The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-28
VICTORY BY DEFEAT.

The afternoon sunlight, sitting through
the thin draperies at tho windows, filled
the room with pleasant mellow half
light.
Miss Charming had gone to the window
and was looking up the street through a
ohink 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 1t was
none the less intense-so intense that the
ringing of the doorbell did not disturb her,
or even the opening OF the door by the
quiet maid.
Harding came into the room quickly,
to where the girl was sitting. and she let
him stand there for moment, looking
down at her; then all Of sudden she drop
ped the book and held out her hand to
him, smiling.
$50 you have como, Paulr' she said,
looking up at him.
"Did you think would not oomer' he
asked.
~ do not know, but was afraid. Whom
I wrote the note. was afraid"
But still you wrote 1t. Your fear did
not deter you. You would have written
it had you been cure that would not
come"
The girl withdrew her hand quickly,
and the look OF smiling tenderness faded
from hor face. You have como to quar-
rel with mo Paul" abe said.
Harding waited for awhile before he an
swacd- Resting his arm on the side
mant& nboveths fireplace and facing her,
he answered slowly:
II have not come to quarrel with you.
Eleanor. do not know that that would
do any good. There hos been enough of
THAI sort Of thing already. But oeCso to
bog you, TO ontreas you. to command you,
II there Is anything in the relation VIC bear
which gives me my authority over you, to
give over this determination 90 which you
say you have arrived-this foolish, need
less, cruel resolution.
II ask you to do 1t for me, for yourself,
for every one that "a Interested in you-in
the name OK our love- Eleanor. You con-
not mean that you will disregard thntp'
The girl heard him through without In
terruption. "You know, Paul" she said.
whom he had finished, you have said eli
this 30 me before This Ia the way you be-
gin when we quarrel. -
II have never said 1t to you as do now,
Eleanor. I have never believed that YOU
really meant to do this thing. I half
thought TINT you kept talking about 1t be-
cause you saw 1t worried me. l mover be-
loved that you really meant It, cannot
believe it now"
II can show you n copy of the contract
have signed" said the girl quietly, al
most coldly.
Can 1t be that you have gone as far as
thatf" he said.
Yes, have gone as far as that. 1 told
you was going TO-"
But you need not keep it. 1t cannot
bind you. 1 will see to 1t myself. can
force Davis to let you off; it will be easy
enough, snid Harding hurriedly
But do not want to be let off, as you
call 1t, answered tho girl. II knew what
was doing when signed the contract. 1
did 1t deliberately, because 1 think it Is
right for me to have my way about this
thing. do not want to turn back"
You are forcing me TO toll you what 1t
will mean If you persist" said the young
man hotly.
Tho girl rose from her chair and faced
him with flashing eyes. "Well, what will
it meant" she cried
1t will mean that everything Is over
on,
eyes flashing too. You must understand
that"
Very we'll; II that Is your choice, I
have nothing to say. expected that you
would say tn
1T is not my choice. will not let you
saddle 1t upon me. 1t Is your cholce and
you admit that you have takon 1t DELHI
erately. My choice Is very different, but
that has nothing to do with this situation
apparently"
Yes, your choice Is different. Your
choice Is that shnll submit, even now, be-
fore we are married, to your diotation.
You say that 1 DO not regard our love.
What Is there In our love that 1t can be
served only by the things that you happen
to wantS Could 1t not be nourished by a
little that wants Is my Judgment always
TO be wrong and yours always TO BIO rights
And because ! do not Immediately look
at tho thing from your standpoint you say
that 1 am false to our love. You have NO
right to say that, for 1t Is not true. 1 do
not see why should give In to your self
ishnoss. 1 suppose you would call it your
love, but do not
Davis told you all these things b say,
suppose, said the young man, with a
sneer.
What do you meanf" demanded the
girl.
II mean just that. Ever since this
tarsed business began you have been under
his influence. He has 1attcred you, and
you have believed him. He has told you
shat you had great powers and straight
way you have longed to exercise them
He has set you dreaming Of applause. of
the praise OF the crowds that he says will
welcome your entrance into public Wow.
You have gone crazy with it, Eleanor. Can
you not see it?''
do you think I will be a sucoesa.
PaulS" asked tho gin suddenly.
II do not kaoH. Parhnus yos msv. n,