Passaic City record., 1893-03-04

.4, hand you tasted a
- = ! its best that keen
est of stimulants-iced oxygen. 1t wa.
day of the gods, fit to put new life into
the most depressing soul, and its invig.
Grating effects was plainly visible in tht
bearing of carefully dressed, slightly
rotund gentleman of middle size and
something less than middle age as he
came around the corner of the avenue
and walked briskly southwark. This
plump, we'll groomed gentleman was Mr..
Anthony Amory; his was not despair.
ing soul, however, in spite of the fact
that he was on his way to plead-for the
last time as he had resolved-what he
felt to be hopeless case.
He rang the bell st the last house in
the block, and was ushered into the
library. As he entered that remotest and
most individualized of the more public
apartments of the Winchester house, he
wondered, as he had often wondered be-
fore, how it was that Eleanor Winchester
had impressed her personality SO strong
ly upon it that the room seemed alive
around her. To his mind, at least, even
such stolid things as the chairs, the rugs
and the bookcases reflected something of
that alert, intense spirituality combined
with dish of chic which was her own
especial charm. Someone had said once
that Miss Winchester united New Eng
land soul and New York style, and to
his apprehension the same piquant COM
bination was carried out IN her surround
ings.
There had been other days, plenty OF
them, when he had also wondered how
it was that girl of this type had at
tracted Anthony Amory; he had, in
deed, supposed that he was safely past
the sentimental stage of life. Those
days, however, were long over. Now,
that he had recovered from the first
shock of surprise at finding that he was,
if anything, worse hit than he might
have been ten years earlier. it seemed as
natural as the sunrise than he should
love her.
The present visit, although it was the
first time Mr.. Amory had seen Miss Win
chester since her return to town the
week before, was evidently not of the
nature of an ordinary call, and after the
first interchange of greetings neither of
them pretended to treat it as such. She
was sitting near the window in an i'm
mensely puffy and comfortable chair,
and when he had taken his seat opposite
her, where Ee had the best light on her
face. they surveyed each other in ex-
pectant silence for minute; then Mr..
Amory bent forward and picking up a
carved paper-cutter from the table
scrutinized it attentively.
81 believe the time is up" he OBJ,
served, sin which you undertook to
formulate your objections TO me. AS
you were saying last June"
''Of all the foolish things I said last
June that promise was the most fool
ishi"
because your objections are SO
numerous2"
'sNo. Because the formulation of
them is so hard"
81 do not feel disposed to let you of
the contract" said Mr.. Amory smoothly,
still examining the paper-cutter.
Up to this point Miss Winchester had
been leaning back in the big chair; now
she held her 1.-THE figure erect, crossed
her hands in her lap and Fitted her eyes
fearlessly. An adorable gravity settled
down upon her face.
ssPlease notice that have not asked
you to-" she said. 81 have decided to
tell you all about it. You know never
have. The other times we have talked
about this we have not done it seriously
and calmly"
81 was serious enough" murmured
Mr.. Amory, but she ignored the inter
ruption.
"You have been excited, and I an
afraid have not been just"
sit is not justice want at your
hands," She waved this remark aside
"That first" she said.
go on, then, and be just"
Apparently the task she had set her
self was not an easy one.
81 dare say am going to make some
impossible remarks" she began uncer
tainly.
ssDon't get nervous" said Amory
reassuringly, ssnothing that you say is
going to make any difference, yor
know"
ssYou told me once" she said slowly
casting about for her words, ssthat wa!
consumed by the passion for perfection
and everybody admits that all the world
wants love-"
'sDo you know-don't you thinl
there exists in every human heart an in
rppeasable thirst for perfect love9"
81 am not here to generalize about hu
sanity. | only know what | mysel