The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-09-29
had an accent Of fear.

had an accent OF fear.
Zip Yes, that would be his excuse.
And surely it was true. A dreadful
nauseasurged through him; redhot pinch
ers seemed holding his head. Feigning
a yawn, he coughed and said:
"Who's there"
"Oh, you are awake at last. Sir Lazy
bones, do you know it is well on in the
afternoon
He made no answer. Virginia must
not see him; she must not know. That
was all he could think of as he sat on
the edge of the bed, his hands clasped
to his hot forehead.
"Your lunch is ready now. Will you
be out soonP Mr.. Plunket has sent over
adozen or more letters from the theater. "
"Tm not well, Virginia. Icouldn't eat
q thing. Let the letters wait"
Silence followed for a moment, and he
could fancy the undeserved pity in her
sweet eyes.
"Isn't there something can doto help
you? Isn't there something that would
tempt you to eat? must go out, but I'd
like to leave you comfortable first"
Nothing, thank you. My head is ach-
ing, that's all. A little quiet, and I'll be
all right. You mustn't wait in on my ac-
count"
you've worked too hard, Tom, came
the delicious voice with tender severity.
1.-THE strain is telling now. No wonder
your head aches, you poor fellow. I'm
sorry called you. I'll leave lunch ready
for YOU" And she added with determi-
nation, "Now do try and eat little by
and by"
She gave a short sigh as she turned
away, and Tom felt himself monster of
deceit. He remained quite still, with
closed eyes, and something very like self
contempt Powered in his heart. In one
wildnight he had become betteracquaint-
ed with himself and the DIRK POSSIBLE
ties of his nature than in all the peaceful
yea gone by.
Weak! That was the word an elfin
voice seemed whispering in hise Bril-
liant, impetuous, tender hearted, with as
piring motives, but weak, vacillating as
water dimpling in new circles with ev-
cry pebble thrown.
If he were not weak, he could not so
easily have thrown away his shy reserve
and lent his voice and ear to words that
stood forth now stripped of all captlvat-
ing glamour, coarse, cynical, shameful.
Distinctions would not so soon have
grown misty.
He had loved Virginia as dearly as it
was possible for him to love. Yet for a
night he had forgotten her. Her resist
less eyes and guiding hand had not staid
with him to lead him away from the
Aattery and easy comradeship of women
unfit to breathe her name. He loved
Virginia. But was he worth her love?
Thrown amid varied temptations as he
saw now he must be in crowded. world
" life, would his heart remain unsoiled?
Could he keep faith with herr Yester-
day, without one wavering doubt, he
would have said Yes" Today he felt a
gloomy, tormenting fear. No, he dare
not say that the bright wave of success
would touch him and its backward surge
bear away no moral wreckage.
He sprang up determined that first
failure should not rob him Of courage.
He would not think. He could not fancy
his life apart from Virginia's.
When he entered the sunny front room,
he found the round table drawn close to
the window. The sun struck scintilla-
tons from the glass and eddied in swim
ming beauty around bowl of fresh by
acinths placed beside his plate. He
picked out cluster and pinned it in his
coat, caressing for moment the uplift-
ed, perfumy bells.
"They are like herself-fair and sweet
and pure. l wish she was here now"
Just before him his bloodshot eyes
famed from a mirror. They seemed re-
peating the question:
"Are you worth her lover?