Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-01-20
LcuNlInuEpl

NN:!A'sA..gl YE43 Rg9El
lCJNtIAUED.
"In another year you win be as arts
tically ruined as that glass"
Not dreaming Of the selfish motive
prompting this violent objection and
listening to words that were Il passion
less prophecy, Tom could not resist the
shudder that ominously passed over him.
lone would think talked of commit
ting crime" And the words were
breathless.
"And SO you are. Isn't it crime TO
throw away your chance? Life doesn't
offer too many of them. Let me tell
you, too, my dear fellow, that you do
not strike me as one who would cult
vate the virtues of patience and humility
under the stress of failure and poverty.
Marry now, when you have just crossed
the line, before your strength has had a
fair test, and you'll not only fail, but
probably break your wife's heart in a
year. You remember what | said to
you last night. | did not dream then
that you were thinking OF the madness
of an early marriage; that you stood ON
the verge of the abyss strewn with the
ruins of good beginnings"
AS Tom listened his face grew stern,
his eyes searching.
why should fail because | keep my
word to woman, better, truer, hun
bred times, than am--not a woman to
retard any mans progress? She has
been my Inspiration. You don't know
Virginia. She is more to me than any
thing in the world. | need not fail
will not fail.
He looked very stalwart, very deter
mined, as he lowered above Delatole, his
blue eyes flashing in his intense face.
What interest can | have but for
! your good?" asked his new friend, and
the sillien voice held a soothing gentle
ness after Toms hot, strained tones.
Let us look at this matter dispassion-
ately. You are young. You have writ
ten one play of startling strength and
charm. 1t will bring you so much mon
ey. Alone, independent, you would have
good income, be able to mix with the
world, travel Il little and feed your brain
until it teemed with digested impressions
gathered from boudoir and barroon.
The same money will not support a
home and wife except in cramped,
obscure way. Your love for her will be
another drawback to earnest work. The
treadmill of your dull, loving, respecta-
BILE existence day in and day out in some
| little flat will afford no feverish impetus
to your imagination. You will never
write play worth having typewriter
on the inspiration offered by a baby'S
fists. All, have not watched the mental
paralysis set in before? Love is bad
enough, but love and poverty
Tom turned away and faced the win
dow He did not seek the park. For
justone moment the gray picture Delatole
stretched rose before him, and an acute,
unmeasured despair took hold of him.
He beat it back fiercely. He would
not believe. But the resistance was no
longer buoyant; it was forced.
Then there is the other side-freedom
knowing no limit, continued Delatole
in sohloquizing tone as he walked up
and down smoking, never once glancing
at the silent. erect figure in the window
Freedom. Only those who have sur
rendered it know the full sweetness Of
that word. Every door would be open
| to you. You need not only be a Bohe-
milan. A fellow like you, Of undoubted
talent, well looking, clever, independent
and with some money would not have
to knock at society's golden door for al
mission. Itwould fly open to you. For
myself | hate the stiff set, but it is al
ways well for an artist to become
acquainted with every sort Of human
| Under conditions OF this sort your artistic
vein would warm and expand, your ma
ture vibrate to change after change The
man who enters a race fettered is fool
! When have said this, have said ALL"
There was silence after these words
and then the rustling Of paper. Tom
hastily turned and saw Delatole leaning
against the table, looking scornfully over
each of the pages whercon the criticism
was written that had so delighted him
A painful premonition made him cold
but he said nothing.
"Ah, well, | wish | had known that
you contemplated this idiocy before !
wasted time and ink on you Murray
You didn't tell Inc, of course. No rea-
son why you should, But assure you,
| had | guessed what manner of man you
We're | wouldn't have plunged into such
bewildering prophecy about your fu-
ture greatness. I'm not usually so i'm
pulsive," and he rent the sheets half
across before Toms voice made him
pause.
is this fair? If you really liked The
| Worlds Way why won't you say so:"
The mysterious violet gray Of twilight
stealing through the high windows be
hind him touched his young face with
shadows. 1t was pinched eager, watch
/ full.
"Oh, I'll do that. of course. \ few
lines, a paragraph, will suffice, but not
this psalm Of victory, this heralding of
new voice that is not to be stilled. bat
will rise again and again-not that,
You'll have to prove all I've said false
before | write of you III that strain. -
And he was the incarnation of bland,
impersonal regret as the papers once
more fluttered il his hands.
/ He looked them over half regretfully.
Its one of the best things I've ever
/ written, but IN submission TO my honest
opinion | must destroy it.
In few strides Tom was beside him.
They looked intently at each other
Toms eyes wavered and fell.
"Don't-dont," he said, and his voice
was half choked. Give me time. Let
me think
Half an hour later they were walking
up University place. They dined at a
chophouse frequented by Bohemia,
where tables We're bare and beer was
served in mugs.
Better than Delmouico's in certain
moods" said Delatole as they crossed
the sanded floor; the food is excellent
and cooked to suit Lucullus. As accom-
paniments You have art. devil-may-
ism, smoke and even socialism"
His friends were scattered through
the long room, and merry greetings wert
called ont TO him, which he repaid II
kind The hours passed in sparkling
"reminiscences, tests and laughter Della.
toles levity became astonishing, and il
this impudent Tag, who soon formed g
group around himself, there was not a
trace of the cynic, the philosopher, the
serious man of letters. Much that he
said was coarse. but so aUdaciOuSly lu.