The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-03-29
CHAPTER ".

| CHAPTER ".
The inspiration did not desert him. All
day and far into each night he wrote
with felicitous ease. No hint OF his love
passed his lips to Virginia. Pride, with
promise of ultimate victory in its warn
ing voice. babe passion wait.
"You are nothing, you have nothing
now, but some day you will. Some day
you may dare ask her to add her love-
the richest jewel-to a measure already
FULL
And so the time went by with an out.
ward seeming of eventful quietude, and
October came.
Virginia sat alone one bright after
noon. She was painting a panel for o
fashionable shop that was pleased to nc
cept her work and pay as little as was
possible for it. Her head was bent low,
and loosened strand Of hair swept her
cheek. Her figure in its inclined posi-.
ton revealed supple strength and COM
plete repose.
: The little maid who helped her about
the house had departed. and the room
was quiet, save that tiny white kitten
purred before the stove and the clock
licked upon the mantel. And how o
clock can tick in a silent roomi Cues
ton it; it answers you. Sit mute, and
it voices your thoughts. Virginia laid
her brush down and listened to it. There
was something pathetically childish
about her as she sat there, her chin upon
her open hand, her dilated eyes couched
under the delicate brows, mirroring the
passionate regret that of late had poi
soned all her days.
She was not in Toms confidence now.
She did not share his walks. The gay
familiar companionship SO unutterably
dear was ended. He did not know-he
never must know-how often she had
crept to his door late at night to listen to
the scratch of his impetuous pen.
Perhaps her words had stung him to
such violent activity he would soon leave
them to fight fortune in wider field. A
startled breath broke upon her lips
What would this place be without himi
What would her life be? The clock an
swered with a cynical, knowing tick.
l
over her, and the room grew dark. Her
hands fell down helplessly. The clock
licked louder, like q garrulous crone
foretelling disaster.
Virginia" fell upon her ears with a
soft suddenness that startled her. The
panel slipped from her knees, and grasp
ing the arms of the chair she turned her
head to find Tom standing above her.
Il have been watching you for full
minute" he said, throwing his hat down
and drawing over low stool, so that he
faced her.
In the hushed, masterful whisper she
recognized something unusual. Some
thing unusual in his face too. Repres-
sion was there. excitement, joy.
81 didn't hear you come in," Virginia
answered, her voice sounding thick and
far away in her OWE ears.
She half stopped to draw back the
piece of satin ON which bunch Of daisies
was still wet. He caught her hand and
with gentle fingers that brooked no re.
sistance took the thing away and placed
it out Of her reach.
"Dear little handr' and his voice was
heavy with love, "dear. faithful little
handf Let it rest awhile here, Virginia.
The girl shivered as one does who
rushes from a cold vault into the sun.
light.
Look at met she heard him saying
in q half suppressed voice Of intense ex
ultation. II am the happiest fellow In
New York. You told me you believed
in me. You told me that. Oh. Virginia
how those words have staid with me
And you were right. have succeeded
My last play was accepted and by the
man who rejected all the others"
A boyish laugh of pure delight left hi
lips, and he sank on his knees beside her
I'D like to set all the bells in thu
chapel pealing, call out the fellows ant
tell them the exchange was not 30 bad
after all. Not so bad, Ell, Virginiar h,
asked, thinking how lovely were th,
velvety deeps of her eyes.
SIT is so sudden, SO strange. But, oh
there is such gladness and light in my
heart for you, Toni Tell me more. tel
me all about it,"
He leaned closer. She felt his hant
upon her shoulder. His mouth, in it
1.-THE, boyish curves, was very near he
own.
"There Is something else must tel
you first" he said slowly.
In that long, sultry look she knew all
Her pulses quickened, fire grew in he
heart. He loved her. thenf Oh, he did
he did!
Their faces were 30 close there was
resistless impulse, moment Of con
fused, delirious joy. and their lips clunl
in kiss that drew yirginia's heart witt
it.
Toms lids fell heavily. He was yer,
white. A great sigh came from his lips
"VirRinian--
But the door opened. Tom had scarce
ly time to stand up before her fathercam
in, followed by boy with a package.
The old man was aglow with pleas
urable excitement. He closed the doc
after the messenger. crossed tho room IL
hisgraceful, stately way and shook hand
with Tom.
81 have had a pleasant day." he sait
briskly. such delightful coincidence
What would life be without the unex
pectedf Have you ever thought of that
Tomf"
II am thinking of 1t now. sir" and h
exchanged fieeting glance of arch mean
ing with Virginia. "But / differ will
You slightly. The unexpected can prov
,, well, at some moments-an out ant
70 out nuisance"
z when its of an unpleasant nature
4 yes. of course-my slippers, Virginia
Q thank you, my dear-but when il ear
a ,ries you back 10 pleasant time and sur