The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-13

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 a new task He de-
termired to learn to read. He wished
to be able to read Of the country to
which his love had gone. In very
short time he was able to read it for
himself. 1t was sweet letter, but not
"a cheerful one. The girls heart was
! in her happy island, and she asked
Paul to plant the flower seeds which
she sent, upon the spot where they
had last talked together-a place she
called Farewell Rock.
AS the months passed, envious folk
began to whisper that Virginia was
about to marry nobleman, and Paul
was prey to doubt and despair.
| One morning at daybreak Paul saw
white flag flying on Mount Discov-
cry. 1t was sign that ship was in
the offing. A little later a letter from
Virginia to Madame de La Tour was
handed to Paul. Rapturously kissing
| 1t, he thrust it into his bosom and
fastened to his home! To all the
household madame read the letter.
Virginia was coming home! She
would soon land. Masters and serv-
ants all embraced.
MY son." said Madame de La Tour
"go tell all our neighbors, Virginia is
coming home"
To this happy household a Negro
messenger came to say that the ship
was in distress aud firing guns for
help. A storm was approaching. By
midnight the sea was hammering the
rocks with fearful roar. The sound
Of the signal guns was dreadful in
Paul's ears. All night long he and his
faithful Domingo waited for the dawn
in silence and dread.
At dawn the governor with file Of
soldiers arrived at a point near which
the ship could be dinly seen in the
fog. All signs pointed to hurricane,
and the people gathered in the hope
Of assisting the ship to land its pass
engers.
At 9 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 a 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 a strong hand prevented him
In order to save his life, they bound
him fast with long rope and let him
leap into the water. He tried to reach
the ship, only to be flung back upon
the sands.
The crew threw themselves into the
sea. Those on shore saw young
woman stretching out her arms in
piteous entreaty. 1t was Virginia, al.
most the last to remain on board In
a moment, she, too, was struggling in
the cruel sea.
Paul, unconscious and bleeding from
his last attempt to reach the ship, was
carried to a neighboring house while
old Domingo and other friends search
ed the beach for the body OF Virginia
At last in despair they started back
to tell Virginia'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 SO Domingo and his companion
turned aside to look once again for
the body.
There on the sand, half buried, yet
with serene and beautiful face, lay
the maiden, richly clad. One hand
rested upon her gown, the other was
pressed to her heart and covered a pic
ture of Paul
Lifting her gently, the servants car.
ried her to fisherman's hut and left
her.
In the morning Paul was brought
home. He had regained his senses
but he could not utter word His
coming brought ray of hope
After a beautiful and touching cere.
mony, in which the black people took
a part, they buried the lovely body on
the western side of the church, at a
point where she had often rested when
on her way to mass, with Paul, and
there a few weeks later they brought
his body in order that he might res.
forever by her side
Copyright. 1919. by the Post Publish
ing Co. (The Boston Post.) Copyright
in the United Kingdom. the Dominions
its Colonies and dependencies. under
the copyright act, by the Post Publish
ing Co.. Boston, Mass, u. S. A. All
rights reserved.
(Published by special arrangement
with the Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
All rights reserved.)
"Tom Browns School DAYS" by
Thomas Hughes, as condensed by Pro.
fesSor William Eenwick Harris will hs