The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-07

sistance took the thing away and placed
1t out of her reach.
"Dear little handr and his voice was
heavy with love, "dear, faithful little
hand! Let il rest awhile here, Virginia"
The girl shivered as one does who
!. rushes from q cold vault into the sun.
light.
LOOK at mel" she heard him saying
In half suppressed voice OF intense ex.
ultation. Il am the happiest fellow In
New York. You told me you believed
in me. You told me that. Oh, Virginia,
how those words have staid with mel
And you were right. l have succeeded.
NV last play was accepted and by the
man who rejected all the others"
A boyish laugh of pure delight left his
lips, and he sank on his knees beside her.
"rd like to set all the bells in the
chanel pealing, call out the fellows and
tell them the exchange was not so bad
after all. Not so bad, eh, VirginiaY ne
asked, thinking how lovely were the
velvety deeps of her eyes.
'It is SO sudden, so strange. But, oh.
there is such gladness and light in my
heart for you, Tom! Tell me more, tell
me all about it,"
He leaned closer She felt his hand
upon her shoulder. His mouth, in its
1.-the, boyish curves, was very near her
own. =,
"There is something else must tell
Won first" he said slowly.
In that long, sultry look she knew all.
Her pulses quickened, fire grew in her
heart. He loved her, then? Oh, he did,
he did!
Their faces were so close there was
resistless impulse, q moment OF con-
fused, delirious joy. and their lips clung
In kiss that drew Virginia's heart with
it.
Toms lids fell heavily. He was very
white. A great sigh came from his lips;
"Virginia'--
But the door opened. Tom had scarce.
ly time to standup before her father came
in, followed by boy with package.
The old man was aglow with pleas
urable excitement. He closed the door
after the messenger, crossed the room in
his graceful, stately way and shook hands
with Tom.
IL have had a pleasant day." he said
briskly. "Such delightful coincidence!
What would life be without the unex-
pected? Have you ever thought of that,
Tom?"
II am thinking OF 1t now. sir" and he
exchanged feeting glance of arch mean
ing with Virginia. ''But / differ with
you slightly. The unexpected can prove
well, at some moments-an out and
out nuisance"
when it's Of an unpleasant nature,
yes, of course-my slippers, Virginia
thank you, my dear-but when it car
ries you back to pleasant time and sur
rounds you with happy memories-ah,
them"
"Tell me about it, dad" said Virginia
as she leaned ever him.
Her face was glorified. She looked
with naive tenderness straight at Tom
as she spoke-looked until her eyes fell
under the fire in his.
"It happened this way" and Mr.. Kent
ambled drowsily on, ignorant that the
splendor Of youth and love was eddying
in warm glances around his frosty head.
81 had just cashed my check and was
walking up Broadway. AS l came near
Bond street, chanced to look up and saw
an auctioneer's flag over dim shop in a
basement. went down. The place was
packed, the bidding was brisk. Pieces OF
quaint pottery went for song, old min
iatures, shawls and rugs. went nearer.
All, how I longed for money, money,
money!
He paused, and Virginia gave an un-
easy glance at the package.