Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-10-15

and go IS he pleased, let him hurt her
by this other side OF his nature daily re-
Vealing itself more fully, out he must
not guess she had dreamed OF that
which might never be hers.
But, oh, to see him, speak to him,
and never by single glance mirror the
mutiny that kept singing one question
In her -"Why-why-why has he
changed?"-this was the pain OF that
cruel and particular kind that dwarfs
Ia its penetrating torture the endur-
ance required for larger griefs.
And worse to bear than all was her
fathers assumption CT q secret under
standing existing between them.
II say, now, you and young Murray
are not quite so Indifferent to each
other as you'd have me believe, are
yon?" he asked her one morning as he
fingered over his paper and cup OF choc-
olate.
TON will always be my friend, l
hope" Virginia answered steadily, but
almost lnaudlbly.
Mr.. Kent gave a sharp side glance at
her pale face and a shrug.
"You don't mean to say there's moth
ing else? Stuff and nonsense! He was
In love with you, whatever he may be
now. Just before that play Of his was
put on, when he was on the tenter hooks
of anxiety, l saw him watching you
many a time. The tender passion re-
veals itself now just as 1t did when
suffered from it, and Tom looked sheep
ish. 1 dare say used to look so. l
know my rivals always appeared so TO
me. Has anything changed him."
No word came from Virginia's CULVER
ing lips. No word could come.
"Theu you are not secretly oetrothed
to him?"
She went hurrledly 10 her fathers
side, and holding his arm tightly looked
at him with dry, burning eyes.
"You must not fancy such thing.
am nothing to him. Oh, you wouIdn't
speak to him about this, father! You
wouldn't! No; it would kill me II you
didm
speak to himP I? What are you
talking about? Am likely TO do SOP
Do strike YOU as that sort OF person?
The man who wants to marry my daugh-
ter must sue for that honor"
He studied her face hard for mo-
ment, and his lips settled into a thin,
straight line. The tragedy in her
dilated eyes told him the truth, and
naughty anger against Tom awoke
within him. Virglnja'S love won and
thrown away seemed an Insignificant
thing beside the thought that any man
should indulge In desuitory lovemaking
with his daug liter and then repent OF 1t,
His daughter! There lay the sting that
vas unbearaole.
1t was after o'clock that night be-
fore Tom entered the house. Delatole
and he were 10 leave for visit TO the
south in the morning. He could no
longer postpone his going. But how to
tell them? Row 10 say Goodbye Would
Virginia remain his friend? Would she
understand? Oh, she must, she must.
lie could not bear to think she would
hate or despise him.
As be walked slowly up stairs he met
Mr.. Kent coming down. The old mans
greeting was chilling, but courteous.
Tom drew his breath hard and plunged
into explanations at once. The words
we're feverish, rapid-polite regrets for
his necessary departure, mingled with
q recital of his future plans.
Mr.. Kent heard him unmoved to the
end.
II don't wish TO handy any words
with you, Mr.. Murray" he said in
calm. collected tone. Zone thing l
must say, however. When l was young
people did not repay hospitality as you
Da n
Don't interrupt. Without plunging
into stupid detail / am sure you under
stand me. l will say gOodby TO you
now. You cannot go too quickly to
please me. dare say you will succeed.
The sensitive and fOrbearing man Is Of
ten left in the background, but men Of
your stamp, never
He passed down the hall, leaving Tom
hot and Indignant Had Virginia told
him, or did he only guess? 1t was i'm
possible TO retaliate, impossible TO tell
this selfish dreamer be had never been
his guest. Besides the words did ran
kls, oh, so deeply! for, though uttered
from a partially mistaken sense of
wrong, they were true. He had acted
a cowardly part
turned TO the hall window, endeavoriug
20 conquer the auivering OF his pulses
before facing Virginia.
1t had commenced to snow again. He
could hear the students practicing a
new Christmas hymn in the chapel oppo-
site. In moment the years spent in
the college, so different from his pres
ent life, passed in a series OF pictures
before him, and with them the thought
of all he owed Virginia. But for her
The Worlds Way" would never have
been written. Looking back, he saw
how clearly her partnership had
nerved him to continual effort. Hers
was the voice that urged him on, hers
the dauutless optimism that had sent 8
rift of glory into his darkest days.
An ache rose in his throat; the snow,
in the light from the open chapel door,
whirled mstily before him. Now that
he was actually going the thought that
he was leaving her was exquisite pain.
The familiar landmarks frowned an I'M
bearabIe reproach.
''What fool l am" he thought and
gave his shoulders an impatient shrug.
'When I'm with Delatole, l see I've
done right. When I'm here-pshaw!
what's the use Of these regrets? They
lead nowhere. / can't turn back. l
must go on. I'll never forget Virginia,
we can be friends still, and some daY,
in a year maybe, when I'm sure Of my
self, If she but loves me, all will some
how come right"
He went first to his own room and sat
down, looking before him 10 dazed
way. Would it all come right? Did he
believe that? Was he trying to deceive
himself at the last? Then for the sake
Of action and to keep thought away as
much as possible he put his clothes and