The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-01-14

the duchess, ana Paul was thrown INTO 1
despair at sight OF her beauty and her /
alien magnihcence.
Distressed by his grief and hoping |
TO cure him Of his false hopes. Mar
guerite now told him that he was only
the illegitimate son OF peasant. while
Virginia was the daughter Of a noble
woman.
Paul. pressing her in his arms. as
sured her that as he had no other
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 IL by the sen |
that | must cross, by the air. to which |
7 have never breathed lie."
Nevertheless. Virginia was taken |
away from him while he was wander
ing I'm the forest mad with his fears
When he return I'd to the cabin and
found her gon he rushed to high
point from w oh the outgoing vessel
could be seen, and there he stood till
the darkness ell and the night winds
began to sing their songs in his ear.
Thereafter whep he saw the two
mothers weeping, he bitterly said.
"Seek someone else 90 wipe away your
tears"
At last he turned his thought to the
garden and to new task. He de-
| termined to learn to read. He wished
| 10 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 Mt last letter came from Vir.
gnia he was able to read 1t for him
self 1t was sweet letter, but not
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
a white flag flying on Mount L .scovery.
1t was sign that ship was in the
ofiing. 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
jhastened to his home! To all the
household madame read the letter.
Virginia was coming home! She would
soon land. Masters and servants all
embraced.
"My son." said Madame de La Tour,
"gc tell all our neighbors, Virginia Is
coming home"
To this happy household negro
, messenger came to say that the ship
, was in distress and 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 sill
2 ence and dread.
= At dawn the governor with file
:, Of soldiers arrived at point neal
which the ship could be dimly seen II
. the fog. All signs pointed to hurri
:, cane, and the people gathered in thu
hope Of assisting the ship to land 1T
g passengers.
At 9 o'clock a whirlwind swept tn
hsrbor clear of fog and the ship wa
!. seen moored near the rocks. Her hea'
!. was set toward the pillows whicl
! rolled from the open sea.
- Suddenly, in the midst of terribl
: rush Of sea, the cables parted. TIL
l'ship was thrown upon the rocks
q cry Of despair arose among those VIII
= stood on shore. Paul, in frenzy. wa
e about to throw himself into the Sc,
when strong hand prevented him. ]
~ order to save his life they bound nil
!. fast with long rope and let him lea
into the water. He tried to reach tn
"a ship. only to be flung back upon til
"a sands.
- The crew threw themselves into I'll
~ sea. Those on shore saw youn
woman stretching cut her arms
- piteous entreaty. 1t was Virginia, a
~ most the last to remain on board.
moment she. too, was struggling
:. the cruel sea.
=, Paul, unconscious and bleeding fro
&c his last attempt to reach the ship, W,
~, carried to a neighboring house, viii
- old Domingo and other frien'
- searched the beach for the body
-, Virginia.
~ At last In despair they started ba
to tell Virginias mother of the CIR
~ tragic death. On the way some 4
~, groes told them that wreckage HI
:" been driven In at Palm River VALE
. and so Domingo and his compani
~, ~, turned aside to look once again for t
body.
W There on the sand, half buried, y
with serene and beautiful face.
y, the maiden, richly clad. One ha
~ ~, rested upon her gown, the other W
o' pressed to her heart and covered
picture Of Paul.
Lifting her gently, the servants c