Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1904-06-04
CHAPTER NNNvHI.

lFAENErrE AND VIRGINIA.
johnny Rogers realized am that she
i.al icopardizcd 10y her sudden e~gage-
mcut. but was not disposed 20 submit
To iho consequences of hcr folly with
out q struggle Since the artist still
loved her. She would meet that love
and hail the return whatever it might
might cost the man who had taken adj
vantage OF her momentary weakness
e. bind her 10 himself To break away
from tho man who held her troth. that
she might ny 90 the man who held her
heart was All her hope. all her pur-
pose. To insure fuldllment 20 this
hope and 10 make certainty of this pur-
pose. She SAT- down after breakfast 10
write her betrothed letter
But when she came 90 take the pen
IN hey hand. she troubled. Al, this
was uot So easy task after all, II she
had recoled nt times from giving up
1lc millions that had come 10 her In SO
wonderful q way. how much more rea-
son had she Tor recoiling from an net
thai not only meant the sacrifice Of her
fortune. hut the betrayal OF secret
that involved her honor and every
claim 10 happiness which she pos
SeSScd. ! do not think she could have
proceeded with her confessions il
Clairctte had not brought her az this
critical moment a letter which gave
her The impetus necessary Co carry
through her protest. 1t was from th,
artist and ran thus:
My Best Bcloved-You have refuse,
L. see me. Is this because 1 have
come too late: Darling. I had my eN
cuses. I will explain them 10 You i
.ou viii give me the opportunity. ID
nor Judge me without knowing tn
facts. for whatever indifference l ma.
have shown YOU. I here avow that m
heart has been beating with your
thrOb for thrOb. ever since the me
inent YOU drew my eyes 10 yours. an
made me SEE that Won were willin
60 give up all the world for the devoio
81 your artist lover.
HAMILTON DEGRAW."
Such words. coming az this momen
made her path plain before her or 5
the desperate child thought. a fer
ardor Of devotion awoke within be
and though her trembling was not le
Seuod md her checks took on the IN
o. fear. she seized the empty shee
hclorc he- and Transcribed the bur
ia- words which she knew would G
fcctrally sever all connection betwe'
herself and her true-heartcd benefa
tor II was noon when her letter w
completed ana her feverish eyes n
r.aftI Inns eviuc,1 what tho task n.
ncen 20 her But she gave no e.
dences of hnching. and folded up 4
letter and addressed il to Hamilt'
DeSraw. Esq with unyielding dets
mination. Only when il came 10 h
taking from q certain secret drawer Z
deed and various papers upon viii
her fortune depended. did she sh,
any signs Of weakening. And tn,
not because OF any secret lOngin
toward the wealth represented by tbs
various documents. but because she {
not feel quite assured that she h
said all that was necessary. in
long but not exhaustive letter. ;
had told her secret and repudiated
Delaney legacy. but she had not nan
her successor. should she? Had |
tie right: No: but Il would be
pleasant to think that the dear III
school teacher who had every vir
and every charm save that OF an
haltiEg gait. should reap the bene
that were no longer hers As
thought OF IL. she took a resolut
She would visit this lady and see