The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-15
CHAPTER XII.

he struggled with collar button he
turned his head to listen to the lazy lilt
of song coming from o room across the
hall. His face wore an i'll humored
frown. 1t was very evident that the
song and the singer impressed him with
equal unpleasantness.
"Do stop that humming, for Gods
sakew he cried out at last, "It's enough
to drive one mad"
There was no reply, and a few mo.
ments later Tom lounged across the hall.
He was very different from the waver-
ing, tempted man who rushed from Vir-
ginia's presence that snowy night almost
two years before. His face had lost the
flashing earnestness that rose from an
ecstatic heart. 1t had taken on resolute
lines and an expression of worldly sub
tlety. The cheeks were slightly hol-
lowed, the eyes placidly heavy, cold,
showing the haggard lines of dissipation.
''Was singing? Iswear didn't know
it," he said languidly.
Delatole surveyed him with cold, un-
changing glance.
"Still in your blouse and slippers.
Won't you look in upon the theater par
ty at alE'
II don't care q hang about it,"
aren't you afraid Mrs. Baudoine will
send out q search warrant for your?
''Let her send"
"Cool for prospective bridegroom"
prospective id:otr' And Tom set
tied himself very comfortably on his
back on low divan. "I'll never marry
Mrs. Baudoine. As the girl in the song
says, Something tells me so.' Couldn't
you, with your managerial tactics, help
me out of that scrape? You know she
did all the running-not l."
Delatole drew on his gloves in silence.
He grew white, and when he came to
the foot of the divan and let his eyes
travel slowly over Toms supine length
a rage only half controlled made his lips
tremble.
''In my opinion" he said slowly, with
emphasis, you'll be in a fair way to
need the material help of Mrs. Bau-
doine's money very soon."
Really? Oh, then there are times
when marriage seems good unto your
And burning glance was flashed at
him from beneath Toms lowered lids.
"My opinion about marriage has not
altered in the least. But if man can
only fail, if he can't even support him
self, the most practical thing is to find
some woman silly enough to shoulder
the responsibility"
"Go on. Your English grows more
vigorous day by day. It's really lib
eral education to be allowed to hear you.
Surely you haven't finished yet. You
said more than this yesterday"
"No, haven't finished. Iwant to re-
mind you once more that you owe me
money. More than that, 1 want it. I'm
sick of your spiritless languor. l never
knew q man let himself drop as you
have done. Because you go at rapid
pace is no reason why you should die
mentally. haven't. But you can't
drink at all without drinking too much
and keeping it up too long. In fact, you
are an extremist in everything. There's
genius in moderation"
Don't stop for breath. am a-thirst
for tho rest. More-more," said Tom
without moving an eyelash.
"You shall have it all. The time has
come for plain talking" and there was
savage snarl in the words. 81 want
my money. 1t seemed there was some
hope of getting it from this Baudoine
marriage, as don't believe you'd write
another word"
Don't your"
mo. 1t may be you've tried and
can't--it may be you don't care. In
either case I've been bitterly disappoint-
ed In you. You're the last embryo genius
I'll put on pedestal. Genius? BY heav-
enl that's rich. Why, you've fallen in
TO psychical ruin. You exhausted your
self in The Worlds Way"
An unwilling, dusky red started up
in Toms followed cheek. Itebbed slow
ly away as, opening his eyes wide, he
smiled at Delatole with an expression Of
positive hatred.
THAT Is one of those charmingly
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