The Press., 1894-03-22
MISS YICTORINB.
By MARY KYLE DALLAS.
lCopyright, 1893, by American Press Associa
 ion I

lCopyright. 1893. by American Press Associa-
 tion.l
 CHAPTER l.
 My school days were over. I had graduated at the Misses Trimmer's Col lege for Young Ladies with honors, es- pecially in mathematics. knew, as we phrased it among ourselves, French, German and Spanish; could paint flow CTS and do embroidery and drawn work.
 should be sorry if the Misses Trim mer could see my mistakes in simple multiplication nowadays, and as for my attempts to make myself understood abroad, the least said the better. Still, I can decorate my door panels and make as pretty cushions and bureau covers as any woman in the land. However, this is Aggression.
 This school going had been proba- tion insisted upon by my maternal grandfather when he made me his heir ess. From 13 to IS years of age was to attend this school kept by the three spinster daughters of General Jehoso- phat Trimmer, veteran of the Mexi- can war, who had also figured in the
 SSo ''must be imbued with the proper views" he declared. What he meant we quite understood. The proper views were what Victorine called 'northern views"
 Victorine had been young lady when the war broke out, while was not yet born. for though we had one father we had different mothers. Mine had of tended her relatives by jilting worthy young Harvard professor and choosing my father, even then not very young, but still supremely handsome. She died at my birth, and at my first remem- brance my father, Victorine and I lived on the old plantation, tyrannized over, cared for and loved by the last relic of the scattered band of servants, portly, ebony skinned Aunt Emily, an amiable tyrant, who toiled for HIS and adored us and managed what little there was to manage.
 One day when I was 14 came the news of my maternal grandfather s death. Ills fortune was to be mine on conditions. I was to be put to school in New York city and to remain there for five years. "To be weaned from home and me,'' said my father. My wife's father always hated me"
 ITO forget our lost cause, said Vic torine, "to become at heart a northern er."
 II will not go," said, II will not earn my fortune by exile from those l love. Five years-why, he might as we'll have said forever" I sat down to write an indignant refusal, to re- nounce the fortune offered on such terms, but the letter was never sent. That night my father died suddenly of heart disease.
 When our first wild passion of grief was over, Victorine and I found that we had very little left. A mortgage on the property would soon be fore closed. We must either find means to earn our own bread or be dependent on charity. When realized this, went to my own room, destroyed the letter I had written and in another accepted the terms of my grandfather's will.
 The sum apportioned for my private expenses at school would, ifproperly hus- banded, also keep Victorine from want. could save the old home, I could restore it to its former elegance-in fact, could do what chose. It was plainly l my duty to secure the fortune, but | dispatched the letter before telling Vic torine anything about it and endured | her reproaches, her invectives, her ac- | cusations.
 "You have sold your birthright for g mess of pottage, Persis, ' she said, and I will have none of your i'll gotten gain. I prefer singing in the streets for my bread" Victo1ine was musical. However, 1 sent my remittances to Aunt Emily, who bought provisions and fuel and even gowns for her Miss Vic torine," without consulting her in re- gard to the matter.
 The Misses Trimmer received me affectionately. ] was conducted at once to their distinguished father, General Trimmer, of whom they were no doubt justly proud, though in these days very little was left of him but few tufts of white hair and a high temper, and found that he was to provide me with the proper political sentiments, and for five years had been very busy earning my fortune. Now I was 19; was my own mistress. As I have said, was going home to Victorine to make her happy.
 The adieus had been uttered; my fel- low scholars and I had wept in each others arms. The Misses Trimmer had each given me token of their esteem in the shape of good book, the gen. eral had presented me with a badge oi the Grand Army of the Republic, which I earnestly hoped that Victorine would never discover amid my possessions, and 1 had been placed in the care of 8 captain of the Old Dominion line, as though I had been small piece o1 eggshell china and was in danger o1 breaking. Even the trip was over. had arrived at Norfolk, had taker the cars to a small station and was now being conveyed along the road in the old yellow stage, which I knew of yore Everything seemed unchanged. There