The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-05-28

those other brave fellows whose rest.
Ing place is in our cemetery 1.-THE men
Who were ,pitted against u In that aw.
tul struggle who fell as devoted mar.
tyrs to cause which they believed
to be right. Remember them, also,
with your flowers. your tears and your
/ prayers" - '*+>F 49, ~
III a secluded part Of the cemetery
that afternoon Richard Challoner
stood alone beside grave which was
marked by a. granite headstone bear
ing, the name of his father. So occu.
pied was he with his own gloomy
thoughts that he did not notice the
timid. hesitating approach Of Dorothy
Brant until she was within few feet
OF him. He Strengthened, up then, and
greeted her with solemn. courtly
bow, while his cheek flushed. The girl
was very pale, and her eyes were red
with weeping. She carried an armful
of roses, which she silently and rev.
erently deposited on the dead confed-
crates grave. Then, facing the man
opposite with a;look Of plying appeal,
she took from her bosom a letter and
handed it across to: him.
Read this, Richard" she said, in a
frightened, quivering voice. 1T was
written by your father to my mother
many years ago, before~I was born.
1t has been preserved among mann
mas other treasures, left at her death.
Aunt Mary found it last night, and l.
we wanted you to see it, and-please
don't refuse. Richard" g
written by my father to your
mother?" he said, slowly, with a deep
ly puzzled look.
Yes. yes. Oh, please read it: It
will help you to understand. This is
my last request, Richard"
He said no more, but took the let
ter from its time-worn envelope and
read:
Mrs. Levison Brant.-Dear Madam. It
pains me to learn that your husbands
supposed responsibility for my condition
has almost Frustrated you. Pray do not
worry on that score. 1 assure you from
my Utmost soul that I not only forgive
your husband. but have already begged
AAS AOA 6ASCASSS LUZ AOICAH6 AAuA ~ COuIult
an act which he so deeply deplores. The
fault was entirely my own. and I alone
am the one who should suffer. Believe
me, / am profoundly sorry for what hap
pened, and it Is not q sorrow that is in
fluenced by selfish considerations, or the
fear Of DEATH Since l have been in this
hospital Col. Brant has become my most
| valued and best-beloved friend. What he
has done for me can never be told, but
he has made me realize that there are
the south, and that he is one of the
noblest men In the world. thank you,
dear madam, for giving me this oppor-
tunity to say that, so far from feelina
| resentment, I entertain only sentiments
| OF warmest friendship and gratitude to.
ward your husband. Sincerely yours,
| WILLIAM .CHALLONER.
The color came and went in the
young mans face as he read, and the
light in his eyes softened to tende,
glow. Finishing, he crumpled the let
ter convulsively in his hand, and
came round the headstone of the
grave at half-dozen quick strides.
Dorothy" he cried, Selling he1
hand, this is a glorious revelation tt
me. Let us hunt up your father a.
once. will 60 down on my knees tt
him If you like. With you for a wife
and Col. Brant for a father-in-law
shall be the happiest man in Poplar
Ville."