Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-10-19

He stole like u thief through the de-
serted halls. When he had locked the
door Of his room, lie threw himself hale
disrobed upon the bed and sank into a
feverish, broken sleep. 1t was a sleep of
dreams. He was again in Glendenning's
house, filling hi senses with q surfeit of
the delicious coioring, the evasive fra
GRANGE, wandering among the treasures
gathered from mosques and throne
rooms, the rugs everywhere changefully
glowing like huge chameleon skins, the
armor looming with feudal significance
in shadow
His memory Goated back to blur Of
wine and smoke; the soft bite of the
champagne was again in his throat, its
delicate fire lncRnting to his brain and
shedding over it confusion soft and
witchlike. Nor did he forget the jesting
sings at things he had hitherto viewed
as sacred, nor the laughter that turned
virtue to ridicule. They We're recalled
with the same genial palliation that had
marked his acceptance of them. ,
The rosy light, the crowd where wo-
men fiuttered like bright hued butter
flies, the evidences of reckless wealth on
every hand, the complete absence Of all
restraint, had captured him, and in
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 in cir-cry detail of this new phase
Of life . wildly joyous thing. holding
no thought of the morrow, only tie dc
light OF the dear, the living moment
A faint tapping sounded through the
nebula, At first it seemed that Glen
denning was knocking on the table for
silence. No, it was rain beating on the
window. But as it sounded still clearer
and woke him to full Consciousness he
opened his heavy cycs and listened. Some
one was gently knocking at his door.
"Tom, came softly to him, ''here are
letters for YOU eF 4ss8.
Virginia s voicel Hestarted up, leaned
his head on his hands, but kept silence.
The gay del;Tium Of his dream departed,
and he felt sick at heart. He seemed
strange to himself. The room was
strange Only Virginia outside the door
calling TO hJnl was .earfuIIy real. 9't
If she should see him, she would know
she might even guess from his voice
that he WAS IS. .Ils a9
He could not finish the thought.
.sTom. it's . O'Clock. Are Won ILL?
Don't you hear me2" And now the voice
had an accent of fear.
III? Yes, that would be his excuse.
And surely it was true. A dreadful
nausea surgcd through him; redhot pinch
ers seemed holding his head F'eigning
yawn, he coughed and said:
who's thereT
"Oh, you are awake at last. Sir Lazy
bones, do you know it is well On in the
afternoon?7
He made no answer. Virginia must
not see him; she must not know. That
was all he could think Of as he sat on
the edge of the bed, his hands clasped
to his hot forehead.
Your lunch is ready now. VIII you
be out soon? Mr. Plunket has sent over
adozen or more letters from the theater." :"
I'm not well, Virginia. Icouldn't eat
thing. Let the letters wait"
Silence followed for a moment, and he
could fancy the undeserved pity in her
sweet eyes. aaf.n
Isn't there something can doto help
you? Isn't there something that would
tempt you to eat? must go out, but I'd
like to leave you comfortable first"
Nothing, thank you. My head is ach-
ing, that's all. A little quiet, and III be
all right. You mustn't wait in on my ac-
count"
you've worked too hard, Tom. came
the delicious voice with tender severity.
"The strain is telling now. No wonder
your head aches, you poor fellow. I'm
sarry / c:lII-d vnu TIL ianvA litnci. ,,s..-l--
for you" And she added with dsterlni-
nation. ''Now do try and cat little by
and by"
She gave u short sigh as she turned
away, and Tom felt himself monster of
deceit. Hc remained quite still, with
closed eyes, and something very like self
contempt howercd in his heart. In one
wild night he had become cbettcracquaint-
ed with himself and the dark possibili-
ties of his nature than in all the peaceful
years gone by.
Weak That was the word an clfin
voice seemed whispering in liisehr B-il-
liant, impetuous. tender hearted. with as
piring motives, but weak, vacillating as
water dimrllg in new circles with ev-
cry pebble THROWN.
If he were not weak, he could not so
easily have thrown away his shy reserve
and lent his voice and ear to words that
stood forth now stripped of all captivat-
ing glamour, coarse, cynical, shameful.
Distinctions would not SO soon have
grown misty SIS
Ho had loved Virginia as dearly as it
was possible for him to love. Yet fnr .
night he had forgotten lcr. Her resist
less eyes and guiding hand had not staid
with him to lead him away from the
fattery and easy comradeship Of women
unfit TO breathe her name. He loved
Virginia. But was he worth lier love?
I Thrown amid varied temptations as he
\ saw now he must be in a crowded. world
ly life, would his heart remain Insoiicd?
Could he keep faith with herr Yester-
day, without ono wavcring doubt, he
would have said Yes" Today he felt d
gloomy, torment1ng fcar. No, he dare
not say that the bright wave Of success
would touch him and its backward sure
bear away no neral wreckage.
He sprang up determined that y first
failure should not rob him Of courage.
He would not think. He could not fancy
his life apart from V;rgihia's.
When he entered the sunny front room,
he found the round table drawn close to
the window. The sun struck scintilla-
tions from the glass and eddic,l il SWIM
ming beauty around u bowl OF fresh hy-
acinths placed beside his Illate. lie
picked out cluster and pinned it III his
coat. caressing for u moment the uplift-
ed, perfumy bells.
s.They are like hcrsclf-fair and sweet
and pure. l wish she was here nov.
Just before him his bloodshot eyes
famed from mirror. They seemed re
peating the question:
sAre you wort j her love-.
fro BE CONTINUED.
Republicans Tariff Thinkers.
A great manufacturing inagnate"
has delivered himself of the opinion that
congress ought to pass a solemn decla-
. - /. 4 1