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

to which she applied she was greete,
with the one answer.
! Work is rather slack just now, an
Of course. what we have to give is give
to the employees who have been wit
US longest"
II was from the doors of one Of thes
palatial places that she tottered on
day, weak from hunger, and on th
mackle steps sank down in a DEATH
swoon.
A lady in velvet and silk with plume
Of grey sweeping over her sllyery hair
had just ascendod from her coupe. Sh
saw the prostrate. form, and lookinl
iuto the drawn, white face, started.
Put this child into the coupe, AM
drive home,' she said abruptly, to tn
liverled groom.
The man obeyed, thinking that Of al
the mad freaks OF bis honored mlstr
ess. this was the maddest.
So, when Virginie awoke from he
long still swoon, she found herself in {
quaint, old fashioned chamber, and no
alone.
where am l, and who are you p sht
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 haC
known sin and shame before 1 found
you, said the sweet-faccd woman, hold
ing close the quiyerlng hands.
1 have never sinned; but have beer
shamed to the soul by the frowns o.
poverty answered Virginia, while the
hectic scarlet grew hotter on her cheeks
BE calm, dear, and listen to what ]
have to tell you. When l saw you first
lying like one dead on those cold graz
ite steps, 1 loyed you. You looked,
virginie, as my husband looked when
he lay IN his coffin. 1 found your name
marked on your clothing. 1t was the
name Of a little child who was stolen
from me years and years ago. While
you have been lying here i'll, l have
made q happy discovery. Can you
guess what it is p
Virgluia could not mistake the express
sion of the fond, sweet handsome face
bent so close TO her own.
You are my mother she said.
I am your mother, my darling ALL
swered the lady ; and hencetorth, for
Virginle Champney, there shall be no
more toll nor trouble il | can prevent
it,
And only for the memory Of Hugh
Girard, she would have been quite hap
py.
AS the daughter Of one of the wealth..
est and most aristocratic ladies Of the
city, she was perhaps more admired
and sought for than Virginie Dulnare
had even been.
And so it happened that one day
Sextus Weldon came to WOO her.
1t was very cruel for you to refuse
me as you did. Why did you break our
engagement, Virpie p he asked, with
mock sorrow and humility. L want
you for my wife, DEAR
And with scorn in her eyes, and dis
dam on her lips, the girl rejected his
suit.
The lmpudence OF the fellow is anus
ing laughed Mrs. Champney. When
Capt. Dulnare chose a husband for you,
he should have chosen more wisely.
I thlak shall be a better match.ma- =
ker, Virgie.'
Are you so anxious to lose me-?
asked the girl, with humorous nai'ete.'
Mrs. Champney smoothed her grey
tresses, .sOberly,
'VirginIe, you must marry ssmetlme'
YOU know. But that is no reason why
you shall not still remain nay daughter.
1 only hope that your future husband
may prove as good and tender and faith
ful as your father was. And now put
on YOUR hat and shawl; l am going
to take you to see the hero OF a ro-
nance. He is the son Of one Of the
old friends of my schoolgirl day, Once
upon a time we made foolish compact,
that our first son and daughter should
become husband and wife.
'Oh = gasped Virginie, thinking OF
Hungh Girara. and wondering, with a
shudder, If she was to be victim OF
matchmaking all her life.
We'll, this poor fellow fell IN love
with beautiful girl, who loved him,
she rejected him or a richer lover. In
his despair he left his native place, aud
IA California-that land of gold--he
made q fortune. But with money came
misery also. He came home, and, it is
said, to die ; Virgie, you are SO sweet
and winning that l think you can catch
this desolate heart in the response, you
know. Then that old compact shall
not have been made in vain.
Vlrginls listened with a sinking
heart.
Il can't marry this man unless he
asks me- she returned, bitterly.
He will ask you,' was the decisive
response, as the big, piebald roam was
reinea up before a fashionable boarding
house.
Mrs. Champney led her daughter to
A beautiful room on the second floor.
Listen, she said, pausing before tho
door that was slightly ajar.
'virgie, my lost love |! YIrgie-oh
my virgieP