The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-28
IN THE BONDAGE OF MEADvMLE
ny nlta KeIley.

ny AeheM AACAICys (C0pyright. 1906, by c. H. Sutcliffe.)
 Its no use talking to me-" Ellen ex- claimed My mind is fully made up." The man rose and, walking over to where the girl sat. stood looking down at her intently. She shifted uncom- fortably under his gaze, and finally slipped from her chair and fled igno- miniously to the window. where. she felt sure. he was too proud to follow her
 ''oh, I know you are shocked" she cried. Its plainly a girls mission in life to marry the first man who thinks he wants her, and settle down to dish washing and wiping the children's noses" She shlvered in disgust. ig- noring the look of pain that crossed his face. That Is what all the girls In town have done" she continued. "And because I am palled by the very whole sale monotony of 1t, you think me an anomaly, an unwomanly girl, repro bate. Bahi"
 The defiant little rebel against the conventions of Meadville struck terror
 to the heart of Elton Maxwell, lately chosen President of the Meadville Saw ings Bank and owner of the fastest
 trotter on the Meadville County Fair race track. He looked at her helpless ly and cleared his throat
 But we could keep a hired girl, El-
 1en." he said, and, brightening. you ! could drive Fanny G. wherever you liked. You wouldn't be tied down. Wed run up to Chicago often to the theater. You would have a much easier time than any of the girls" he finished, proudly.
 Ellen looked at him q moment pity ingly. How apparent were the limita- tions of his mind! Then she fired a death dealing bomb Into the enemy's camp.
 I'm going to study art" she said, triumphantly.
 "Ellen--nom The horror In his voice was genuine.
 Years ago another rebellious maiden of Meadville had expressed the same
 resolve, and 1t was like Jane, Jane she never was the same" There were dark hints of unseemly behavior. and the girl never became an artist and never returned home. To young Max wells mind his sweetheart was as good as lost already, though he preached the possibility of marrying him and then seeking the higher plane which the dullness of Meadville seemed to render imperative. But she quickly snatehd the heart out of him.
 ''No." she said; T shall be welded to my art instead. It isn't that I want to do 1t, exactly" she added, in quick pity. Maybe. some time, I'll find that you are the best, Elton, but not now must tryl I'm so deathly sick of mat
 rimony by the job loti"
 The amateurish daubs on the four sides of the little parlor appeared Ifrightfully flat and unpromising as she turned from watching Elton walk down the street. the spring gone from his step, his face paler than she had ever seen 1t. But she must tryl A year ago she would have given her two eyes for the love she had so lightly refused to-
 day. but that was before she had climbed the hill of knowledge and re- alized that her only habitation thence forth must be in the realm of art, moi stale old Meadville. She was packed ready to go the moment the director of the big art school should say the word
 Her father stepped gingerly into the best room.
 "A letter, Ellen. Must be from that art school. Have you got your things all packed ready to go? reckon you'll
 come back bout the biggest pictel painter in the country. Won't scarcely
 know us then, will you?"
 The unwonted tenderness in her ia ther's voice, and the real misgiving fl
 the last sentence, ill-disguised by thu
 short laugh. made her heart suddenly
 contract. How good every one was tC her! Even her father and mother were
 ready to sacrifice painfully, even to thu
 point of placing her on plane where