The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-13
PAUL AND VIRGINIA
BY SAINT.PIERRE
Condensation by Irving Bachelor

In the year 1925 a young man Of
Normandy brought to the Isle de
France his young wife, whose family
was of noble blood. Shortly afterward
he was taken with the fever and died,
leaving her alone on the isle
Estranged from her family and with
out means, the young widow made her
way to an uninhabited island where
she could cultivate the soil without
the payment OF rent, and there she
built rude home for herself and her
little child, a daughter whom she
named Virginia.
AT the same time another woman
with little son named Paul settled on
the same island, and the two women,
mutually grateful for aid and comfort,
became fast friends, although they
mad been of different stations in life.
Marguerite's servant named Domin-
go, a powerful black man, was the
husband OF Marie, who was Madame
ide La Tours handmade. Bound to
each other by similar needs the two
lonely women spent much time to-
gether, and the two children were al.
most lnseparable. Their attachment
was very marked even from the Grad
lie. II Virginia was in trouble, the
cries of Paul made it known. When
they learned to speak, the first names
they learned to give each other were
brother and sister. For the rest, they
went almost naked, and could neither
read nor write.
From the beauty of their bare limbs
one might fancy them two of Niobe's
children escaped from the marble
| AS Madame de La Tour saw the I'M
folding charms of her daughter she
became alarmed for her future and
humbled herself to write to an old
aunt in France asking for aid for Vir-
ginia's sake.
The aunt replied coldly, commend
ing her to the governor of the island,
) adding: Your disgraceful marriage
mas brought its righteous punishment"
Deserted by her kinsfolk, the poor
widow took Paul and Virginia to her
! arms.
Paul became a planter, busy and
, skilful, while Virginia spun or tended
the goats and helped in the house.
Thus passed their innocent youth.
10 them Madame de La Tour read
, the stories which time had hallowed,
teaching them to find their HAPPINESS
In serving others.
Their lives seemed bound up in that
, of the trees. They knew no historical
epochs. no chronology save that of
their orchards. No care wrinkled
their brows, no intemperance poison.
ed their blood. They had all the fresh,
ness of the morning of life. They
loved each other naturally and purely.
IT was wise Marguerite who said ::
Let US marry our children. Soon
Faul VIII be a man, and then we will
have much to fear
Madame de La Tour hesitated. LET
US wait. Let us send Paul to India
: for time. There he will be able to
earn money with which to provide a
home for himself and Virginia."
TO this plan Paul would not consent
/ L am needed here. Domingo is old
ana our mothers are alone. shall
stay"
At this moment came another let.
Ter from the aunt in Normandy asking
lnat virginia be sent to her for edu.
catlon. II she follows my wishes u
the aunt wrote, "she may look forward
to being my heiress."
virginia was alarmed at this offer
and Paul was angry The madame de.
| c1ded against it,
| Ihe governor of the island now
| urged that Virginia be sent.
|! A missionary of the island Joined
tne governor In urging that Virginia
. go 10 ner klnswoman, and at last with
neart tllled with anguish mother
consented. "--''
5 council @--1' '0oi q
2 Meanwhile Virginia's consent had
f ousnI from her aunt gold to pay for
o.o,nes ana jewels and her passage
anu sue was a transformed being. In
? her muslin and taffeta. with her hai
r IN the manner Of the period, she look.
ed the duchess. and Paul was thrown
into despair at sight of her beauty and
: her alien magnificence.
2 distressed by his grief and honine r.
>. cure MIN OF his false hopes. Mareuer,te
now tolo MIN that he was ONLY the A.
: leg!tlmate son of a peasant, while Vir
: glnla was the daughter of nohIo
. woman. O1e
Paul, pressing her in his arms. as
1 sured her that as he had no Other re1s,
tive. he would love her the more "Rm,
J, see now why Madame de La Tour
> avoids me-" Aooi
= AS the thought OF losing Virginia
4 came to him, Paul lost control Of him
I. sen; C!asp1ng her in his arms. he
SAID: I am going with you. Nothine
shall part US. I swear it by the sea
tnat must cross. by the air, to which
= nave never breathed lie."
. nevertheless, Virginia was taken
:. away from him while he was wander
ns IN the forest mad with his fears
5 wnen ne returned to the cabin and
( found her gone, he rushed to a hiah
point from which the outgoing vessa1
could be seen, and there he stood IN
the darkness fell and the night winds
PECAN lo sing their SORES IL his ear