The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-12

| tiAub ~'cN @NAA "NAA $500
these words"
"Yes, / mem it ALL"
Delatole handed him cigarette, gave
an abrupt glance at his harassed, weary
face, and said musingly-
"You don't look like yourself today.
Aren't you well?'
"Pm quite we'll"
"But you seem depressed"
Tom smoked for a moment in silence.
"Not so much depressed. am dis
gusted," he said fiercely. "Did you
know that was--drunk last night"
Delatole opened his eyes very wide
and softly laughed as If infinitely
amused.
II wish you wouldn't laugh" Tom
said, little sullenly, streak of color
crossing his cheek. 1T was the first
time and is not pleasant to remember"
Delatole's eyebrows twitched; he low
cred his eyes and thoughtfully moved
some trifle on the table.
"But, say, are you going in for re-
spectability- that cumbersome re-
spectability that strains at gnaty Are
| your
The languid curiosity Of his tone was
more contemptuous than his laugh.
Tom was troubled by a strange feeling
as he listened. He did not like Delatole
| in his usual genial, unreserved way.
| Just to watch the slow movements OF
| his listless hands held an enigmatical
fascination. He felt a strong desire to
emulate his ease and sagacity, but un-
derneath and through it all there foated
an i'll defined repulsion.
The man seemed the product Of
forced, perverted life. Something about
his dark pallor and sneering lips dimly
reminded Torc, of flower forced into a
semblance Of bloom by the aid of nox-
ious gas, but with life and color and
strength missing.
"You see, my dear fellow" Delatole
continued. IL know that you are fresh
from religious environment-that you
are young; therefore don't accept your
views seriously. Perhaps they are but
natural. / won't label you 'prig' and
give you up. I'll only give you time.
Here comes my man with some brandy
and soda. Perhaps your saintship won't
have anyy
"Of course / will. You don't suppose
meant to draw such fine distinctions.
Surely You understand" said Tom ear
nestly, and he looked away into the leap
ing golden hoart of the fire. Last
nights events gave blow to my precon-
ceived ideas Of life. mean to hold to
them, you see."
Rubbish A little iaxity only makes
q mans nature wholesomely expand.
Now, look here, Murray" and Delatole
spoke impressively as he stroked his
pointed beard, I'm going to transplant
you, and to soil where you'll grow
mentally. II you don't astound us with
a play even more unforgettable than
The Worlds Way because more ma
ture, it won't ~ iay FAULT"
A question darkened Toms eyes, and
he leaned eagerly forward.
"You made O wonderfully good guess
at life's flavor in The Worlds Way
But I'm going TO make you taste it in
truth, the brackish and the sweet. In
short, I'm going to ask you to pitch in
| your fortunes with mine and share these
rooms with me. Since Glendenning dis
appointed me ! have preferred to live
and dream alone. But-frankly--I like
you. The suite is large. We would
not clash. Besides, just across the hall
is an atelier left vacant since De Courcey
ran away only recently to escape his
debts. You'll probably find the drapery
of departed model still upon the plat
form. You could furnish it as you
please and have IL as your own particu-
lar den"
He watched Toms eyes travel half
wistfully around the odd, artistic place.
Charming" lie said at length and
added slowly, "but impossible. You
see. I'm going to marry very soon."
Delatole stared at him as if incapable
of grasping the statement.
YES" said Tom, and now blunt
tenderness rang in his voice, II am go
ing to marry Virginia Kent"
"Are you madY' and the words were a
slow exclamation.
Delatole rose as he spoke, lifted one of
the fragile glasses ON the table and con-
temptaously flung it from him. 1t lay
upon the hearth, mass of opalinc spin.
ters. :,
ically ruined as that glass"
Not dreaming of the selfish motive
prompting this violent objection and
listening to words that were passion
less prophecy, Tom could not resist the
Bhudder that ominously passed over him.
Zone would think talked of commit
ting crime" And the words were
breathless.
"And so you are. Isn't il crime to
throw away your chance? Life doesn't
offer too many of them. Let me tell
You, too, my dear fellow, that you do
tot strike me ms one who would cult
vate the virtues of patience and humility
under the stress of failure and poverty.
Marry now, when you have just crossed
the line, before your strength has had
fair test, and you'll not only fail, but
probably break your wife's heart in a
year. You remember what l said to
you last night. ! did not dream then