passed lis allotted
term of three scOre-years and ten.
The beautiful girl at his side was
kn,wn as his daughter and prospective
heiress.
Virginie Dulnare 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 like a
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?" asked
Captain Dulnare in a fond, disappointed
whisper.
Very dearly, papa" was the smoth-
cred reply.
With both his white, withered hands
he lifted the dainty, blushing face, and
looked steadfastly into the big, wistful
brown eyes.
sVirgie," he said, in those firm, stern
tones which no man had ever dared to
disobey, it Is my wish and will that you
marry Sextus Weldon. You think you
love another, but at your age, love is but
3. lightning flash of passion and fancy.
| know best what will make you happy.
Therefore | have chosen your husband
for YOU"
& distrust and despise Sextus Wei
don," returned the girl passionately,
springing to her feet. 1T is your mon
ey, not me, he cares for"
A strange look wavered over the
round, ruddy visage Of the old man.
Another romantic hallucination, my
child" The young man idolizes you.
Do you think your old father does not
know the signs of love? And, my pref
ty lamb, Sextus is very rich, and l would
like to have you the wife of wealthy
man when | am gone
Il had rather be poor and contented,"
sobbed the child.
Then the old mans eyes grew stormy
with the anger she feared.
"You ungrateful girl! How migrate
full you will never know until am dead
Have not [ been kind to you? Have
ever asked you to do anything that was
not for your welfare? Have not you
been happiest when you have pleased
me most? What is the experience of
twenty compared with that of seventy?
Virginie. promise me that you will give
up Hugh Girard and pledge yourself to
Sextus Weldon when he asks you.
II promise you," answered the awed
and weeping girl, and then, with ten
der kiss, Captain Dulnare sent her away,
being we'll pleased.
What varied and NOM entous events
are oft times crowded into a single hour
Of a lifetime.
Before the sun of that day set, Virginie
Dulnare wore on one ily-white, rose
tipped finger a magnificent diamond
ring-the symbol Of her betrothal to
SextLs Weldon. And scarcely had the
cold, yellow clrclet grown warm on her
finger Hugh Girard came for the de-
cisive answer he had expected for many
weeks.
There were passionate words on the
bearded lips of the handsome blue-eved
man. but single gesture of that sealed
hand stopped their utterance. He
looked into her face. That face was
icily-white, but the brown eyes were
like stars of fire. .....
81 understand, Virginie," said he
slowly, " they have sold you for gold
You loved me, but you were weak
God help you. my darling"
And SO Hugh Girard went his way, and
Virginie Dulnare fell on her knees
weeping piteous tears in the twilight
dusk. Ef
A strange sound aroused her.
They were calling her 30 her fathers
chamber. fyF
Trembling, shivering and heartsick.
with a strange, portentous dread heavy