Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-01
"But you didn't buy any Of those

"But you didn't buy any Of those
lovely, useless things?" she interposed
in a whisper. "You didn' t,sursly, dad?
You know the quarters rent
"Never mind the quarters rent, Vir-
GINA. You always will drag in these
purely private matters, before our
guests"
With a delicate Impotence he moved
to the stove and held out his white
hands to the warmth.
"Whete was l when you interrupted
me? Alb" and he took of his glasses,
lightly clicking his coat sleeve with
them, II remember, / controlled my
self. l bought nothing until l saw a
gem that almost made me give a cry Of
recognition. Against the red cloth in
the lamplight a1d dust stood a piece Of
statuary that l parted with In an evil
day long ago." He looked at both his
listeners with a dim smile, and his voice
became retrospective. GLOW it recalled
the bright spring morning l picked 1t
up in Paris! All, dear me! commenced
bidding for it.
''At last only one voice was hear'
competing with me. The owner Of it
peered at me through the crowd. l
peered al him. Who was it but the son
Of a dear old friend! All, il was a sight
TO see him look at me only half con-
vinced. rs your name Kent?' 1T is,
and you are Richard M%onklOw,' l an
swered. Well, he withdrew, and the
bust became mine. l spent the rest Of
the day with him. We lunched at Del
monico's, played a game Of poker in his
rooms afterWard. All, he's a fine fell
low, this Lieutenant Monklow. He's
Just left the navy to Inherit a great for
tune. Oh, what a life be has hadl
Teeming with adventure, with eX-
perlence. Lucky dog! But open the
packages, Tom, and see The Masker.'
1t cost me $50 10 regain IT.. What m at
ter? Il is worth hundreds"
In a moment Tom had the wrappings
of, and the bust was placed on a little
stand. The head and shoulders Of a
girl cleaned Whitley in marble. She
was.represented laughing in uDrestrain-
ed gayety, her eyes half closed from
sheer WEAKNESS of so much mirth, her
curling mouth with its range OF little
teeth Just showing above the mask
that one daintily curved hand had
Dulled down in a capricious moment.
A lovely thing, indeed, but sadly out
OF place 10 that poor room. 1t see med
strange to Virginia that her father did
not recognize the singular unftness.
The girl was laughing at them all!
And to have spent 500 for it! On, 1t
was wanton, cruel!
Touch it reverently, Virginia; it be-
longs to my past" sighed Mr.. Kent.
But, father dear, how-how could
YOU do it?" she burst out with uncon
trollable ~reproach. Sixty dollars, and
so many things needed herel"
Tom saw the old mans eyes flash, as
he Strengthened himself from the waist:
That will do, my dear. l do not see
that we lack any Of the plain comforts
which, alas! are all l can at present
provide-and II l choose 10 add a luxu-
rtous trife, something associated with
the dear dead days, l will not" he said
Ia a clear, studied voice-"I will not be
interfered with. Now, II you please,
nv child, well say no more about It,.
Whenever you want 10 talk over house
hold matters with me, l am always at
YOUR ~service-in private"
Nothing more was said, and the bust
was placed neal the melodeon. But
Virginia could not bear to look at it.
Poverty was biting, their needs urgent
and debt abhorrent to her. How many
panels she would have TO strain her eyes
over before half of SEQ was earned. A
burning mist fell over her sight. She
looked up and met Toms compassionate
eyes. They counseled her to be patient.
All. what did these small briers matter
since be loved her?
There lay her hope, her refuge.
CHAPTER V,
"I don't know" and Mr.. Plunket sat
hack t%houghtfully crossing his legs,