The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-01-15


alien magnificence.
Distressed by his grief and hoping
10 cure him Of his false hopes, Mar
guerite now told him that he was only
the illegitimate son Of a peasant, while
Virginia was the daughter Of 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 1 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. l swear 1t by the sea
that l must cross, by the air, to which
l 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 the cabin and
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 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 a very
short time he was able to read, and
when at last letter came from Viz
ginia he was able to read it for him
self. 1t was a 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 a nobleman, and Paul
was prey to doubt and despair.
One morning at daybreak Paul saw
white flag flying on Mount Discovery.
1t was sign that a ship was in the
otfing. A little later a letter from
Virginia to Madame de La Tour was
handed to Paul. Rapturously kissing
1t, he thrust 1t 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
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 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 Paurs.
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 near
which the ship could be. dimly seen in
the fog. All signs pointed to a hurri-
cane, anC the people gathered in the
hope Of assisting the ship to land its
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 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
last with long rope and let him leap
nto. the water. He tried to reach the
ship. only to be flung back upon the
sands.
The crew threw themselves into the
yea. Those on shore saw a young
woman stretching out her arms In
)iteous entreaty. 1t was Virginia, al
most the last to remain on board. In
/ moment she, too. was struggling in.
he cruel sea.
Paul, unconscious and bleeding from
IFS last attempt TO reach the ship, was:
.arried to a neighboring house, while
I'D Domingo and other friends
the beach for the body Of
Virginia.
At last in despair they started back
o tell Virginia's mother Of the girls
ragic death. On the way some ne
,roes told them that wreckage had
'een driven In at Palm River valley.
nd so Domingo and his companion
urned aside to look once again for the
'ody.
There on the sand, half buried. yet
Nth a serene and beautiful face, lay
he maiden. richly clad. One hand
ested upon her gown, the other was
ressed to her heart and covered a
icture Of Paul.
Lifting her gently, the servants ear
led her to a fisherman's hut and left
er.
In the morning Paul was brought
ONE. He had regained his senses but
e could not utter word. His com
lg brought ray of hope.
After a beautiful and touching cere-
lony. in which the black people took
part, they buried the lovely body
khn efI 80 of