Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-12-04
CHAPTER ".

day and far into each night he wrote
with felicitous ease. No hint of his love
passed his lips to Virginia. Pride, with
a promise of ultimate victory in its warn
ing voice, babe passion wait.
You arc nothing, you have nothing
now, but some day you will. Some day
you may dare ask her to add her love
the richest jewel-to n measure already
| full"
And so the time went by with an out
ward seeming of eventful quietude, and
October came
| Virginia sat alone ono bright after
noon. She was painting panel for
| fashionable shop that was pleased to ac-
cept her work and pay as little as was
possible for it. Her head was bent low,
and a loosened strand of hair swept her
check. Her figure in its inclined posi-
ton revealed a supple strength and COM
plete repose.
The little maid who helped her about
the house had departed, and the room
was quiet, save that a tiny white kitten
| purred before the stove and the clock
licked upon the mantel. And how a
| clock can tick in silent room! Cues
! ton it; it answers you. Sit mute, and
! it voices your thoughts Virginia laid
her brush down and listened to it. There
was something pathetically childish
about her as she sat there, her chin upon
her open hand, her dilated eyes couched
under the delicate brows, mirroring the
! passionate regret that of late had poi
soned all her days.
| She was not in Toms confidence now.
! She did not share his walks. The gay
| familiar companionship so unutterably
| dear was ended. He did not know-he
never must know-how often she had
| crept to his door late at night to listen to
| the scratch of his impetuOuS pen.
Perhaps her words had stung him to
! such violent activity he would soon leave
them to fight fortunei in a wider field. A
startled breath broke upon her lips.
What would this place be without him?
What would her life be? The clock an
swered with a cynical, knowing tick.
\ shadowy wave OF dcsolation rushed
| over her, and the room grew dark. Her
hands fell Gown helplcssly. The clock
/ licked louder, like n Sarrulous crone
foretelling disaster.
virginia." fell upon her ears with a
soft suddenness that startled her. The
panel slipped from her knees, and grasp
ing the arms of the chair she turned her
head to find Tom standing above her.
Il have been watching you for a full
minute" he said. throwing his hat down
and drawing over n low stool. so that he
faced her.
In the hushed, masterful whisper she
recognized something unusual. Some
thing unusual i'll his face too. Repres
sion was there, excitement, JOY.
Il didn't hear yen come in," Virginia
answered, her voice sounding thick and
far away in her own ears.
She half stopped to draw back the
| piece of satin on which bunch of daisies
was still wet. He caught her hand and
with gentle fingers that brooked no re
sistancc took the thing away and placed
it ont of her reach.
Dear little handr and his voice was
heavy with love, dear, faithful little
hand! Let it rest awhile here, Virginia. "
The girl shivered as one does who
rushes from a cold vault into the sun
light.
Look at me-" 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 me!
And YOU were right. | have succeeded.
My last play was accepted and by the
man who rejected all the Others"
\ boyish laugh of pure delight left his
lips, and he sank on his knees beside her
I'D like to set all the bells in the
chapel pealing. call out the fellows and
tell them the exchange was not so bad
after all. Not so bad, eh, Virginia." he
asked, thinking how lovely We're the
velvety deeps of her eyes,
1T is so sudden, SO strange. But, oh
there is such gladness and light in my
heart for you, Tom! Tell me more, tel
me all about it,"
He leaned closer She felt his hant
upon her shoulder. His mouth, in it!
1.-the, boyish curves. was very near hel
, own.
. There is something else | must tel
you first he said slowly.
In that long. sultry look she knew all
: Her pulses quickcned, fire grew in he,
, heart. He loved her. then? Oh, he did
, he did!
Their faces were so close there was
: resistless impulse, moment of con
fused, delirious joy. and their lips clun:
| in a kiss that drew Virginia's heart witt
, it.
! Toms lids fell heavily. He was yer,
white. \ great sigh came from his lips
> ''Virginia"-
=, But the door opened Tom had scarce
! " time to stand up before her father cam
in, followed by boy with package.
The old man was aglow with pleas
urable excitement. He closed the doc
after the messenger, crossed the room i
. his graceful. stately way and shook hand
: with Tom
n Il have had n pleasant day." he sal
briskly. Such a delightful coincidence
a What would life be without the une1
4 pected? Have you ever thought of that
. TOM
81 am thinking of it now, sir" and b
n exchanged fleeing glance of arch NEAR
ing with Virginia. But l differ wit
you slightly. The unexpected can prov
well, at some moments-an out an
out nuisance"
when it's of an unpleasant nature
yes, of course-my slippers, Virginia
thank you, my dear-but when it ca,
ries you back to pleasant time and su,
rounds you with happy memories-al
them
Tell me about it, dad" said Virgini
as she leaned over him.
Her face was glorified. She locke
with naive tenderness straight at Tol
as she spoke-looked until her eyes fe
under the fire in his.
at happened this way" and Mr.. Ke1
ambled drowsily on, ignorant that IL
splendor of youth and love was eddyiu
in warm chances around his frosty heat
81 had just cashed my check and W.
walking up Broadway. As 1 came nes
>, Bond street, CHANGED to look up and sa
u an auctioneer's flag over dim shop in