The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-10-13

TOR Ana why: On, you 1OOll ana MS
blue. quivering lips seemed to spit ont
the words, land why? Because you ARE
still thinking of that fellow. that scamp
that Murray. who gave you the go i,y
Don't | know You sentimental idiot,
he had no romantic memories to hold
him backi He has looked TO it that his
bread will be plentifully buttered. Read
today's paper. After a splurge in En-
rope, q courtship on the steamer coming
home, he's going to marry General Bau
doine's widow-a woman worth mil
lions. Do you hsarP Refuse to marry
Monklow, and I'll never forgive you"
He was terrible sight in this sudden
spasln of rage-repression, his lifelong
habit, fallen from him like garment
loosed by his palsied fingers.
Virginia Strengthened her young figure,
her arms hanging loosely at her sides
and rs white as THE Masker" laughing
beside her.
The patience and silence of the past
fled away like shades, and resistance.
fully armed. took their place.
"Then you'll never forgive me, for
do refuse" she said steadily, but scarce
ly louder than breath. What sort of
life have | lived here at your very side?
Will you hear, now, at last? You flung
away your money while you could. You
thought wholly of your pleasures. You
gave me nothing. You didn't think
You didn't care. And | have worked
with my hands, my brain, at anything
could find to do-yes. often while you
slept. Now you have said all you could
to wound me- and there was an angry.
sobbing break in the accusing voice. 81
could bear even that. But you shall not
take all, father-not my body. my soul
They are my own"
Everything was dark as she went
blindly from the room. She had faint
intention of going out in the rama
Eense of supreme and awful loneliness
The door closed upon her, and she would
have stumbled had not strong arms
caught her. She looked up and saw
Richard Monklow. One glance at his
face, drained of the hue of life under
meath the brown, the lips contracted, the
kind eyes sad and she saw he had heard
all.
81 asked for too much. Forget my
words. Virginia" he said when he could
speak. Forget all save these-that |
can only live if you will let me serve
you, see you sometimes, be near you.
am yours. Use me as You will"
CHAPTER XI.
Delatole was dressing to dine out. Az
he struggled with collar button he
turned his head to listen to the lazy lii
of a song coming from a room across the
hall. His face wore an i'll humored
frown. 1t was very evident that the
song and the singer impressed him with
equal unpleasantness.
do stop that humming, for Gods
saker' he cried out It last "It's enough
TO drive one mad"
There was 10 reply, and few mo-
ments later Tom lounged across the hall
He was very different from the waver'
ing, tempted man who rushed from Vir,
ginia's presence that snowy night almost
two years before. His face had lost the
flashing earnestness that rose from an
ecstatic heart. 1t had taken on resolute
lines and an expression of worldly sub
tlety. The cheeks were slightly hol
lowed, the eyes placidly heavy, cold
showing the haggard lines of dissipation
WAS | singing? Iswear didn't know
it" he said languidly.
Delatole surveyed him with II cold, un.
changing glance.
'Still in your blouse and slippers
Won't yon look in upon the theater par
ty at ALL"
II don't care hang about it,"
Aren't you afraid Mrs. Baudoine will
send out n search warrant for you"
Let her send"
Cool for prospective bridegroom"
prospective idiotr And Tom set
tied himself very comfortably on his
back on low divan. "I'll never marry
Mrs. Baudoine. AS the girl in the song
says, Something tells me So Couldn't
you, with your managerial tactics, hell
me out Of that scrape? You know sh'
did all the running-not l."
Delatole drew on his gloves in silence
He grew white, and when he came tC
the foot of the divan and let his eye.
travel slowly over Toms supine length
rage only half controlled made his lip
tremble.
"In my opinion" he said slowly, witt
emphasis, you'll be in fair way tt
need the material help of Mrs. Ban
| doines money very soon."
Really? Oh, then there are times
when marriage seems good unto your
And burning glance. was flashed a
him from beneath Toms lowered lids.
my opinion about marriage has no
altered in the least. But if a man car
only fail, if he can't even support him
self, the most practical thing is to fine
some woman silly enough to SHOULDER
the responsibility"
go on. Your English grows NOR
vigorous day by day. It's really lib
eral education to be allowed to hear yon
Surely you haven't finished yet. Yor
said more than this yesterday"
"No, haven't finished. want to re
mind you once more that you owe m,
money. More than that, want it. In
sick Of your spiritless languor. l neve
knew man let himself drop as you
have done. Because you go at rapiC
pace is no reason why you should di