Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
A Virginia Romance.

While visiting an old friend in Vir-
glnla village month ago | attended
worship one Sunday ut the parish
church, and was very much attracted
by an aged and handsome couple who
sat IN the pew opposite me. The pas
tor preached very interesting sermon
on The Prodigal Sons Return"
which, | noticed, affected the old lady
to tears, and had q marked effect on
the gentleman. / mentioned the cir
cumstance that evening to my friend,
when she related to me the following
sad, true story:
The old couple were Mr.. and Mrs.
Colonel D.. They were both of the
most aristocratic, wealthy families of
Virginia Colonel D was an hon
orable, upright gentleman, but very
proud and passionate. He had one
son, Gus" his only heir-a warm
hearted, generous. pleasing young man,
just turning his twenty-frst year. He
was well known throughout the coun-
try, and was beloved by all who knew
him. He inherited his fathers pride
but not his violent nature.
About mile from Colonel D-'s
residence lived a gentleman between
whose family and the Colonies feud
OF long standing existed. Colonel
D had frequently warned his son
not, under any circumstances, to visit
any member of the gentleman family.
A daughter of the hated house, on her
eighteenth birthday, gave large party,
to which all the young people were in
vited, including the venerable Colonies
son Gus. On hearing of the party and
his sons invitation to it, he sent for
him and most positively forbade him to
attend. The son promised he would
not.
The invitations were for four O. clock,
as q supper on the lawn was part of
the programme. About three O'Clock
on that day Gus called for his team, a
splendid pair of handsome graYs, and
ordered the coachman to drive him.
Some time after his departure, Colonel
D., who had been away since morn
ing, returned, and on asking for his
son was informed that he had driven
out q couple of hours ago. The Colonel
flew into a passion, called for his hunt
ing whip, mounted his horse and rode
swiftly toward the mansion of his
u6lSuDOT. AS ne OdSD6u rapidly
past he saw his sons team under the
trees, and cared for by his own coach
man. He kept on to q small shady
lane leading in an opposite direction
from the house, when he suddenly came
upon his son walking with young
lady, and, without a word, he rode up,
seized him, and cut him several times
over the face and back with his riding
whip you ungrateful scoundrel, ..
said he, ''never cross my path again. "
The Colonies face was white with pas
sion as he rode away.
This happened over fifteen years ago
and although thousands of dollars have
been spent, and every effort made to
find some trace of the missing man,
they have been Intellectual, and not one
person who knew him before has ever
seen his face since that day. The sad
truth was that the ColoneIs son, it was
found afterwards, had not gone to the
party, but loaned his team to young
friend to whom both his father and
himself were warmly attached, and
who drove Gus as far as the lane where
his father had met and chastised him in
the presence of her whom he loved, and
whom he had accidentally met. -Pbila-
neLIl1id Press.