The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-25

that uprooted trees and spread devas- tation far and wide over the fruitful plantations. The awful thunder which re-echoed through the woods. the plains and the valleys spoke the com mon doom. The rain fell from the skies in cataracts; foaming torrents | rushed down the mountain sides; the , bottom of the valley became a lake 1 and the elevated platform of which | the cottages stood an island The &C., cumulated waters, having no other outlet. rushed with violence down through the narrow gorge which led to the valley, bearing along with them the accumulated wreck of soil. trees and rocks.
 When the storm had passed and Paul and Virginia came to view the wreck of the valley, they saw the two cocoa unt trees still standing fresh and erect above Virginia's Resting Place. But they were no longer surrounded by turf or arbors or birds. except a few the neighboring rocks in plaintive notes the loss of their young.
 'tAh," exclaimed Virginia, you brought birds here and the storm has killed them; you planted trees and the tempest uprooted them. Every thing on earth perishes and 1t is only Heaven that endures."
 oh6WCASQ raul Can l not give you something which belongs to Heaven? But, alas, have nothing of my own. even of earth"
 You have the picture of St. Paul" replied Virginia. As soon as she had uttered these words the boy fled in quest of this picture. It was A minia- ture of Paul the Hermit. which Marra- ret had worn about her neck as a child and which, before the birth of her son she had so contemplated that the childs features had contracted strong resemblance to those of tbe saint; She had hung 1t around his neck and given him the name of the mar who. first betrayed and then forsaken Dy mankind, had passed his life far from his fellow man.
 My dear brother" cried virsinta when Paul placed the miniature in har hands T will never part from this while 1 live"
 Shortly after this there came in ship from Europe bearing a letter for Mime. de la Tour from her aunt The aunt desired that her niece return to franoe. or IT felt unable to make so long voyage that Virginia be sent to her. She would rear the girl as ber own and leave her. at her death. her fortune.
 No" exclaimed Mime de Ia To,r when she had read the letter. "none of us will leave this valley for tbe chances of the world. Here We have Iound peace and here will we live and die" Paul took her in his arms. I will go to the Indies." he said, q win Ia- bor for you and you shall never feeI want Only a short voyage and T uiII be back again with enough so that our future here Is secure" But ouf from Port St.. Louis came riding the governor NJ de la Bourdonnais. He wa al Gf1 al
 of Virginia now, for the aunt in Paris had great influence 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 Mime de la Tour announced that neither she nor her daughter desired to visit France, you cannot with justice de- prive this estimable young lady of so noble an inheritance. and I tell you frankly that I have received instruc- tions to secure your daughter being sent to her aunt. even if it should be necessary to use force" He then took a large bag of money from one of his attendants and threw 1t on the table, saying This has been sent for the expenses of your daughters outft. 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 governor, who had requested him to 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 pros- poets. Mme de la Tour listened with much perturbation of spirit and finally consented to leave the decision wTTh Virginia.
 eff 1t is the command oh God will not oppose it." said Virginia. Let the will of God be done; and she said these words she wept