Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-09-28
CHAPTER II.

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CHAPTER IL
A square room OF ;,ooGly sizc, the broad
windows opening cn d low balcony and
beyond the shining ILnos Chelsea square.
1t was large cnousA to meet the re-
quirements Of DINING and sitting room,
the high walls bearing the faded floral
decoration of an earlier period. The
stained floor from which the polish had
long departed once l.ncw the swish of
founced petticoats, tea had undoubtedly
been slipped on the rnsty balcony, the I'M
used carriage step at the curb had known
the pressure Of a1istocratic toes.
But this was i'll the long ago, when the
house was a private nansion, before the
city had crawled upward to cncroach on
its suburban retirement, very long be-
fore any one dreamed that the iconoclas-
tic finger of modest rcspectability, first
cousin to poverty. would one day steal
the luster from its gliding, the color from
its bricks and convert the strings of am
pie rooms into floors for separate fani-
lies
The glare from the west turned the
vine pattern on the cotton curtains into
copper. Against them a girl leaned, glo-
rifed by the waning splendor. Her arms
were folded restfully en- her breast. Her
gaze was fastened on the gray college
buildings opposite and the green close
which gave such an old world touch to
the street A deep sparkle rested in her
eyes. She was impatient and sometimes
threw a glance down the tree lined pave
ment, where the lights in the street
lamps were beginning to tremble in a
network of leaves.
Two students, arm in arm, futtered
past in their quaint gowns and looked
up at her window. They were talking
of Tom. She knew it. They were say
ing unkind things of him. Perhaps they
were sneering at what they called his
folly, his aa'lacious worldliness.
Virginia threw back her head, and a
confident smile lifted her cleaning lip.
How they would retract it all some dayl
For Tom was not like them. His was an
untamable spirit, only naddened by rig
orous confines.
He had chosen to live With them for
the future. How his young face and
light step would brighten up the place!
1t was sometimes SO lonely and quiet
with only her father A vision of win
ter nights around ruddy fire, of deli
cious, slow waning summer evenings on
the balcony, rose before her mind. They
would be happy, she knew.
A few feet from the table set for din
ner quaint, yellow keyed melodeon
stood, and here Virginia impulsively
seated herself. Her fingers fickered over
the keys. the music filled the room, the
fainting light swan in her raised eyes
and rosied her lifted chin.
There was subtle fire, winning soft
ness, in the face. The hazel green eyes
glanced with intense life; mysterious
smile clung to the lips SO proudly cut.
Her brown hair, holding the cleaning
russell tono seen in some dying leaves,
was drawn up to the crown, where o
fluffy knot gave a chic, stately touch to
her small head. In charming consonance
with this warm brunette coloring her
skin was pale, transparent olive. She
was tall, her figure youthful, independ-
ent, her personality breathing magnetic
strength.
And as she played there, translating
the triumphant beauty of her dreams in
to harmony-dreams that widened her
narrow life and fed her soul-Tom en-
tered unheard. The sonorous chorus
found no echo in his heart. Pale beyond
words, he stood quite still until Virginia
turned to him.
There was no need for speech. She,
who knew his every expression, read the
truth in his face. 1t was pinched with
the pathetic revolt of the unsuccessful.
She was beside him in a second.
''I've been waiting for you, Tom"
Oh, to press her cheek in vehement
caress against his arm-he looked SO
worn, SO desperate! Oh, to whisper that
his pain was hers, for she loved him,
loved himl But instead she could only
stand mutely there, her very heart melt
ing within her.
81 have failed" he broke forth in
passionate, trembling whisper. Il am
mad, Virginia. could tear myself to
pieces"
He walked to tho window and for a
moment hid his face on his arm. But
she did not stir save to lean her open
palms upon the table, as if bracing her.
self to speak to him when the first
strength of his stormy despair had died.
Look" he muttered wildly, tearing
the soiled manuscript from an inner
pocket, ''here it is, pressing like stone
against my heart. When went into the
theater, Virginia, felt almost as if
had conquered. When I came out, 1
walked the streets blind. I was con-
scious Of nothing but an awful ache and
coldness.n
A shade born of intense feeling passed
over Virginia's face. Dare she utter the
truth that burned her? It might seem
cruel to him now, but in the end it would
be merciful.
She moved SO that the last bars Of day
light fell upon her face. Her eyes met
his.
.'And do you despair SO easily?' she
asked clearly. ssYou are holding out
your hands to fame, and because she
does not push her treasures into your
blind grasp for your first asking you rail
at her coldness. Success is worth more
than that, Tom, or it's worth nothing"
s'For my first askingY' he stanmered
hotly. SIS this my first play?"
''But in writing the others you only
served an apprenticeship. They were
weak and false-no, don't look angry.
Let me tell you the truth now and help
you if can. Did you write Of anything
you knew or felt? Did you look into
your own heart and write? No, Tom,
not even in this one did you do that. 1t
is better than the others, but still only a
superficial study. Write Of life, Tom,
DEAR" she said, and going still nearer to
him clasped her fercelittle hands around
his arm, her accents sounding inspired
on the silence. sLifel-it is the watch
word of the new school"
"You didn't say this before. You let
me plan and build like the conceited
dolt was"
Tom turned away in blind, unreason-
ing rage. His kindest critic had gone
over to the enemy If he had come to
her suffering from a physical wound and
she had struck him in the face, it could
,,nt have seemed moro axvfr1I Than +1nir