Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-23

DHinulnB Ill ine open DOORWAY, nalT IN
and half out, he spoke again. 81 shall
send YOU my new address when move, I"
he said. / know it viii come to that. "
There was work waiting for him when
he got home, but he was not in the mood
for work. He opened some letters which
had come for linn by the last post; gush-
ing epistles, some of them from women
who followed the fashion in running
after the cleverest and most attractive
man of his day. Strange 10 say, these
letters did not make him angry. Gen
tleness and liberation for woman seemed
to increase and multiply in him as his
fame grew; but not one of the many
fair ones who burnt incense before him
could flatter herself that he was falling
IN love. He was charming in every
mood, and nearly always pleasant Of
speech. Now and then came a crushing
rebuke or a whitening sarcasm, but i'm
mcdiately after followed the old sweet,
pleasant smile that each woman tried
hard to win for herself. Whether in
good temper or bad, DIR. Gray was fas-
cinating.
He was not very amiable, however,
this evening, for he was vexed at his
Inability TO work. Events in his life
which he had told himself were dead
and buried came crowding themselves
upon his well ordered brain. Memory
played him fantastic tricks. Imagina-
ton, more capriciouS than memory,
filed his study with the sweetest. bright
est pictures, and made his heart beat as
it had beaten ten years before when
He took up bools one after another
and flung them here and there about the
room; for, Just as the mental picture
was fairest and most adorable-just as in
imagination he felt two soft arms round
his neck and saw two sweet eyes looking
into his own, some one stirred in the
room overhead, ard Immediately one of
Chopin's wild waltzes filled the air about
him. The visions conjurcd up by mem
ory and fancy fed. and the professor.
with an understandable expression on his
face, leaned his elbows ON the table and
propped up his head with cheek on
either hand.
Five minutes-ten, passed thus; then
he got up quietly and looked at his
watch. 1t was nearly half-past 10. cit
is rather late to call on a strnnge woman, I"
he said; but have no time by day,
and if this goes ON shall go mad. Why |
in the name of all that's distracting |
must she play that muster"
He picked up the books that he had |
flung about; touched some articles upon
his study table without knowing that he /
did so. then went to the door, opened it. /
and stood for a second or two irresolute. /
with the sound Of Mrs. VeInon's piano /
still in his ears. The next moment he /
WAS out on the public staircase and had
begun the ascent to the third floor.
To ring Mrs Vernon bell, TO be ad
mitted and to find himself at her draw
ing-room door was the work of a few sec
onds- He got nd Of the sleepy-looking
by saving that her mistress ex-
pected him; and, as she disappeared
down the passage. he knocked. A voice
said: Come in" but the playing did
not cease. He went in, and still Mrs.
Vernon played on.
She did not look around. She thought
i was the servant who had come to fetch
something.
The professor felt exceedingly uncom-
when Mrs Vernon told him to