The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-03-06


hnger 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 tho
bearded lips Of the handsome, blue eyed
man, but single gesture Of that sealed
hand stopped their utterance.
lie looked into her face. That face
was icy white, but the brown eyes were
like stars Of FIRE.
u understand, Virginia, he said slowly;
they have sold you 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, weep.
Ing piteOus tears in the twilight dusk.
A stranger sound aroused her.
They were calling her to her fathers
chamber.
Trembling, shiveriDg and heart. sick with
strange, pOrtentious dread heavy on her
heart, she obeyed the summons.
Captain Dulnare sat us she had left him,
in his easy chair but the frost white locks
that struggled over the crimson velvet,
framed in bloodless rigid face.
Captain Dulnarc was dead.
There was n mournful time-thc neees.
sary inquest, the death watch, and the
rather Pompous fuueral-but it passed as
oil things Of anguish aud delight must pass
in this world Of chances
Then came the reading Of the dead
mans will, and the settlement of his fuan-
cial affairs.
And with these gross matters Of busi-
ness and lucre, there came to the pale,
stricken Virginia, terrible disclosure.
Captain Dulnaros large liabilities, Sc
cured by heavy mortgages, aud his floating
debts, swallowed up everything.
The heiress in prospective was utterly
pOnniless.
But that was the smallest sorrow.
For by papers Of proof left, Virginia
was declared to be child of adoption.
She had been leli when baby on the rich
mans doorstep, and he had reared her as
his own.
And after three weeks Of grievous en-
barrassment, Virginia was thrust out into
the world with no hope except what she
had fixed upon Sextus Weldon.
lie only came once, aud his tones were
altered aud supercilious.
No matter what be said
But Virgiuias sweet face flushed, and
she tore the betrothal ring from her shak-
ing hand and gave it back to one who was
not 10th to receive it.
Then she went into the world TO win
her bread-not an easy task for one luxu.
riously reared.
She thought she could do dressnaking
nicely; but to every store and shop to
which she applied she was greeted with
the one answer.
"Work is rather slack just now, and
Of course, what we have to give is given
to the employees who have been with us
longest"
1t was from the doors of one of these
palatial places that she tottered one day,
weak from hunger, and on the marble
steps sank down in a deathly swoon.
A lady in velvet and silk with plumes
of grey sweeping over her silvery hair,
had just assembled from her coupe. She
saw the PROSTATE form, aud looking into
the drawn, white face, started.
"Put this child into the coupe, and
drive home, she said abruptly, TO the
liyeried groom.
The man obeyed, thinking that of all
the mad freaks Of his honored mistress,
this was the maddcsi.
So, when Virginia awokc from her long
still swoon, she found herself in quaint,
old fashioned chamber, and not alone.
"Where am |, and who are you ?" she
asked, family, of the stately woman who
bent over the couch.
"You are with one who will never for.
sake you, my child, even if you had known
sin aud shame before found you" said
the sweet.faced woman, holding close the
quiveriug hands.
IL have never sinned; but have been
shamed to the soul by the frowns of pow
erty, answered Virginia, while the hectic
grew hotter on her cheeks.
"Be calm, dear, and listen to what |
have to tell you. When | saw you first |
lying like one dead on those cold granite
steps, | loved you. You looked, Virginia,
as my husband looked when be lay ia 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 isg
Virginia could not mistake the expires.
sion Of the fond, sweet handsome face bent
so close to her own.
"YOu are my mother, she said.
II am your mother, my darling an
swered the LADY, "and heuceforth, for
Virginia Champuey, there shall be no more
toll nor trouble if can prevent H."
And only for the memory Of Hugh Cir
ard, she would have been quite happy.
As the daughter Of Que Of the wealth.
est aud aristocralio ladies Of tho city, she
was perhaps moro admired aud sought for
than Virginia Dulnare had even been.