The morning call., 1893-10-29

=.
and Gasparina's eloQuence spent itself
Then he made brave effort and threw
off the terrible weakness that was robbing
him of energy and action, which TO him
were life itself. and. half raising himself
before sinking back again upon the pill
lows, he said with strong effort:
II will tell you what will do. am not
really i'll. you see. only little tired lazy l
should call il, and as 1t really is bit
lonely here, as you suggest, with only the
hall boys as occasional visitors, l will go
down TO the beach tomorrow or next day
and rest there. Then il you want to make
me feel like an interesting invalid with
novels and shawls and antipvrlne and-and
friendliness it will he thankfully received.
But really, dear. it dropped off his
tongue too naturally to sound eXcrescent,
"you see am so we'll now that | need no
nurse, and. as you are going now. would
you mind ringing that bell for me on your
wav Out"
When the door closed after Gasparina,
Clinton, exhausted by emotion and exer-
tioD, turned his face toward the window
which looked out over the city roofs,
bathed in a red haze which blended in an
impressive harmony the chimney-erupted
plains with the Jewish domes and gentle
spires. Shadows creDt about the room,
and the grayness of death replaced the
severed glow that had preceded it. One
thing alone seemed to shine in the active
dark that was silently replacing the day.
1t was bunch cf white volets that Gaspa-
rina had left. Clinton's mood was altering,
and the flowers did not please him now.
He wished she had not left them, and the
father TO that wish was still another,
that she had not come at all. He was sure
he should have liked it better if she had
q OF unbent for him. He dearly loved to
think of her as so immeasurably above him
that she would not be actuated by the same
impulses or desires that governed him.
Not that her exatation should chill her
kindlness, but should exempt her from
humility. AS he thought it over alone in
the twilight he felt almost angered at her
for her unconscious fault of stepping to
earth, and began childishly TO harden his
heart against her. His disordered fancy,
once let loose. was like the genie of the
bottle; it became too large TO be forced
back and ultimately became master. He
had told Gasparina that he would join her
at the beach, and now that he wished
to do nothing of the kind he
would write and explain, making
business the gauZy excuse for breaking his
word. He persuaded himself that it was
but simple justice to Gasparina to with
draw from intimate association with her
the very instant that he felt this singular
change creeping over him. He had never
been a dIssembler and could not commence
now. Being man with whom thought
and action were almost simultaneous, he
could not wait until tomorrow to write,
but must do it now. He forgot that on the
restful banks Of dreamlaGd views alter
and desires change, and that it were far
better not to color letter with transient
mood, lest that humor be replaced by
better before the letter has reached its
destination. He only knew that he vas
filed with vague sort of wretchedness
whose only relief was action.
"Did you ring, sir?'' asked the bellboy,
insinuatingly Lbrusting only his features
beyond the door line.
He was too old 10 be called a.bellboy.
Clinton always thought; bellman would be
better, only that the word carried the
Imagination far away to steeple chimes.
He was fat and smooth-faced, and wore q
look OF heavy care and melancholy which
was in strong contrast to his fiat, childish
voice,
Light the gas for me, Charley, and give
me pen and ink aud some sort of lap
board. In the desk-right before your
eyes you will find some note paper.
There, that is right" With his habituai
air of oppressed but hopeless patience
Charley ministered. Now, Charley. come
back in an hour and post this letter"
But when he returned Mr.. Clinton lay
back on the pillows asleep. the letter on
the table at his side. Charlie had served
him so long that he knew his f0ndness for
dispatch, so he took The letter and posted
it with self-congra tulation at his astute-
ness.
Clinton awoke next morning With nerves
Gained, but with a sense o { haunting un-
pleassntness. When he had shaken tile
dream webs from his mind he knew the
cause-it was his mood of yesterday which
was quite gone now and happily had
reached no further than the walls of his
bedroom, for although he had churishly
prepared a shaft for Gasparina, his timely
slumber had prevented its being thrown.
He looked about for the letter to destroy
it. but 1t was gone. He rang for Charley,
W no explained world YEARLY.
Clinton was speechless and set his teeth
n grim despair. lie seemed to have all at
once elairvoyant vision of an mpulsive,
sensitive. loyal woman stunned almost be-
yOnd feeling from excess of emotion, as
crushed nerve finds relief in transient
numbness. He felt that her oversensi-
tiveness had not only absorbed but exag-
gerated his meaning and that with in
genious self-torture she would read and re-
read. extracting each time an increase of
intent.
All that day Clinton chafed. too weak to
leave his rooms. but on tie morrow found
action possible. He dressed and drove to the
Office. lie arrived downtown Hate, an hour
or two after his usual time for appearing.
lie was evidently not expected. Bradley
was out for the moment. In the center
of the Office stood a supplcating Jew
| vender, whose combination of plaster
casts and CANDY silk mufflers was spread
conspcuously about. Petrie, in his secu-
rity grown reeklessly facetious, was chat
fng both the Jew and the boOkkeeper,
when the door opened and he saw Clinton,
pale, intense and evidently weak, for his
thin hand was grasping his sticksfwth an
eagerness suggesting reliance. Petrie
colored, looked defiant, then ashamed, for
the juninr partners face showed only
amused tolerance and smile parted his
lips. even though the fine, uncomfortable
muscles of his nostrils fuctuated percep-
tiblv.
Don't forget be has his bread to make,
Mr.. Petrie," was all he said as he glanced
at the Jew and then stepped quickly tn the
ticker. Ee had read yesterdays quotations
on his drive downtown, and with the scent
Of the war horse had smelled the battle afar
off, lie read the tape with all of his old
eagerness ana saw approaching one of those
opportunities seizure Of which had given
him his standing in the street. If his
strength would last he could make grand
stroke. He went toward the outer door,
which was flung open from the outside by
the postmaD.
Clinton extended his hand for letter,
tearing its envelope as he passed out. In
fhn corridor and 0n the piayat n ha road