The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-01-29

Clothes and jewels and her passage
and she was transformed being. III
her muslin and taffeta, with her hair
in the manner of the period, she looked
the duchess, and Paul was thrown into
despair at sight of her beauty and her
alien magniicence.
Distressed by his grief and hoping
to cure him of his false hopes, Mar
guerite now told him that he was onl.
the illegitimate son of a peasant. while
Virginia was the daughter Of q noble
woman.
Paul. pressing her in his arms, as
relative, 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 him.
self. Clasping her in his arms, he
said: 81 am going with You. Nothing
shall part us. / swear it by the sea
that I must cross, by the air, to which
/ have never breathed lie"
Nevertheless, Virginia was taken
away from him while he was wander
ing in the forest mad with his fears.
When he returned to fine cabin and
found her gone. lac rushed to high
point from which the outgoing vessel
could be seen, and there he stood till
the darkness fell and the night winds
began to 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 a new task. He de-
termined 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, and
when at last a letter came from Vir-
ginia he was able to read it for him
self. 1t was a 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 q nobleman. and Paul
was a prey to doubt and despair.
One morning at daybreak Paul saw
white flag flying on Mount Discovery.
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
IT., 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 servants all
embraced.
s.My son." said Madame de La Tour
Ego tell all our neighbors, Virginia IL
coming home"
To this happy household a negro
messenger came to say that the shiT
was in distress and firing guns fol
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 sill
ence and dread.
At dawn the governor with a file
of soldiers arrived at. a point neal
which the ship could be dimly seen In
the fog. All signs pointed to hurri
cane, and the people gathered in thu
hope Of assisting the ship to land 1T
passengers.
At 8 O'Clock q whirlwind swept -tht
harbor clear Of fog and the ship was
seen moored near the rocks! Her heat
was set toward the pillows which
rolled from the open sea.
Suddenly, In the midst Of terrible
rush Of sea. the cables parted. TIT
i'shtp was thrown upon the rocks.
cly Of despair arose among those wht
stood On shore. Paul. 10 frenzy, wal
about to throw himself into the sea
when . strong hand prevented him. Il
order to save his life. they bound hin
fast With a long rope and let him leal
into the water. He tried to reach fh'
ship. only to be dung back upon tn
sands.
The crew threw themselves into TIL
sea. Those on shore saw youa.
woman stretching out her arms IL
piteous entreaty. It was. Virginia, al
most the last to remain on board. Il
a moment she. too. was struggling IL
the cruel sea.
Paul. unconscious and bleeding from
his last attempt to. reach the ship. wa
carried to a neighboring house. Will
i old Domingo and other friend
searched the beach for the body o
Virginia.
| At last in despair they started hacl
to tell virginia's mother Of the girl
tragic death. On the way some ne
groes told them that wreckage hat
been driven in at Palm River valley
and so Domingo and his companion
turned aside TO look once again for tn
body.
There on the sand. half buried, We
with a serene and beautiful face. la.
the maiden, richly clad. One han'
rested upon her gown. the other wa
| vroeSod n hnr heart and covered