Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-01-13
LCONTINUnD
CHAPTER VII.

over the town ere Tom with the last of
the jewellers left Glendenning's.
UGH how cold it is. My blood is
thin at this unearthly hour" said Della
tole lighting cigarette as they paused
to separate at Madison square. 1--WE
often thought if ever do assist my own
departure from this perpetual dressing
and undressing it will be in this gray
Witness, when one seems to feel the pulse
Of the world. Will you be on the stage
tonight?'
YES, but suppose-now, suppose you
dine with me" said Tom, with hazy
recollection of the managers advice.
His speech was thick and wavering.
Delatole's head seemed spinning round
like top. The trees in the square were
certainly dancing a minuet.
Charmed. And now go home Muir
ray, and go to bed. Not used to wine,
are you? You might forget my address,
soIll putin card in your pocket-there.
Come down at and have smoke in my
den. Not such a fine place as Glenden-
ning's, but cozy you'll find"
When Tom reached Chelsea square, the
sparrows were chattering as if mad.
Their shrill clamor and his own unsteady
footballs made 'the surrounding silence
seem more dense. The college buildings,
like great gray watchers, frowned upon
him from behind blue haze. trembling
and mysterious.
He had walked down the street only
the preceding evening on his way to the
theater, and yet in bewildered, hazy
/ fashion he felt that between that hour
and this there had come a rent in his
noral fiber like narrow cleft in a riven
rock
A binding pain stung his tired eyes.
There was burning in his chest. The
thought of reaching his room unseen and
letting slumber blot out the medley of
impressions besieging him was so seduc-
tive he quickened his steps,
How the sparrows kept chattering
among the denuded boughs!
Here he comes" they seemed to chirp
rapidly. Look! look! Here he comes
Oh, see! oh, see! Here he comes. Here
he comes"
Was there an accusing note III their
shrill chorus? Or did he from an unex
planned sense of guilt only fancy it?
He stole like thief through the de-
serted halls. When he had locked tho
door of his room, he threw himself half
disrobed upon the bed and sank into
feverish. broken sleep. 1t was sleep of
dreams. He was again in Glendenuing's
house, filing his senses with IA surfeit of
the delicious coloring, the evasiye 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 foated back to blur of
wine and smoke; the soft bite of the
champagne was again in his throat, its
delicate fire mounting to his brain and
shedding over it confusion soft and
witchlike. Nor did he forget the testing
sings at things he had hitherto viewed
as sacred, nor the laughter that turned
virtue to ridicule. They were recalled
with the same genial palliation that had
marked his acceptance of them.
The rosy light, the crowd where wo-
men futtered like bright hued butter
flies, the evidences of reckless wealth on
every hand, the complete absence of all
restraint, had captured him, and in a
mental saturnaha 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
full he tossed upon his bed his memory
reveled in every detail of this new phase
of life-a wildly joyous thing, holding
no thought of the morrow. only the de-
light of the dear, the living moment.
A faint tapping sounded through the
nebulP. 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 eyes and listened. Some
one was gently knocking at his door.
Tom" came softly to him, there are
letters for you
Virginia's voice! Hestarted up, leaned
his head on his hands, but kept silence
The gay delirium 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 him was fearfully real.