Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-12-06
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
Dawn, q monotone in level gray. hung
over the town ere Tom with the last of
the jewellers left Glendenning's
Ugh! how cold it is. My blood il
thin at this unearthly hour" said Della
tole, lighting n cigarette rs they paused
TO separate Mt Madison square. I've
often thought if 1 ever do assist my own
departure from this perpetual dressing
and undressing it will be in this gray
stiffness. when one seems to feel the pulse
of the world. Will you be on the stage
tonight
YES, but supp0se--uow, suppose you
recollection of the managers advice
His speech was thick and wavering.
Delatole's head seemed spinning round
like a top. The trees in the square were
certainly dancing 4 Ininuct.
Charmed. And now 30 home, Muir
ray, and go to bed. Not used TO wine,
are You: Nou rnight forget my address,
sol'll put my card in your pocket-there.
Come down M 1 and have smoke in my
den. Not such II fine place as Glenden-
ning'S, but coy, you'll find"
When Tom reached Chelsea square. the
Sparrows were chattering rs if mad.
Their shrill clamor and his own unsteady
footballs made the surrounding silence
seem more dense. The college buildings,
like great gray watchers, frowned upon
him from behind blue haze, trembling
and mysterious.
He had walked down the street only
the preceding evening on his way to the
theater, and Yet i'll bewildered. hazy
fashion he felt that between that hour
and this there had come n rent in his
moral fiber like narrow cleft in a riven
rock.
y binding pain stung his tired eyes.
There was Il burning in his chest. The
thought of reaching his room unseen and
letting slumbcr blot ont the medley of
impressions hesieging him was 50 seduc.
tive lie quicGene,l his steps.
How the sparrows kept chattering
among the denudel boughs.
Here he comes. they seemed to Chirp
rapidly Look. look. Here he comes.
Oh. see! oh. sec, Here he comes. Here
he comes
Was there an accusing note in their
shrill chorus. Or did he from an unex-
plaincl sense Of guilt only fancy l.:
He stole like q thief through the de
serted halls. When he had locked the
door of his room. he threw himself half
diSrobcl upon the bed and sank inlo
fevtrish, broken sleep. 1t was sleep of
dreams. He WAS again i'll Glendcnning's
house. filling his senses with Il surfCit of
the delicious CulGriug. the cyasive fra
GRANGE, wandering among the treasures
gathered from mosques and throne
rooms. the rugs everywhere Changefully
glowing like huge chameleon skins. the
Grmor looming with fcudal significance
il shallow.
His memory tloated back to blur of
wine and ssnokc; the soft bite of the
champagne WAS again in his throat. its
delicate nre mounting 10 his brain and
shedding over 1t = confusion soft and
wil>hlikv. Nor G;I he forget the testing
sings III things he had hitherto viewed
a. sacred. uor the laughter that turned
virrUo 10 ridicule. They were recalled
with the same genial palliation that had
marked his acceptance of them.
The rosy light, the crowd where wo-
men tiutgere6 like bright hued butter
flies, the evidences Of reckless wealth on
every hand. the complete absence of all
restraint. had captured him, and III Il
mental saturnalia he heard the toasts
and saw the money changing hands at
cards. the refrains of songs that shook
the windows and the dances that called
forth screaming cheers. As half wake
ful he tossed upon his bed his memory
reveled i'll every detail of this new phase
of hfe-a wildly joyous thing. holding
no thought of the morrow. only the de
light of the dear, the living moment
y faint tapping sounded through the
nebulP. At first il seemed that Glen
dcnning was knocking on the table for
silence. No. i was rain beating on the
window. But rs it sounded still clearer
and woke him TO full consciousness he
opened his heavy eyes and listened. Some
one was gently knocking at his door
Tom" came softly 10 him. here are
letters Tor You"
Virginia voice! He>,arted up, leaned
his head on his hands. but kept silence.
The gay dclirium of his dream departed,
and he felt sick AZ heart He seemed
strange to himself The room was
strange. Only Virginia outside the door
calling 10 him was fearfully real