Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-04-16

y
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 scaled hand
stopped their utterance
He looked into her face. That face was
icy white, but the brown eyes were like stars
of fire.
81 understand, Virginia" he said slowly,
'they have sold you for gold. You loved
me, but You were weak. God help you,
darlingw
And so Hugh Girard went his way, and
Virginia Dulnare fell on her knees, weeping
pteous tears in the twilight dusk
A stranger sound aroused her.
They were calling her to her fathers
chamber.
Trembling, shivering and heart-sick with
a strange, portentious dread heavy on her
heart, she obeyed the summons.
Captain Dulnare sat as 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 Dulnare was dead
There was u mournful time-the neces-
sary inquest, the death watch, and the rather
pompous funeral-but it passed as all things
of anguish and delight 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 disclosure
Captain DulnareS large liabilities, secured
by heavy mortgages, and his floating debts,
swallowed up everything.
The heiress in prospective was utterly
penniless.
But that was the smallest sOrrow
For by papers of proof left, Virginia was
declared to be II child of adoption. She had
been left when baby on the rich mans
doorstep, and he reared her AS his own
And after three weeks OF grievous embar-
rassment, Virginia was thrust out into the
world with no hope except what she had
fixed upon Sextus Weldon.
He only came once and his tones were
altered and supercilious.
No matter what he said.
But Virginia's sweet face flushed, and she
tore the betrothal ring from her shaking
hand and gave it back to one who was not
10th to receive it.
| Then she went into world to win her
bread-not an easy task for one luxuriousy
reared.
She thought she could do dressmaLing
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 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 pros
trate form, and 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 obcysd, thinking that Of all the
mad freaks Of his hOnOred mistress this was
the maddest
So, when Virginia awoke from her long
still swoon. she found herself in IL 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 iorsake
you, my child, even if you had known sin
and shame before | found YOU" said the
sweet-iaced woman, holding close the quiv-
ering hands
81 have never sinned but | have been
shamed to the soul by the lrowns of poy-
erty," answered Virginia, while the hectic
grew hotter on her cheeks.
"Bc 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, ~ my
husband looked when he lay in bis coffin
] found your name marked on your cloth.
ing II was the name Of little child who
was stolen from me years and years ago.
While you have been lying here III, have
made happy discovery. Can you guess
what il isl'
Virginia could not mistake the expression
Of the fond, sweet, handsome face bent 50
close TO her own,
"iou are my mother" she said.
81 am yeur mother, my darling" an
swered the lady; "and hcnceiorth, for Vir.
ginia Champney, there shall be no more toll
nor trouble II can prevent IT,"
And only for the memory Of Hugh Girard,
she would have been quite happy.
As the daughter Of one of the wealthest
and aristocratic ladies Of the city, she was
perhaps more admired and sought TOR than
Virginia Dulnare had even been.
And 50 it happened that one day Sextus
Weldon came to WOO her.
at was very cruel for you 10 refuse me as
you did. Why did you break our engage
ment, Virgieg' he asked, with mock sorrow
and humility. ~ want you for my wife,
dear"
And with scorn in her eyes, and disdain
on her lips, the girl rejected his suit
"'rhe impudence Of the fellow Il anus.
ing" laughed Mrs. Champney "When Capt
Dulnare chose II husband for you, he should
have chosen more wisely. | think shall be
a better matchmaker, yrgle"
Are you 10 anxious u lose mel asked
the girl, with humorous naiote.
Mrs Champney smoothed her grey trcsses,
soberly
"Yirgnia, you must marry sometime, you
L