The Portland daily press., 1895-05-18
A VICTORY.

Doris was troubled. She and Mr.. Linley
were not engaged, but he had been devoted
to her. And now this girl-not bohc-
niian like Doris, but young and fresh-had
stepped in between them.
And Doris wanted to keep him. That
was where the sting lay. She was fond OF
him and she knew it. She had had no de-
sire that other men should imagine that
she was still free to choose. There had
never been any profession or even any pre-
tense of mere friendship between them
She was too proud for &C - stry or conceal
ment. 1t had been plai ~ her, as it had
been plain to every onL%Tho had known
them, that Edward Linley was her lover.
He had gone too far to draw back with
honor, and it had not occurred to her to
expect dishoror from him, or to be on her
guard against it.
So far he had been trying to win her,
and she had conceded passiyely, but frank
y and without pretense of resistance. Now
sert her right or lose him, and she did not
want to lose him; she had looked the
thing full in the face and learned SO much.
~ oilC Ooulu 44t1fo lOtiLN IL III L0I 1lCStIu W
let him go, she would have been glad, but
she had found that she could not spare
him, SO she had dried her eyes, set her lips
firmly and made her effort.
She had done one of the impossible
things a few women can do gracefully
She had made acquaintance with the girl
and asked her to tea to meet Mr.. Linley.
And tho girl was coming, in spirit of
half contefnptuous triumph, sure of her
conquest, and not unwilling to give her
poor pale rival chance of carrying defeat
with good grace. She was to be brought
by her maid and called for by her mother
in the brol,ghaIn, which would mark the
difference between her chaperon guarded
innocence and poor Doris emancipation
very effectively.
Meanwhile, Doris was getting her room
ready, q pretty room-brown and white
for the most part. She was putting out of
sight the scraps of gorgeous oriental en-
broidery and bowls eSf red china which
gave color to it and leaving the tout en-
semble entirely pale and subdued.
Then she took off the colored shades
from the lamps, and SO filed the room
with clear white light. 1t was not un-
becoming to her. She had not dressed spe-
cially for the occasion; she wore, as she
generally did, long straight brown tea
gown, with white lace at the throat and
wrists. She had scarcely troubled about
the arrangement of her hair 1t was un-
rufiled, that was all. She sat straight and
still in high chair and read a book until
her guests arrived.
They arrived together-that is, they met
on Che doorstep. She heard her rival S
laugh of greeting and exuberant dismissal
Of her maid all the way up the stairs as the
hall door was opened. Linley was still an
swering her as they entered the room.
Doris rival was a glowingly beautiful
girl-red Tipped, round faced and gorgeous
" dressed, with a great deal of rustic and
perfume. Young as she was, she had a
"manner," but it was a very young man
ner, almost oppressively girlish.
Doris greeted her quietly and pleasantly,
listening to her descriptions of how she
and hes maid had been several times lost
on ths way, and were only saved from
wandering up and down the dark street all
night by meeting Mr.. Linley. Only after
seeing her guest accommodated with an
easy chair, fire screen and footstool did
Doris turn to Linley and say she was glad
he had been able to come, She had not
seen him for SO long.
1t is long" he said-sover a week.
How quiet it seems here tonight. The
room seems to have moved farther out of
town since was last in it." rfr
Doris did not answer him. Her other
guest was the greater stranger and claimed
her attention. She claimed good deal of
attention, talking fast and smartly to show
herself mistress of the situation. Besides
v1vacity was one of the attributes Linley
had admired in her. Doris made tea and
waited on her guests. The other girl was
luxuriously helpless-that was to show
that she belonged to the upper classes. i"
But she patronized Doris quite prettilv
and said it must be SO nice to be useful
"She was quite sure she could never be
useful
OF course Linley said she made I'D fo,
that deficiency by being always ornamen-
tal-that was the inevitable answer to her
speech and manner. All the same, he was
painfully conscious that it was q vulgar
commonplace and that the self conscious
giggle with which the girl received it was
Irritating. He looked anxiously to see
how Doris took it. She was sitting still
and straight in her chair, admiring her
rival peauty WIN sorI OF wondering
tolerance.
After they had finished tea Doris pro-
duced cigarette case and passed it first to
her new guest, who gave little shrek of
horror.
mot for the worldl" she screamed. "I
never did such thing in my life. I
Wouldn't on any account"
is the smell unpleasant to you?" Doris
asked, pausing in the act of offering the
cigarettes to Linley.
"Of course not. l shouldn't like man
who didn't smoke but don think girl
bught to copy mans habits-that's un-
Fomanly," " and she turned her big eyes on