Litchfield enquirer., 1881-02-24
WHOLE NO. 29OS

I offer some words of explanation, perhaps of comfort, to me. In my wild theory had
 faith enough yet to believe that she would I come to me. =. -'"
 And she came With her hood thrown back
 and tears brimming in her eyes she advanced,
 both hands extended to me- The tall man by
 whom she was accompanied stood, some fifty
 paces away. as though he respected us, and
 woulG leave us to ourselves. io'.Nirginie?" I cried, ''you have returned | you have come back to me !" b Ea had forgotten everything at the sight of
 her, at the contact of her hands with mine. I
 remembered only that loved her desperate Armand, have come te ask your forgive
 ness, ifyou will grant it to meas I pray you "What does it mean p
 '"That have deceived you, in my own
 selnsh interests very cruelty; and that have only your hate to look to-" Iaj'sThat man. who is he ?''
 "My Ifathef--an escaped prisoner from the French Goverument--a political refugee who
 stands at last where tyranny cannot touch him. Il have been living here, and watching here, two years, in hope of his escape have
 waited for him, oh so long and hopelessly,
 until you-r|''s 10 aI1o -g oat io ,.
 ,o .stsIYour father !" I exclaimed :; ''ohl thank
 God let me go to him-let me-" - IF, "No-please. ,no-for my sake-' ..5s .., Q, "Is there another myatery-do know all '- s.Nct rat :, so'i si.u auUn4.H,.. g. ..i.'
 "Ha,!ds it true that you were Tn Paris at
 the Opera Bal masqre 2 few nights ago p '-' | ssQuite true" she answered. 'i'I met my
 fathers friends there, and'it was in that mot
 ley, dissipated crowd that some earnest souls plotted his deliverance.' .11'-t. | s"But-p .a q. 4n.. at. .is .a H t'But I was spy, Armand, to you, she
 continued. l ''It was the knowledge that you
 were travelling in England that set me on your
 track, Orders were telegraphed to me to seek I you out-to make you my friendryou, son of the Minister-to deceive you. And. she aar ! ded sorrowfuly, 'tI have done so." ,, I "A spy :" I echoed "a spy !' '' ' t'For my fathers sake-a spy Yes, that is ! all am-and all have been-apd can ever be to you. And if you will forgive me, know | ing how I loved that father, and how cruelty ! he had beep treated by his ehemies-if You
 will only say forgiveness shall be happy pres ently" '.5
 "You should be happy now you have at tained all that you strove fOr-why should | any words of mine be of any comfort ?" q .,.. ''Because--it is only you whom have de-
 ceived, and you thought so highly of me, and had 30 deep faith. Because, Tshe said, .''iI
 was by that letter which you left with me
 that we forged your fathers signature to an ] order for the immediate release of one terribly l unfortunate-b -because--'.i l.-.. ..a rzs .tr [ "Ha remember; yes. that scas treach-
 cry" l'1' '.' 'It was a daughters love surmounting every trust but one-hecause of that, forgive 1 me, Armand, if you can." ... "1 have been cruelty deceived" "Because am going away to make his life
 content 7because Ishall never see you again forgive me, do !" ,...,......,. ...,,,,-,,.. Ser was silent. 'I.1 '' st''Because am unhappy, even in the midst of my success-becanse we part thus, and for-' ever-because, Armand, had learned to
 love you very deeply at the last, and knew | net what to do l" 1 -s. r.~ r..t5 "Virginie-is this true ?"
 "Heaven be ny witness that it is, she an-
 swered solemnly.
 ''Then-"
 "Nay-let me go my way now, forgiven by
 the only man have loved-and deceived. God bless you-kiss me-and good bye" ! She held her face up to me like little
 child, and l stopped and kissed it-sign of forgiveness and of my strange love for her. | Then she tOttered away, and would have | fallen, had not hastened after her, and SUD-
 ported her steps toward the grim man waiting for his daughter He raised his hat as we ap- preached, and she passed from me to him
 and saw her no more in all my after life.- | BelgraviG.