The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-25

sired that her niece return to France, or if she felt unable to make so long d voyage that Virginia be sent to her. She would rear the girl her own and leave her, at her deatn her fortune.
 No" exclaimed Mme de la Tour when she had read the letter, none of us will
 leave this valley for the chances of the world Here we have found peats and here we will live and die" Paul took her in his arms. "l will 80 to the Indies," he said. ''I will labor for you and you shall never feel want. Only short voyage and l will be back again with enough so that our future here Is secure" But out from Port St. Louis came riding the governor, M. de la Bour1onnais lie was all state ly courtesy to the mother of Virginia now for the aunt in Paris had great ln- fluence and had she not taken her niece , into favor once more?
 He seated himself at their humble table and praised their simple way of living. But" he added. when Mme de la Tour announced that neither she nor her daughter desired to visit France. you cannot with justice deprive this estlmable young lady of so noble an inheritance, and l tell you frankly that l have re- ceived instructions to secure your daughter being sent to her aunt, even if il should be necessary to use force" He then took a large bag of money from one
 
 table, saying: This has been sent for the expenses of your daughters outfit. and more is at your disposal"
 The governor went away, and a day or two after came the priest from the church at the Shaddock Grove Like the gov ernor, who had requested him 10 make the visit, he urged that it would not be right for Mme. de la Tour. from a selfish desire to keep her daughter with her. to sacrifice all that young lady's future worldly prospects. Mmo. de la Tour list ened with much perturbation of spirit and finally consented to leave the decision with Virginia.
 "If it is the command of God l will not oppose it. said Virginia. Let the will of God be done; and as she said these words she wept.
 Paul was frantic when he heard of the decision Margaret took her aside and said Why, my dear boy, will you cherish vain hope which will render your disappointment only the more bitter? It is time for me to reveal to you the se- cret of your life and mine. Mme. de la Tour belongs on her mothers side to a rich and noble family. while you are but the son of a poor peasant girl And then she told him the secret of his birth.
 "Oh my dear mother! cried Paul "I see now why Mme. de Ia Tour has es- tranged herself from me so much for the  termined 10 go to France. An, l perceive too well that she despises mer cried Paul
 That night, when Virginia seated herself in secluded retreat overlooking the ocean to muse on the fate which was be- fore her Paul went and sat by her side. 'You are going away he said. You will find brother more worthy of you than am l, who you will choose from among the rich and noble. An. since your lot is changed, since you seek in a far country other possessions than the fruits of my labor let me go with you In France, where you are going, I will walt on you as your slave. Happy only in your happiness. you will find in those palaces where l shall see you receiving the homage of the rich and noble and find me rich and noble enough myself to make the greatest of all sacrifices by dying at your feeti'
 The violence of his emotions stopped his speech, and Virginia answered in a voice broken by sobs: Tt Is for you I go. whom I see tired to death every day by the labor of supporting two helpless fam