Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-10-28

taken a d1Terent phase OF the idea tnan
she had thought her opponents hkeiy 70
choose ana given the more usual view
of II to Fairfield. He, partly through
devotion to her and partly through as
like of Octo Robinson, had done his pest.
There was an unusually full meeting
ON that Wednesday evening, and even
Francis felt a little shy. Fairfield
opened the debate with really bright
speech, and the applause was warm at
his eloquent peroration. Then Mary
Graves. She was very quick, and, catch
ing at one or two defective points III
Fairchild's argument, turned the tide IN
| her favor. After a pause Alice rose.
She. too, had decided to speak without
notes, and her eloquence and hire fairly
carried away her little audience. Fran
els was naturally quick himself, but she
| fairly dazzled him tonight, and when
she sat down he felt that he had nothing
to say in answer to her unique brill
| iancy. But then, the great oraticn that
he had prepared with SO much care!
Surely that, with its fash of conviction.
would eclipse the fire Of Alice Starts
words.
So he arose and, with an earnestness
that surprised every one, began. His
first few sentences impressed everybody,
but suddenly he looked at Alice Starr.
Her eyes were fixed on him with look
almost of fear-fear lest he should
snatch away the laurel she SO longed
for. At that look he stopped. After
moments silence he went on for a SEN
tence or two, but it seemed that every
idea had fled from him. He looked at
Alice Starr again, paused moment and
then said slowly:
81 hope every one will pardon me.
The unexpected turn of my opponents
argument has just put me all out.
leave the field with the hope that some
one here may fill the place cannot"
He turned and left the room, and for
moment dead silence reigned. Then
murmur Of comment arose and half a
dozen sprang up at once to give their
support to the negative.
Francis Robinson walked slowly out
of the building, mechanically putting on
his coat and hat as he went through the
hall, and went on to the broad veranda.
He stopped moment, and then bethink-
ing himself of peculiar corner Of the
veranda, where he would be secure from
intrusion. he went there and sat down
on one Of the benches. He took off his
hat and let the cool air strike his fore
heard and sat gazing blankly at the
courts. He tried to think, but it seemed
almost impossible. His last chance was
gone. Alice would even despise him
now. How long he sat there he did not
know, but at length he heard the ap-
plause that he knew must be for the an
nouncement of the judges decision, and
he wondered if Alice were happy now.
He sat with his face in his hands and
did not hear a step approaching. An
other person had thought of this retired
spot and had come here to think. But
she stopped as she turned the corner
and looked in silence at the detected
figure moment. Then she said softly:
~ hope do not disturb you, Mr.
Robinson"
He stTted to his feet and his face
showed still more the pain he was suf-
fering.
II beg your pardon" he said, II did
not hear You. Certainly not-you do
not disturb me, mean"
An awkward pause ensued. She broke
it. "You must not feel like that. |
don't know what to say, but it wasn't
your fault. No one thinks of it against
you"
Cant you see it isn't that?" he an
swered almost fiercely. sit was my
great chance. I thought if l could make
you see really wasn't stupid, common
place, | might win your love. And now
now you despise me, or at least you
think me Cool. What do l care what
others think? 1t was you worked for"
There was another pause, and then
she said slowly in an almost inaudible
tone:
but how do you know till you ask
me, Francis?'
He seized her hands and his happi-
ness. His defeat had done what his sue
cess perhaps never would have. A mo-
ment later she added, with a happy lit
tie laugh:
"And you needn't feel so badly. There
were lots ready to help you, and it didn't
take the judges long to decide in favor
of the negative. So you see you won
your point and your fiancee, too."-Isa-
bel Dyrol in Springfield Homestead.