Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-09-24
CHAPTER II.

"A square reOm OF gOOuly SIZE, tue
broad windows opening on low bal
cony and beyond the shining panes
Chelsea square. 1t was large enough
to meet the requirements 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 knew
the swish of founced petticoats, tea
had undoubtedly been slipped on the
rusty balcony, the unused carriage step
at the curb had known the pressure OF
arstocratic toes.
But this was in the long ago, when
the house wa private mansion, before
the city had crawled upward TO en-
croach on its suburban retirement,
very long before any one dreamed that
the inconclastic finger Of modest re-
spectabiity, first cousin to power ty,
would one day steal the luster from its
gliding, the color from It's bricks aud
convert the string Of ample rooms into
floors for separate families.
The glare from the west turned the
vine pattern on the cotton curtains into
copper. Against them a girl leaned,
gloriied by the wanning splendor. Her
arms were folded resttully on 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 deep
sparkle rested in her eyes. She was
impatient and sometimes threw glance
down the tree lined pavement, where
the lights in the street lamps were be-
ginning to tremble in 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 audacious worldliness.
Virginia threw back her head, and a
confident smile lifted her cleaning lip.
How they would retract 1t all some
day! For Tom was not like them. His
was an untamable spirit, only maddened
by rigorous confines.
He had chosen to live with them for
the future. How his young face and
light step would brighten up the place!
II was sometimes so lonely and quiet
with only her father. A vision Of win
ter nights around a rudy 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 a quaint, yellow keyed melOdeon
stood, and here Virginia impulsively
seated herself. Her fingers flickered
over the keys, the music filed the
room, the fainting light swan in her
raised eyes and rasied her lifted chin.
There was a subtle fire, winning
softness, in the face. The hazel green
ewes glanced with intense life; a mys-
FERROUS smile chung to the lips so proud
ly cut. Her brown hair, holding the
cleaning russell tone seen in some dy-
ing leaves, was drawn up 20 the crown,
where fluffy knot gave a chic. stately
touch to her small head. In charming
consonauce with this warm brunette
coloring her skin was pale, transpar-
ent olive. She was tall, her figure youth
full, independent, her personality breath
ing Y magnetic strength.
And as she played there, translating
the trium plant beauty of her dreams
into 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 unsuc-
cessful.
She was beside him in a second.
''I've been waiting for you, Tom"
Oh. to press her cheek in a vehement
caress against his arm-he looked so
worn, so desperate! On, to whisper that
his pain was hers, for she loved him,
loved him! But instead she could only
stand mutely there, her very heart
melting within her.
II have failed" be broke forth in
passionate. trembling whisper. Il am
mad, Virginia. could tear myself TO
pieces"
He walked to the window and for
moment hid his face on his arm. But
she did not stir save 10 lean her open
pslms upon the table, as II 6raeing her
self 10 speak to him when thetfrst
strength Of his stormy despair had
died.
Look be muttered wildly, tearing
the solled manuscript from an inner
pocket, "here il is. pressing ike stone
against my heart. When I went into