The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-14

"It's from Monklow. He's asked you
to marry him. There, there, know.
When man is robbed of almost every
faculty but sight and speech he uses
them to advantage. OF course you're
going to marry him. OF course you are.
He is genuine. He is stanch. He has q
few more years than a novelist would
allow an impatient lover-what of it?
He is youngert than half the emasculated,
Juvenile dudes floating around this town.
He is the most picturesquely handsome
man have ever seen and in the meri-
dian Of his strength. He is gentleman
by birth. The. blood of ladies and GER
tlemen'for generations flows in his veins.
All, hal lots Of girls in his own set would
stay at home and chase no more the pov-
erty stricken duke if they thought there
was a chance Of catching Richard Monk
low. have no objection to him. Heis
everything admire and commend- /
give my consent, Virginia"
|. Since his illness Virginia had grown
accustomed to treating her father like
pettish child. She went to him. laid
both her warm palms on his bald crown,
and smiling looked tenderly at him.
mo, daddy. don't want to marry.
I'll stay with you yet awhile"
The sudden fury of his gaze was like
the leaping of an unlocked for flame
from a dead fire.
$50 you'll be fool, will you? You'll
say nor You'll fling away wealth that
could give me. in my last accurscd days.
few of the luxuries was accustomed
to? And why? Oh, you foolp ard his
blue quivering lips seemed to spit out
the words, ''and why? Because you are
still thinking of that fellow, that scamp,
that Murray, who gave you the 20 by.
Don't / know? You sentimental idiot,
he had no romantic memories 10 hold
him back! He has looked TO it that his
bread will be plentifully bpttered. Read
today's paper. After splurge in Eu-
rope, a courtship on the steamer coming
home, he's going TO marry General Bau.
doine's widow--a woman worth mil
lions. Do you hear? Refuse to marry
Monklow, and III never forgive YOU"
He was a terrible sight in this sudden
spasm of rage-repression, his lifelong
habit, fallen from him like garment
loosed by his palsied fingers.
Virginia straightened her young figure,
her arms hanging loosely at her sides
and as white as "1he Maskerp laughing
beside her.
The patience and silence Of the past
fled away like shades, and resistance,
fully armed, took their place. t'e
ssTho,, ,so.,fIl .....u.
do refuse" she said steadily, but scarce
ly louder than breath "What sort of
life have ! lived here at your very side?
Will you hear. now, at last? You flung
away your money while you could. You
thought wholly of your pleasures. You
gave me nothing. Nou didn't think.
You didn't care. And | have worked
with my hands. my brain, at anything |
could find to do-yes, often while Won
slept. Now you have said all You could
to wound me-" and there was an angry.
sobbing break in the accusing voice. ''I
could bear even that. But you shall not
take all. father-not my body, my soul.
They ,ire my own"
Everything was dark as she went
blindly from the room. She had n faint
intention of going out in the rain--a
sense of supreme and awful loneliness.
The door closed upon her, and she wouA
have stumbled had not strong arms
caught her. She looked up aud saw
Richard MonlSlow. One glance at his
face, drained Of the hue of life under
meath the brown. the hips contracted. the
kind eyes sad, and she saw he had heard
all.
II asked for too much. Forget my
words, Virginia" he said when he could
speak. "For3et all save these-that
can only live if you will let me serve
you, see you sometimes, he near YOU /
am yours. Use me as you will.' ft|
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