The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-01
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 VIRGINIA'S MOTHER

"She married your father. my child"
 Girls do get married occasionally. Aunt Virginia" I suggested. hoping to learn more.
 They do nor marry without the consent of their parents often-at least in Virginia. Beside, my dear, your father was an actor"
 How perfectly splendid! Is he still on the stage? Did l ever hear of him?'
 q expect not. He left the stage at the time that you were born ana your mother died He was a leading in this country. Every one of the older theatre goers. on both con- tinents, has heard of Ralph Winston"
 was struck with sudden thought. It had never occurred to me that my name was not Fairfax.
 Virginia Winstonp exclaimed rapturously. DO you know. Aunt Virginia, like that name better than I do Virginia Fairfax. I think shall use 1t in the future"
 Don't, Virginia. The name of Winston is taboo in this house."
 Tell me the whole story. Aunt Virginia l pleaded. Aunt Virginia looked doubtful and troubled for some moments. Finally she said: My dear child, l believe you should know the story of your parents. although in tell you l am going directly con- trary to your grandfathers wishes for the first time in my life. Your grandfather did not want your moth 4.,e t,e e.1l,- -.1 L tI. too much education was apt to spoil a woman, but she. was determined to go and finally. when I added my en- treaties to hers, she was allowed D enter the Northern seminary. While she was there a company, in which your father was leading man, played a summer engagement in the city. He was asked to address the pupils of the school on the drama.
 T think it was a case of love at first sight, for before he left the town. two months afterward, your father and mother were married.
 T shall never forget the day that your grandfather received the letter cling him of the news. I thought he was going to have apop]exy. When he was able to speak he said, as he handed me the letter: Never men ton your sisters name to me again. She is dead Then he went into his study and I did not see him until the next day.
 Did he not know that my father was a great actor and that the whole play-going world admired and re- spected him? Who was grandfather to judge by his little narrow stand ard?"
 "Your grandfather, my dear, thinks that his Judgments are infalliole. do not know whether he Knew any thing about your father except that he was an actor, but l wrote lmme- diately to your mother ana afl through the year we Kept up secret correspondence"
 was my mother happyr'
 Just before you came. she wrote me: This year with Ralph means so much to me that if anything should happen, Virginia, you must remember that I would give all the life that l might have had in the old house with father for it. It has been perfect. Ralph is always the lover as well as the husband. God has been very good to me, Virginia slT.
 Only three days afterward the let ter came from your father saying that you were born and that your mother was deao.
 Father said: It is the punishment of God
 "What shall I do? asked him."
 And what did grandfather say to that, Aunt Virginia?'
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