The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-09-15
THE BENNINGTON BANNER, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER Is, 1898

never must lmow-how often she had
crept to his door late at night to listen to
the scratch of his impetuous pei.
Perhaps her words had stung him to
such violent activity he would soon leave
them to fight fortune in wider field. A
startled breath broke upon her lips.
What would this Mace he without him?
What would her life bep The clock an
swered with a cynical, knowing tick.
A shadowy wave of desolation rushed
over her, and the room grew dark. Her
hands fell down helplessly The clock
licked louder, like garrulous crone
foretelling disaster.
"Virginiap fell upon her ears with a
soft suddenness that startled her. The
panel slipped from her knees, and grasp
ing the arms of the chair she turned her
head to find Tom standing above her.
II have been watching you for full
minute" he said, throwing his hat down
and drawing over low stool, so that he
facelher.
In the hushed, masterful whisper she
recognized something unusual. Some
thing unusual in his face too. Repres-
sion was there, excitement, joy.
81 didn't hear you come in," Virginia
answered, her voice sounding thick and
far away in her own ears.
She half stopped to draw back the
piece of satin on which bunch of daisies
was still wet. He caught her hand and
with gentle fingers that brooiled no re-
sistance took the thing away and placed
it out of her reach.
"Dear little handT and his voice was
heavy with love, "dear, faithful little
hand! Let it rest awhile here, Virginia"
The girl shivered as one does who
rushes from cold vault into the sun
light,
"Look at mer' she heard him saying
n half suppressed voice of intense ex-
ultation. 81 am the happiest fellow in
New York. You told me you believed
in me. You told me that. Oh, Virginia,
how those words have staid with me!
And you were right. l have succeeded.
My last play was accepted and by the
man who rejected all the Others"
A boyish laugh of pure delight left his
lips, and he sank on his knees beside her.
"Id like to set all the bells in the
chapel pealing, call out the fellows and
tell them the exchange was not so bad
after all. Not so bad, eh, Virginia." he
asked, thinking how lovely were the
velvety deeps of her eyes.
at is so sudden, so strange. But, oh,
there is such gladness and light in my
heart for you, Tom! Tell me more, tell
me all about it."
He leaned closer. She felt his hand
upon her shoulder. His mouth, in its
1.-THE, boyish curves, was very near her
own.
"There is something else must tell
you first" he said slowly.
In that long, sultry look she knew all.
Her pulses quickened, fire grew in her
heart. He loved her, then2 Oh, he did,
he did
Their faces were so close there was a
resistless impulse, a moment of con-
fused, delirious joy, and their lips chung
in a kiss that drew Virginia's heart with
it.
Toms lids fell heavily. He was very
white. A great sigh came from his lips:
"Virginia'--
But the door opened. Tom had scarce
ly time to stand up before her father came
in, followed by boy with a package.
The old man was aglow with pleas
urable excitement He closed the door
after the messenger, crossed the room in
his graceful, stately way and shook hands
with Tom.
81 have had a pleasant day." he said
briskly. "Such a delightful coincidence!
What would life be without the unex-
pected? Have you ever thought of that,
TomY'
81 am thinking of it now, sir" and he
exchanged feeting glance of arch mean
ing with Virginia. But differ with
you slightly. The unexpected can prove
well, at some moments-an out and
out nuisance"
"When it's Of an unpleasant nature,
yes, of course-my slippers, Virginia
thank you, my dear-but when it car
r1es you back TO pleasant time and sur
rounds you with happy memories-ah,
thenw
"Tell me about it, dad" said Virginia
as she leaned over him.
Her face was glorified. She looked
with naive tenderness straight at Tom
as she spoke-looked until her eyes fell
under the fire in his.
at happened this way" and Mr.. Kent
ambled drowsily on, ignorant that the
splendor Of youth and love was eddying
in warm chances around his frosty head.
81 had just cashed my check and was
walking up Broadway. AS 1 came near
Bond street CHANGED to look up and saw
an auctioneer's flag over dim shop in a
basement. 1 went down. The place was
packed, the bidding was brisk. Pieces Of
quaint pottery went for q song, old min
iatures, shawls and rugs. I went nearer.
All, how l longed for money, money,
money!
He paused. and Virginia gave an I'M