Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-01-10

pion.. understanding that. Elliot insult
ed you"
Il have thought that myself said
Marian, paling.
"A duel will surely follow"
Marian looked at me with q fright
ened expression that excited my pity,
but knew that It was no time to in
dulee In anything but action. / i'm
pressed upon her the secersity Of her
preventing any ful . r trouble be
tween her two suitors- During our
conversation It came out that she had
made a choice between all her suitors,
Including the two In question. This
she revealed to me, though I was the
only person she confided 1t to. She
loved Elliot Walker Thinking she
needed my support, told her that !
would 20 with her to see Herbert Ken
worthy. She made no reply for awhile
to this proposition. could see that
q strnggle was going on within her,
but I was ignorant as to just what 4
was. Presently she rose.
"what are you going to dor asked
II am going to see Herbert"
"Do you wish me to go with your
"No. grandma"
This was the first indication OF
strength saw In her. and 1t was some
relief. She left me, and later heard
her pony phaeton on tie gravel walk.
waited anxiously for her return.
When she came l saw by the express
sion on her face that she had not sue
ceeded in her object
.'well?' l said interrogatively.
II went to Herbert's house." she
said, called him out and we had
conference on the veranda. l told him
had heard that he and Elliot had had
IN alteration inferred that he had
seem Elliot kiss me and me resent the
act. | begged that he would not con-
stitute himself my defender. He re-
Piled that he had not done so, but ad-
.nitted that he and Elliot had got into
quarrel from words that had passed
between them relative to Elliot's act
then admitted that had encouraged
Elliot to kiss me.
"He looked very much surprised and
nained at this. l knew that his con-
tempt had passed from Elliot to me.
told him that since / had exonerated
Elliot should expect him to apologize
to Elliot for anything he might have
said under a misunderstanding. After
some thought he told ME that any wo-
man In such a case. to prevent trouble
between two Of her men friends, would
assume the blame. There was no sin
in my doing so. The affair had gone
too far to be smoothed over. / argued
with him for some time. but could get
nothing out of him. Then came
away"
4You must see Elliot. The one who
has given the challenge is the one to
offer the olive branch
II have seen Elliot. The challenge
had come from Herbert. Elliot having
struck him. Elliot apologized to me
humbly for having kissed me. He ad-
mitted that the scent in the billiard
room had been concocted to keep my
name out Of the quarrel. He would
gladly on my account put stop to 1t,
but could not refuse challenge with
out being disgraced."
"And as the matter stands the two
men will meet tomorrow morning?"
Il suppose so.'
The case was a knotty one. The
only way could see out of 1t was for
Marian to choose between the two men.
She might tell Herbert that she loved
Elliot, but doubted If this would pre-
vent meeting that had become pub
lie matter and with which she was not
known. to be connected. 1t would
probably save Elliot from injury, but
this would not be fair to Herbert.
1.-THE only hope see TO prevent this
meeting, Marian" said, putting my
arms about her, lis to tell them both
that you love Elliot. That would, /
think, dispose Of the matter. Herbert
would withdraw his challenge"
could feel her shiver in my arms
Ut Ills ALTERNATIVE, Out she Sd1Q nOJu-
ing, though later she told me that Ell
hot had made her no proposal.
The day was now ended, and moth
ing had been accomplished. / deter
mined to leave Marian free to act for
herself till the last minute; then If she
did not act l would endeavor to force
her to do so. We remained in the
same room through the night without
disrobing. After - o'clock fell asleep
on lounge. was aroused at dawn
by Marian.
Come" she said.
Without asking her where we were
| to go went with her. l knew. She
knew where the meeting would take
place, and we proceeded there Since
Elliot had not proposed to her could
not see what she would do, We.wait-
ed an hour short distance from the
field and finally saw one party come
on to it, tkan tie other. The seconds
were engaged at the preliminaries
l xr-In In vio