Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-02-11
4 HEROINE OF ROMANCE.

the fire of youth.
: Captain Dulnare will you never
grow DID, said his friends, which say
ing interpreted, meant that he would be
hale and hearty to the last, when death
would take bim suddenly, with no
worrying prelude oflengthened helpless
decline. as might reasonably be ex-
pected, as he had already passed his
allotted term Of three score years and
ten.
The beautiful girl at his side was
known as his daught'r and prospective
heiress.
VirCinie Dulnare was shapely IN
figure, and not too tall. Her features
were exquisite, her lips scarlet, her
eyes large and brown, and her silky
hair like fleece of gold.
Just now the young and 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 fond, dlsappoint-
ed whisper.
Very dearly, papa was the smo!h-
ed reply.
With both his white withered hands
he lifted the dainty, blushing face, and
looked steadfastly into the big wistful
brown eyes.
'Virgie,' he said, IN those firm, stern
tones that no man had ever dared to
dlsobey, 1T is my wish and will that you
marry Sextus Weldon. You think you
love another, but at your age love is
but lightning fash of passion and
fancy. l know best what will make
you happy. Therefore 1 have chosen
your husband for you.
4 dlstrust and despise Sextus We'll
don.' returHed the girl, passionately,
springing to her feet. 1T IS your
| money not me ne cares lOr'
A strange look waversd oyer the
round ruddy visagc Of the old gentle
man.
Another romantic hallucination, my
child, he said. The young man idolizes
you. Do you think your old father
does not know the signs Of love? And.
my pretty lamb, Sextus is very rich,
and l would like to have you the wife
of wealthy man when 1 am gone.'
4 had rather be poor and contented,
papa sobbed his child.
Then the old mans eyes grew stormy
with the anger sue feared.
You ungrateful girl kow ungrateful
you will never know till 1 am dead
Have not been kind to you: Have
eyer asked you TO DO anything that was
not for your welfare Have you net
been happiest when you pleased me
most? What is the experience Of TWEEN.
ty compared to that OF seventy? Vir-
gina, promise ME that you will give up
Hugh Girard, and pledge yourself to
Sextus Weldon when he asked you?
4 promise, answered the awed and
weeping girl, and then with tender
kiss, Captain Dulnare seat her away,
being well pleased.
What varied and momentus events
are otttime crowded into single hour
OF lifetime.
Before the sun Of that day set, Vr-
ginie Dulnare wore on one lity-white,
rose-tipped finger a magnificent dla
mond ring-the symbol Of her betrothal
to Sextus Weldon. Aud scarcely had
the cold, yellow crclet 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-eyed
man, but single gesture Of that sealed
hand stopped their utterance.
He looked into her face. That face
was icy white, but the brown eyes
were like stars of fire.
4 understand, Virginia. he said
slowly; they have sold sou for gold.
You loved me, but you were weak.
God help you, darling!
And so Hugh Girard went his way,
and Virginia Dulnare fell on her knees,
weeping piteous tears in the twilight
dusk,
A stranger sound aroused her.
They were calling her to her fathers |
chamber.
Trembling, shivering and heart-sck
with strange, portentious dread heavy |
on her heart, she ebeyed the summons. !
Captain Dulnare sat as she had left
him, in his easy chair: but the frsst
white locks that struggled over the
crimson velvet, framed in bioodless,
rigid face.
Captain Dulnare was dead.
There was q mournful time the
necessary inquest, the death watch, and
tie rather pompous funeral-but it
passed as all things Of anguish and de-
| light must pass in this world of chances.
Then came the reading of the dead
mans will, and the settlement OF his
financial affairs.
And with these gross matters Of
business and lucre,' there came to the
pale, stricken Virginia, terrible dis
closure.
Captain Dulnare's large liabilities,
secured by heavy mortgages, and bis
floating debts, swallowed up everything.
The heiress in prospective was utterly
penniless.
But that was the smallest sorrow.
For by papers Of proof leh, Virginle
w., declared to be q child Of adoption.