Bought and Paid For; From the Play of George Broadhurst Part 53

She motioned him to a seat.

"Sit down, sweetheart, and let me sit on your knee, just as I used to."

"Yes, darling--just as we used to."

He took off his coat, threw it on the sofa and sat on a chair in front of the table. Virginia, with a cry of delight, jumped on his knee and threw her arm around his neck.

"Let me snuggle up to you in the way I love," she cried. "Hold me close--very, very close--and don't say a word--not even one."

Too happy to ask questions, he held her tight in his arms. In a low voice she murmured:

"I'm so tired, dear. I'm so tired--"

Fondly, tenderly, he caressed her.

"My poor little girl! Come, dear, the machine is outside. We'll go home at once."

"Not yet--please--I'm too happy. And it's you. It's really, really you."

"It really is," he smiled.

"Yes," she went on, "I've hoped and longed and prayed that you would come for me, but I didn't think you would. I imagined that your pride wouldn't let you."

"My pride?" he echoed, perplexed.

"Yes. You said you wouldn't come unless I sent for you."

Stafford started and stared fixedly at her.

"Virginia!" he exclaimed.

He was about to demand explanations when she interrupted him.

"I'm not reproaching you, dear. I mention it because it makes your coming all the bigger and finer!" Rising she added; "I'm the happiest girl in all the world. You came for me. Nothing else matters--"

Stafford listened to her in amazement. It was very clear. She had not sent for him after all. There had been some misunderstanding. Yet what of it? He had found her, he had clasped her once more to his breast.

That was all he cared about. Not for anything in the world would he lose her again. He said nothing, gazing fondly into her dear tired face as she went on:

"If you hadn't come, I should probably have had to come to you! And that would have robbed me of everything I've been fighting for. But now I shall know that I didn't have to do what I knew to be wrong, and it makes me so happy, dear! So happy! So very, very happy!"

Sobbing she fell on her knees beside him and covered her face with her hands. For a moment or so he made no answer, but continued to caress her in silence. Then, slowly, he said:

"Of course I came for you! If I had known all that it meant to you I should have come long ago--"

She looked up at him eagerly.

"Then you did miss me?"

He nodded.

"I can't tell you how lonely I was. You had f.a.n.n.y and Jimmie and the baby, but I had no one. As I sat alone in the house--the bigness of which seemed to make it all the lonelier--I thought of you, and your goodness, and sweetness and there I fought things out--I fought them out, and now I can make you any promise that you ask."

"But I don't ask any," she smiled.

"I give it to you just the same. I shall never, forgive myself either for letting you go. But I'll make it all up to you now. Ask for anything you please and you shall have it--to-morrow we'll go to Tiffany's and--"

Quickly she put her hand over his mouth.

"Don't dear, don't!" she cried. "I don't want you to buy things for me--I just want you to love me, dear! To love me! Love me! Love me!"

He smiled as he clasped her closer."

"No matter how hard I tried I couldn't help loving you."

"That's all I want," she murmured.

Her face was turned upwards and he bent down and kissed her. They were still in each others' embrace when the door opened slowly and Jimmie cautiously put his head in. He grinned when he saw the good results that had come of his work.

"May I come in?" he asked comically.

"Yes and go out again--that way," laughed Stafford good-humoredly.

Pointing to the front door he added: "Tell Oku to bring the things out of the machine."

"You're on," grinned the clerk.

"And keep your mouth shut," said Stafford in a low tone.

"Tight as a clam!" grinned Jimmie.

As the millionaire turned to Virginia the young man again interrupted them.

"There's just one thing more," he said.

"What?"

"When do I go back to work?"

"Tomorrow," laughed Stafford.

"What salary?"

"What salary were you getting?"

"Well--one hundred and fifty a week."

"You were," laughed his employer, "for about fifteen minutes!

Well--one hundred and fifty goes."