The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-03-22
CHAPTER III.


A square room Of goodly size, the broad
windows opening on a low balcony and
beyond the shining panes Chelsea square.
1t was large enough to meet the re-
quirements of dining and sitting room,
the high walls bearing the faded floral
decoration Of an earlier period. The
stained floor from which the polish had
long departed once knew the swish Of
flounced petticoats, tea had undoubtedly
been slipped on the rusty balcony, the I'M
used carriage step at the curb had known
the pressure of aristocratic toes.
But this was in the long ago, when the
house was private mansion, before the
city had crawled upward to encroach on
its suburban retirement. very long be-
fore any one dreamed that the iconoclas-
tic finger of modest responsibility, first
cousin to poverty. would one day steal
the luster from its gliding, the color from
its bricks and convert the strings of am
pie rooms into floors for separate fami-
lies.
The glare from the west turned the
vine pattern on the cotton curtains into
copper. Against them girl leaned, glo-
rified by the waning splendor. Her arms
were folded restfully on her breast. Her
gaze was fastened ON the gray college
buildings opposite and the green close
which gave such an old world touch to
the street. A deep sparkle rested In her
eyes. She was impatient and sometimes
threw glance down the tree lined pave
ment, where the lights in the street
lamps were beginning TO tremble in o
network of leaves.
Two students, arm in arm, futtered
past in their quaint gowns and looked
up at her window. They were talking
of Tom. She knew it. They were say
ing unkind things of him. Perhaps they
were sneering at what they called his
folly, his audacious worldliness.
Virginia threw back her head, and q
confident smile lifted her cleaning lip.
How they would retract it all some day!
For Tom was not like them. His was an
untamable spirit, only msddened by rig.
orous confines
He had chosen to live with them for
the future. How his young face and
light step would brighten up the place!
1t was sometimes SO lonely and quiet
with only her father. A vision of win
ter nights around rudy fire, of deli
cious, slow waning summer evenings on
the balcony, rose before her mind. They
would be happy, she knew.
A few feet from the table set for din
ner quaint, yellow keyed melodeon
stood, and here Virginia impulsively
seated herself. Her fingers flickered over
the keys. the music filled the room, the
fainting light SWAIN in her raised eyes
and rosied her lifted chin.
There was a subtle fire, winning soft
ness, in the face. The hazel green eyes
glanced with intense life; a mysterious
smile chung to the lips so proudly cut.
Her brown hair, holding the cleaning
russell tone seen in some dying leaves,
was drawn up to the crown, where q
fluffy knot gave chic, stately touch to
her small head. Incharming consonance
with this warm brunette coloring her
skin was pale. transparent olive. She
was tall, her figure youthful, independ'
ent, her personality breathing magnetic
strength.
And as she played there. translatine
the triumphant beauty of her dreams in,
to harmony-dream3 that widened her
narrow life and fed her soul-Tom en-
tered unheard. The sonorous chorus
found no echo in his heart. Pale beyond
words, he stood quite still until Virgini,
turned to him.
There was no need for speech. She
who knew his every expression, read the
truth in his face. II was pinched with
tho pathetic revolt Of the unsuccessful.
She was beside him in a second.
1--we been waiting for you, Tom"
Oh. to press her cheek in q vehement
caress against his arm--he looked 81
worn. so desperatel Oh, to whisper tina
his pain was hers, for she loved him
loved him! But instead she could onl,
stand mutely there, her very heart melt
ing within her.
81 have failed" he broke forth in |
passionate, trembling whisper. Il an
mad, Virginia. / could tear myself :.
pieces"
He walked TO tho window and for |
moment hid his face on his arm. Blu
she did not Stir save to lean her opeI
palms upon the table, as il bracing her
self to speak to him when the frs
strength of his stormy despair had died
Look" he iauttered wildly, tearin:
tho soiled manuscript from an innel
pocket, ''here it is, pressing like ston,
against my heart. When'I went into tn,
theater, Virginia, / felt almost as il
had conquered. When I came out,
walked the streets blind. / was con
scious Of nothing but an awful ache snt
GOODNESS"
A shade born of intense feeling passed
over Virginia's face. Dare she utter tn,
truth that burned herr /. might seen
cruel to him now, but in the end 1t woult
DO merciful.
She moved 50 that the last bars of day
light fell upon her face. Her eyes me-
his.
And do you despair so easilyT' sh,
asked clearly. ''You are holding ou
your hands to fame, and because sh,
does not push her treasures into you
blind grasp for your first asking you raj
at her coldness. Success is worth NOR,
than that, Tom. or it's worth nothing"
For my first asking1" he stammeret
hotly. lis this my first playY'
But IN writing the others you onl,
served an apprenticeship. They wer,
weak and false-no, don't look angry
Let me tell you the truth now and hell
you If can. Did you write Of anything
you knew or. feltl Did you look int.
your own heart and writer No, Tom
not even in this one did you do that. i
Is better than the others, but still only
HVSgy U0UO 9gT0OtfSV