The morning times., 1895-08-06

It's CLINT of gold, strewn over the pillows,
which were not SO white as the Waxen
cheeks
'One ny one the guests stole out, leaving
three fISure5 kneeling at her bedside; the
mother brOken-hearted at her great loss,
the father cursing himself for her untimely
end, and the young lover praying the dear
Lord 10 take him TO his beloved one
Wei, dear, il was a teqTible time
they say. The father and the mother
lived on into a lonely old age, but Royal
Stanton never rallied from the shock and
in less than q year lay beside the girl he
loved better than life.
Yes. dear, it was heart disease. She
had been subject 10 attacks when little
child, but was thought TO have outgrown
them.
And now, daughter, away to bed. or
you VIII miss your beauty sleep" urged
matter-of-fact Mrs. Carter" who did not
believe in allowing the romances and love
tales OF century ago to weigh on her
spirits
AS Virgie walked through the hall that
night she mag med it peopled in all the
shadowy corners with old-time oOurtiers
and bepowdered danes. She fancied
Virginia on the night Of her death walking
slowly and sadly up the great, broad stair
way, her long, white gown trailing behind
her.
i'll the attic, lowering over the old cedar
chest. Such strong, manly letters as they
were, every line replete with tenderness
for the girl he loved; such beautiful plans
for their future; the years We're TO be like
an exquisite dream. Among them lay a
small packet, tied with faded violet rib
bons With rembiing fingers she un-
fastened the lovers knot, thinking OF the
other dainty white ones which had tied
them so long ago.
1t contained miniature of young man,
in the continental dress, his high-bred,
naughty face sOftened by The tender mouth
and beautiful eyes. Such gay picture
it was, with its fow-lg laces and plumed
hat The girl sat as If bewithched by the
deep, dark eyes looking into hers. She
knew that this must be Royal stanton,
her great-aunt' lover.
Now she knew why the Virginia OF long
ago chung so 10 this man. How could she
help il? He was a man 10 the hearts core;
a manly man with heart as tender as q
woman's.
such n mans love was worth kings
ransOm." thought the young girl, as she
gaZed at the O.d-fashioned miniature.
Men are not like that nowadays"
sighed Vtrgie. as she Closed the chest.
They have not the oId-tiEne bravery; they
put less value on love On, how / would
honor such a man
And all that evening pair OF dark eyes,
gazing out from under a plumed nat,
danced before her on the pages OF the
music, as she played softly TO herself,
that she might dream on uudisturbed by
the voices in the dTawing-room. In her
dreams that night the same pair or dark
eyes haunted her. She lived Tor days in
the midst of xSat she had read and heard.
The old house was full of nementOes Of
the days when the lovers had lived and
loved. just as young people GO now.
II seemed as If she We're under a spell
and almost dreaded the awakening.
The season was full Of gayety. She went
everywhere. but enjoyed nothing with the
ZeSt of former days.
Her young friends remarked on her quiet
ways, and with supreme effort she
aroused herself to appear with something
at least of her old-time gayety. Several
weeks later there was considerable excite
ment among the young people occasioned
by the runlors OF a Washington birthday
party, to be given in the old Town Hall,
under the cIaperoGage OF several or the
most exclusive society ladies.
There was running in at all hours upon
friends and acquaintance in the quest Of
bits of old-tine finery.
The few fortunate ones who possessed
heirloOmS displayed them with pride
Mrs Carter was besieged, and with her
usual good nature, opened trunks and
boxes 10 be tossed over by the girls The
old cedar chest Virgie guarded jealousy.
At last the eventful night arrived, clear,
cold and moonlight, night just fit for
such revels.
The sleigh stood at the door; Mrs Car
ter and Tom were awaiting yirgie's ap-
pearance.
They heard her light football on the
stairs, but neither spoke.
Mrs. Carter could only gasp, and Tom
blew long whistle.
There she stood, the beautiful Virginia
Garter of olden days stepped out of the
golden frame.
The same sweet face. the identical gown,
soft gauZy, white, over which ran stripes
of dull pink roses. High-heeIed satin slip
pers, with their immense jeweled buckles,
encased her small feet: the brown hair
piled high on her graceful head, caught by
a snood of pink ribbons.
"Will l Go?'' she asked, laughing softly
at their diSmay.
dot 1 say, Virg, you're beautyI'
says Tom with decision.
"Oh, my dear my dear: / don't Ike to
see you nthat frock; you are so the image
of the other one" says Mrs. Carter, Gu-
biousIy.
The old hall was gay with garlands of
evergreens, Ipterspersed with the stars
and Stripes.
The orchestra was nldden Deuinu q net
work of green.
The whole place was flooded with light
brighter than monday.
Young Mr. and Mrs Radcliffe. dressed
as George and Lady Washington, led the
mnuet.
The young girls. in their old-time dresses,
the young men in their powdered wigs and
knee-brpeches. made quaint picture bow
ing and curtsying right and left.
artn nEnhn6lGH
spirit; she seemed born to the dress; every
motion was full Of grace.
The sweetly serious eyes seemed trlfle
sadder than usual; the tender curvmS
lips dropped Il little like grieyed child;
but she danced on with the rest, and many
a young fellow would have given great
deal to have aroused her interest.
AS the last gay strains of the mfnuet
tremblcd on the air her partner seated her
beside her mother, who was talking to
two gentlemen. one an old white-haired
man, whom she recognized as Mr.. Topman,
an old friend of her father. The other was
stranger.
She could see even from his back he was
young
There was something familiar about the
tall commanding figure; his black veIvet
coat and knee breeches were in the spirit
of the day
At her approach they turned toward her.
One look into his face. and IL seemed as
If her heart would never heat again. She
felt she must be going mad and tried to
arouse herself, but the dark eyes bent upon
her held her as If by a spell. She heard