The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-10-06

pulsive," and he rent the sheets half
across before Toms voice made him
pause.
sis this fair? If you really liked The
Worlds Way why won't you say SOP
The mysterious violet gray of twilight
stealing through the high windows be-
hind him touched his young face with
shadows. 1t was pinched, eager, watch
full.
"Oh, I'll do that, of course. A few
lines, paragraph, will suffice, but not
this psalm of victory, this heralding Of
a new voice that is not to be stilled, but
will rise again and again-not that.
You'll have to prove all I've said false
before write of you in that strain"
And he was the incarnation of bland,
impersonal regret as the papers once
more futtered in his hands.
He looked them over half regretfully.
'It's one of the best things I've ever
written, but in submission to my honest
opinion must destroy it."
In few strides Tom was beside him.
They looked intently at each other.
Toms eyes wavered and fell.
"Don't-don't," he said, and his voice
was half choked. "Give me time. Let
me think"
Half an hour later they were walking
up University place. They dined at a
chophouse frequented by Bohemia,
where tables were bare and beer was
served in mugs.
Better than Delmonico's in certain
moods" said Delatole as they crossed
the sanded floor; 1.-THE food is excellent
and cooked to suit Lucullus. AS accom-
paniments you have art. devil-may-care-
ism, smoke and even socialism"
His friends were scattered through
the long room. and merry greetings were
called out to him, which he repaid in
kind. The hours. passed in sparkling
"reminiscences, jests and laughter. Della
tole's levity became astonisl - G, and in
this impudent wag, who soon formed .
group around himself, there was not a
trace of the cynic, the philosopher, the
serious man of letters. Much that he
said was coarse, but SO audaciously hui
morous it was impossible not to respond.
Tom found himself moved to enthusi-
asm and laughter His pulses were
alive; his eyes glistened. Yes, let him
reason as he would, he was attuned to
this reckless brilliancy, this mingling Of
wits, this chatter of defiant freedom and
spontaneity Delatole was right. Chance
words here and there gave him new in
sight into happy, modern paganism
that filled his brain with imagery. The
witchery, the sweep of it were intoxicat-
ing.
He regretted when o'clock came and
Delatole parted with him to keep an ap-
pointment at his club. No word had
been exchanged between the two men
upon the subject that so nearly con-
cerned them both. Now, as Tom hur-
ried up town the undecided question
danced before his eyes, his heart became
suddenly weighted.
Should he cast the old life behind him
utterly and enter upon new one-free?
He reached Union square. 1t sparkled
in crystal whiteness. The branches pat
termed on the pavements waved fantas-
! tically about his feet as he strobe on, his
head down. Passionate indecision went
with him like a wrath in the white rays.
He thought of his enchanted dreaming
of the night before. Only last night!
All, he had learned much since then.
Had he ever really reasoned or under
stood before?
keep yourself unshackled. The man
| xxytn N (
The frosty breeze that whistled past
his ears seemed whispering these words
to him.
His memory flew back to miserable
childhood spent among the rigors of a
poor western farm, and he shuddered.
Only by hard fight and incredible sac
rifice had his father saved the money
necessary for his support and education.
Poverty How he loathed and feared
It'll How he had always loathed It'll In
grained in his nature was love for the
poetry of life, a hatred of the common
place, and now-let him be careful, lest
by one i'll advised step he taste all the
old bitterness again.
The fragrance of the hyacinths in his
coat came to him in the crisp air, SO
penetratingly sweet it gave him heart
ache-the flowers she had given him.
With groan he flung himself into a
seat.
II love herl l love herl And shei
Have l not had the confession in her
eyes-in her kiss? Who has helped me
who has understood me like her? How
can l pain her-how can leave herr"
For himself, if the reckless ambition
mastering him required it, he could put
love away, blot it from his life, and the
thought had some of the ecstasy of mar
tyrdom. But Virginia loved him, and he
/ knew it. The thought of hurting her
was cruel, and in the agonized tumult of
the moment cold drops stood ON his
brow. Again as in the morning came
the inward avowal of his own weakness.
Oh, what if Delatole had spoken truly,
and the sovereignty of love meant the
enslaving Of the talent he had sworn
should make him famousl Then-oh,
then, to what depths his ruined hopes
would fling himl And he would drag
her with him in his fall, perhaps making
her taste bitter anguish to which this
younger disappointment was but little.
And the other side of the picture-the
life of the artist purely, the untrammeled,
I easy, earnest life, where great things