Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-06-04
VICTORY By DEFEAT.

The afternoon sunlight sitting through
the thin drarerios at the windows, filled
the room with n pleasant mellow half
light.
Miss Claiming had gone to the window
and was looking up the street through u
chink In the blind Presently she caught
sight OF Harding's figure, and going
hastily back to her place before the fire,
she took up her book, which had been
neglected for an hour, and began to read
Her interest was sudden, but it was
none he less intense--so intense that tho
ringing Of the doorbell did not disturb her,
or even the opening OF the door by the
quiet maid
Harding camo into tho room quickly,
without being announced. He came over
to where the girl was sitting, and she let
him stand there for n moment, looking
down at her; then all OF n sudden she drop
ted the book and held out her hand to
Lin smiling.
$50 you have come, Paul" she said,
looking up at him.
Did you think l would not Gomez" he
asked
81 do not know, but l WAS afraid. When
Wrote the note, l was afraid. ="
But still you wrote 1t. Your fear did
not deter you. You would have written
1t had you been sure that l would not
come
Tho girl withdrew her hand quickly,
and the look Of smiling tenderness faded
from hrr lace. GU nave come TO quar-
rel with me Paul. " she said
Harding waited for while before he an
swcrcd Resting his arm on the side
mantel above the fireplace and facing her,
he answered slowly
nave not come to quarrel with you,
Eleanor. dc NOT Aho" that that would
10 any Roea. lA'f' mas been enough OF
tha' sort Oh thihs Already but came TO
neg you, Ia eh'reat you TO command you,
'htre IS anything IN the relation we bear
"A'eh gives me any authority o'ery"u' to
give over this determination t" which You
say you nave hrriN'd-this foolish, need
"sS, c'U'' resolution
h'A y"" 10 Il" u '"r me lor yourself
IoF every one mat Is interested IN y"u-in
the name OF our love- Eleanor You can
no. mean tlat you VIII aisres"ru tAatf
lhe girl heard HIM through without In
terFnrtion GU know, Paul, sh" said,
"h'h ne hhd iihi'hrd' you nave said all
ti' 10 me 8'i"rr- ms Is inc way y"a be-
esh Wheh we quarrel
-, nave never s''id II TO you n 90 now,
H4edh"F- nave never believed That You
really meant to do this thing. | half
thought that You Kept talking about it he
cause you SAW 1t worried me never he
heNrd that you really meant 1t. cannot
o'l'rNe IL now
can snow You n copy OF the contract
nave signed, said the girl quietly, al
mot '"ldif
4 have = n AS
=. that Ae said
w., have gone as far AS that. told
you WAS going 10. ~
But You need not keep II. II cannot
nlhd HHu. VIII see To 1t myself. can
ior'e Davis TO iet you OIL; 1t Will be easy
eHou4H' rtid harding hurrieulN
H"t do not want I" be let OH, as you
,e'I H. answered the girl. knew what
WIS '"lhR when l signed the contract. l
uie IL deliberately, because l think 1t l.
is"' !or Inc l" nave my way about TINS
'HIhR DE- net want To turn back.
You are forcing me to tell You what 1t
WA mean II you persist said the young
man Aotly'
4he girl rose from her chair and faced
MN with flashing eyes. "Woll, what will
II mean. She cried.
1t will mean that everything is over
between you and me, " he answered, his
eyes flashing TOO. .You must understand
'hat.
Very Well; if that is your choice l
nave nothing to say. expected that you
would say it.
l Is not my choice. will not let you
saddle 1t upon me. 1t is your choice and
you admit that you have taken it delib-
erately My choice is very different but
mat has nothing TO do with this situation
apparently"
Yes, your choice is different. Your
cholee Is that shall submit, even now, be-
I , we are married, to your dictation.
W. rou say that l do not regard our love.