Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-02-15

wings to JOY AVID honghtlessness, or
leaden ones to sbrrow and | "hope de,
ferred" and oJr little Virginia, now 3
loving girl Of seventeen, had earned
money enough BY her bewtching way O
Offering matcLts for sale, to introduce
herself as pupil into one Of the first
boarding schools of the country, not to
commence, but to finish her education
for with a passionate love Of books, she
had found mJns to cultivate her tastes
and talents III many ways.
1t was on the evening preceding that
on which tho annual ball Of the school
took place. The young ladies we're dis
cussing aroand the school-room fire the
dresses thoF we're to wear.
"And what are you to wear, Miss
Lindon ?" said one of the aristocrats of
the school turning, with what she fan
cied an imperial air, toward the young
stranger
Virginia blushcd and said simply,
"My white muslin
"And what ornaments p
Virginia smiled. .Oh, | can find
some bright autumn leaves for wreath. =
Imogen Grey would have given her
diamond necklace for such a blush and
smile, for her own sallow check was
never SO Illuminated, but she sneered,
nevertheless, at the muslin and garland
of leaves and deigned no further quos-
tion. Virginia's sensitive and delicate
spirit felt the sneer intensely, and she
left khe room with swelling heart and
fearful eye. Once safe, however, in her
own little chamber, peace descended
again like dove into her soul, and after
undressing, she knelt in her night-robe
blythe side of the bed, and said her
prayer and sung her little childish hymn
ending with:
Bot OH if doubt should cloud the day,
| And sin beside me stand,
Thou 6rmest. lest lose my way,
My Father hold my hand.
Doubt, and danger, and sin, were
nearer than she thought, but her little
thand was held by One who would not
let her fall. AS she rose from her de-
votions she saw for the first time box
on table by the bed. 1t was addressed
simply to Virginia" She opened it,
wondering, and found set of exquisite
set of pearl ornaments for the arms. the
neck and head. Her little heart beat
with girlsh delight. She hurried to the
glass and wound around her hair chain
of snow-gcms. How exquisitcly the
delicate ornaments became her childish
loveliness But who could have sent
them ? Again she looked at the box and
this time saw note peeping beneath
the cotton wool on which the gems rested.
Virginia's fair cheek flushed as she read /:
sLet Innocence and Beauty wear The gift Of
Love. Howard GaAYn
Had the chain been serpent Virginia
could scarcely have unclasped it with
more fearful haste, and then the fair
child threw herself again on her knees
and buried her face in her hands
For nearly year had Howard Grey
pursued her, aided. as be vainly mag
ned, by his costly and tasteful gifts !;
but there seemed magic halo around
the young Virginia, through which no
shadow of evil could penetrate.
1t was evening again. The young
ladies' had assembled, dressed for the
ball, in the drawing room.
Virginia was decidedly the BELLE
Gay, but gracefully SO. for her sportive
mood was softencd and restrained by
charming timidity that enhanced her
loveliness tenfold, she looked and moved
like one inspired. She blushed beneath
the eyes that we're rivited upon her as
she passed.
IAN angel! A grace A muse"
whispered the gentlemen to each other
There was one among them--a noble,
chivalric-looking man-who did not
speak his admiration. The rich chest
nut curls of the boy Of twenty had now
assumed darker tinge, the eyes some
what softer fire. and the youthful and
Aexile grace had given place to a manly
dignity of mein but there was no mis-
taking the soul in the glance of Russell
Hartley. She had met Hartlcr's admir-
ing gaze she was almost sure be would
ask an introduction, and she felt as if
her feet and heart were suddenly gifted
with wings She hoated down the dance
like peri through the air, and then
Russell approached and was introduced.
The sunny smile Of the little match girl
shonc in her eyes. az she accepted his
arm for the promenade. Surely | have
seen that look somewhere before !" he
then exclaimed half aloud. Matches !
matches p murmured Virginia, looking
archly up into his face, and the mystery
was at once explained. Imogen Grey's
diamond necklace was worthless dross in
comparison with the wreath Of autumn
leaves, which Hartley laid under his
pillow that night. and all her brothers
costly offerings could not have purchased
the smile which accompanied the gift.
Reader, if you ever go TO Kentucky
come to mo for letter Of introduction
to Mrs. Russell Hartley.
DR.. Geo. IT. Field. 81. Louis pro-
L