The times., 1893-12-01

conviction that you mean it ali Is far
dearer than that New York will read
these words"
"Yes, | mean it all"
Delatole handed him cigarette, gave
an abrupt glance at his harassed. weary
face. and said musingly-
lyon don't look like yourself today.
Aren't you wellY'
"Fm quite we'll"
"But you seem depressed"
Tom smoked for moment in silence.
mot SO much depressed. am dis
gusted," he said fiercely. did you
know that was-drunk last night"
Delatole opened his eyes very wide
aud softly laughed as if infinitely
amused.
II wish you wouldn't laugh" Tom
said, little sullenly, astreak 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 triae on the table.
But, say, are you going in for re-
spectability-for 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 strange feeling
as he listened He did not like Delatole
in his usual genial, unreserved way.
Just to watch the slow movements of
80 lie knlI 4. q
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 q
forced, perverted life. Something about
his dark pallor and sneering lips dimly
reminded Tom 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, ~ know that you are fresh
from religious environment-thaty 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 anyp'
"Of course l 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 heart 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 laxity only makes
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. If you don't astound us with
play even more unforgettable than
The Worlds Way because more ma
ture, it won't be my fault"
A question darkened Toms eyes, and
he leaned eagerly forward.
"You made wonderfully good guess
at life's flavor in The Worlds Way.
But Pm 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 wi:L INC. Since Glendenning dis
appointed ne | 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. Yo;.'ll probably find the drapery
of departed model still upon the plat
form. You could furnish it as you
please and have it as your own particu-
lar dem"
He watched Toms eyes travel Ealf
wistfully around the odd, artistic place.
Charming" he said ut 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, Il am so
ing to marry Virginia Kent"
Are you mad?' and the words were a
slow exclamation.
Delatole rose rs he spoke, lifted one of
| the fragile glasses on the table and con-
| temptuously flung it from him. 1t lay
upon the hearth. mass of opaline splin-
| ters.
"In another year you will be as artis-
tically ruined as that glass;"
Not dreaming of the selfish motive
prompting this violent objection and
listening to words that were q passion
less prophecy, Tom could not resist the
shudder that ominously passed over him.
zone would think talked Of commit
ting crime" And the words were
breathless.
"And SO you are. Isn't it 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
not strike me as 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
year. You remember what 1 said to