El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-16

!
Tor a time There he VIII be able TO
earn money with which to provide a
home for himself and Virginia
i To this plan Paul would not con-
sent 4 am needed here. Domingo is
oio and our mothers are alone. !
shall stay"
At this moment came another letter
rom the aunt in Normandy asking
that Virginia be sent to her for edu-
cation If she follows my wishes, -"
the aunt wrote, "she may look for
ward TO being my heiress."
Virginia was alarmed at this offer
and Paul was angry. The madams
decided against it.
The governor OF the island now
urged that Virginia be sent
I \ Missionary Of the island Joined
the governor in urging that Virginia
90 to her 6insWOmaE, and at last with
heart filled with anguish. mother
and daughter, thinking it Gods viii.
consented
Paul was puzzled by all this secret
Meanwhile Virginia's consent had
I brought from her aunt gold to pay
I Ior clothes and jewels and her pas
{ sage, and she was a transformed be-
/ ing In her muslin and taffeta- with
I her hair in the manner of the period
she looked the duchess. and Paul was
tnroWn into despair at sight OF her
! beauty and her alien magniffcence.
! Distressed by his GRIEF and hoping
: TO cure him OF his false hopes Mar
: guerlte now told him that he was only
J the Legitimate son Of a peasant.
J while Virginia was the daughter of
I noble woman
3 Paul, pressing her in his arms. as
: sured her that as he had no other rel
: alive, he would love her the more.
{ But see now why Madame de La
{ Tour avoids me"
As the thought Of losing Virginia
( came to him, Paul lost control Of
I himself Clasping her in his arms, he
said; am going with you. Moth
I ing shall part US I swear il by the
sea that must cross, by the air. to
/ which have never breathed a lie"
Nevertheless, Virginia was taken
! away from him while he was wander
: ing in the forest mad with his fears.
I When he returned TO the cabin ami
found her gone, he rushed to a high
point from which the outgoing vessel
! could be seen, and there he stood till
the darkness fell and the night winds
began 10 sing, their songs in his ear.
Thereafter when he saw the two
mothers weeping, he bitterly said.
seek someone else to wipe away
your tears"
At last he turned his thought to the
garden and TO new task He deter
mined to learn TO read He wished to
be able to read OF the country to
which his love had gone In a very
short time he was able to read. and
when at last q letter came from Vir-
ginia he was able to read it for him
SELF II was a sweet letter. but not a
cheerful one The girls heart was in
her happy island, and she asked Paul
Z 10 plant the flower seeds which she
sent, upon the spot where they had
last talked together-a place she call
ed Farewell Rock
As the months passed, envious folk
Z began TO whisper that Virginia was
about TO marry a nobleman. and Paul
was prey TO doubt and despair.
One morning at daybreak Paul saw
4 white flag flying on Mount Discov-
cry II was a sign that a ship was in
the Offing. A little later a letter
from Virginia to Madame de La Tour
was handed to Paul Rapturously
kissing It, he thrust it into his bosom
and fastened to his home. To all the
household madame read the letter.
Virginia was coming homei She
would soon land. Masters and ser
wants all embraced
Ny SON." said Madame de La Tour
c go tell all our neighbors, Virginia
{ is coming home"
To this happy household a negro
messenger came to say that the shin
( was in distress and firing guns for
help 4 storm was approaching. BY
midnight the sea was hamme rfng the
rocks with fearful roar. The sound
Of the signal guns was dreadful in
Pauls ears All night long he and
his faithful Domingo waited for the
dawn IN silence and dread.
At dawn the governor with 4 file
OF soldiers arrived at q point near
which the ship could be dimIy seen
in the fog. All signs pointed to a
hurricane, and the people gatherd in
the hope Of assisting the ship to land
its passengers
At g o'clock a whirlwind swept the
harbor clear Of fog and the ship was
seen moOred near the rocks. Her
head was set toward the pillows which
rolled from the open sea
suddenly, in the midst Of terrible
rush OF sea, the cables parted. The
ship was thrown upon the rocks. a
cry Of despair arose among those who
stood on shore. Paul. in frenzy. was
about to throw himself into the sea
when strong hand prevented him. In
order to save his life. they bound him
fast with a long rope and let him leap
into the water He tried 10 reach the
ship, only to be flung back upon the
sands.
The crew threw themselves into the
sea Those on shore saw q young wo-
man stretching out her arms in pite-
Gus entreaty- It was Virginia. al
most the last to remain on board In
the cruel sea.
Paul. unconscious and bleeding
from his last attempt to reachN the
ship, was carried to a neighboring
house while old Domingo and other
friends searched the beach for the
body Of Virginia.
At last in desnair they started back
to tell Nirginia's mother Of the girls
tragic death. On the way some ne
groes told them that wreckage had
been driven IN at palm River valley.
and 50 Domingo and his companion
turned aside 10 look once again for
the body
There on the sand. half buried. vet
with a serene and beautiful face. Law
the maiden. richly clad One hand I
rested upon her gown, the other was
pressed 70 her heart and covered a |
picture Of Paul.
Lifting her gently, the servants Z