THE room was square, with a window piercing each broad side except one; on that side, a door connected it with the rest of the ill-constructed house. That particular room gained by the non-existence of any architectural finger in its erection. It was big, unmodified, and delightful; no portions of it were cut off; it stood undefaced, a whole room, and was called the library. Books there were, certainly, a fireplace in the corner, some tables, very little bricabrac, but indications of occupation of a varied nature, — skates hanging on a nail, sewing in a basket, a half-written letter, a book on its face, a piano open, and a cigarette half smoked. It looked like an inhabited spot, and in so much was a pleasant room.

Elizabeth sat before the fire in a chair framed for a giant; it enabled her to draw her feet up beside her, a luxury to a long-limbed, loosely built person. She was flushed a little, — with sleep, perhaps, for her eyelids looked heavy, and a winter’s afternoon before a fire ends in sleep sometimes. A note lay open on her lap. Raising it, she read it again. It had come an hour before from town ; for the Winters lived in the suburbs.

DEAR MISS WESTER, — I am sorry that I cannot come to see you this afternoon, but I find I have so many things to do, before my train leaves to-night, that I shall not have a moment’s breathing-space. Perhaps it is just as well ; good - bys are not pleasant things, and discretion is the better part of valor. A year is a long time to wait, but do not forget me, and I will write from San Francisco.

Yours faithfully,

EDWARD GRAHAM.

It sounded sensible enough ; but that is the kind of note that people get sometimes, which is opened eagerly, is read fast, and, like a chill through wine, slowly penetrates, and ends by freezing somewhere in the middle.

Miss Whiter was considered cool, offhand, easily interested, difficult of access, — a character more common in men than women, and yet she was not in the least like a man. She was good - looking, fair, finely made, of middle height, but slender, and so giving an impression of length. Her eyes were indifferently called gray, blue, or green, as the observer felt inclined, but at this moment the pupils were dilated, and a stranger might almost have thought them black.

It was not late ; the room was full of pleasant sunlight still, and the fire was in an especially merry and dancing mood : it suggested to Miss Winter the advisability of burning her note, but she refused, — she might want to read it again; to her it seemed less simple than it may seem to you or me.

“ A gentleman to see you, miss.” Annie was a new servant, and gave her mistress the card which she had insisted on bringing.

Having grown red twice in Annie’s presence that day, Elizabeth exercised some self-control, and looking at the card read the name, — Mr. Austin Bryant.

“ Well, I suppose he can come in. Show him in here, Annie. If any one else comes, let me see the card ; don’t send any one away.” For Annie had seemed somewhat disposed to exercise her own discretion.

The maid left the room, and Elizabeth settled back into her chair, manifesting no intention to prepare for the coming of her visitor.

He came in, and, putting his hat down, crossed the room directly to her. He had closed the door behind him.

“ How d’ you do? ” Bryant stood near the fire, looking down at her. “ Won’t you shake hands ? ”

“ Too much trouble.” She had the grace to smile after this speech.

“ But if it gives me a good deal of innocent pleasure ? I think you are selfish, rather, don’t you ? ”

“ Perhaps, but why should n’t I be ? ” She put her hand under her chin and looked him over. His dark eyes roved.

“ Well, there is no reason, if you want to be. How are you this afternoon ? Been skating lately ? ” He drew off his gloves as he spoke.

“ Yesterday.” She sat up with some animation. “ It was immense! Why don’t you come some time, you great big impostor ? What is the use of your six feet of length, and forty four or six or eight inches round the chest, whatever it is, if you don’t do anything with them ? Now don’t say you used to play football, because that is worn threadbare. When I was a little girl I jumped rope, but I have n’t been going on that ever since.”

Bryant’s handsome face, with its brickred color and dark finishings, lowered. “ I wonder why I like you so much ? ” he said slowly. “ You are neither civil nor friendly at times.”

“ Am I not ? ” Elizabeth looked toward the fire. “ Well, perhaps that is the very thing you like ; you get a good deal of civility, in one way or another, — more than you should, in fact.”

“ No, it is n’t that that I like. I may be peculiar, but I prefer to be treated with politeness. I stand it with you because— well, because I have something to gain.”

She turned toward him. “What a characteristic speech ! ”

“ In what way ? ”

“ It gives the keynote of your life,— something to gain. Don’t be angry, for after all you have the requisite quality, whatever it is, to fulfill your wishes; you get things pretty generally.” She smiled at him in a friendly way that he would have thought devilish if he had known her inward frame of mind.

“ You think I get what I want?” Bryant smiled back at her. “ You would back me to succeed in most things, then ? ” His clean - shaven lips were well cut, but restless ; his deep-set eyes were keen, but not direct. One thinks of big, heavily built men as with few nerves and sensibilities ; this big, heavily built man was conscious and sensitive to his finger-tips.

Miss Winter played with the fringe on the arm of her great chair. She had rebuffed Bryant for months, and now had an impulse to see what he would be like when roused. Besides, when you are choked with dust and ashes, you are not particular in what spring you seek the waters of oblivion. To be amused, — that is always something.

“ Yes, certainly, and lay long odds you would win. But what took you from the charms of Mrs. Bristow’s Wednesdays ? I thought you were her standby.” She raised her brilliant eyes and looked at him, gravely, innocently.

“ I thought you would be tired after last night’s dance. I heard of your being at the Hansons’, and I chanced your staying in to-day. I see some one has been before me.” He glanced at the cigarette.

She looked at him keenly. “ Do you ? Why do you think that ? ”

He made a gesture.

“ That ? That is mine. Will you have one ? We allow smoking here after lunch.”

Bryant leaned back in his chair and looked at her ; he did not know whether he was a little jarred or a little attracted, but a certain adherence to a standard of womanliness which made it dangerous for women to enjoy themselves except in gratifying men made him protest. “ I did n’t know you were a smoking woman,” he said.

Elizabeth felt that to spring from the depths of her chair and strike him would be natural, proper, and right; then the idea of her hand in contact with his face followed fast, and she merely stared at him; then, " A smoking woman? It sounds like a half - burnt house. But there are a number of things you don’t know about me, Mr. Bryant; did you think there were not ? ” She leaned forward, and the firelight rendered her for the moment irresistible, — to Bryant, at least; he threw his standards to the wind, and laid his hand on the arm of her chair.

“ Whatever I do know about you makes me hopelessly in love with you, Miss Winter.”

When a woman does not feel any desire to protect a man ; when she feels a moral certainty that what she is treading on is, not his heart, but his vanity ; when he is a good-looking brute, whose complacency has offended her, the temptation is great. Elizabeth had some misery to work out, and felt a reckless relief in playing with fire ; for Bryant was no contemptible antagonist. She did not draw back, grow rigid and civil, and change the subject; she looked toward the fire and said, “ Hopelessly ? ” which was very wrong ; then added quickly, “ Yes, I suppose it is hopelessly. But, Mr. Bryant, you would n’t find me at all satisfactory on further acquaintance. I can assure you, you may be glad I have n’t ” — she hesitated — “ fallen in love with you or your money,” she finished, and laughed with a sudden impudent gayety.

Bryant colored ; then threw away his conventionality as he had his standards, and, being really in earnest, showed his hand.

“ Miss Winter,” he began, pressingly, not eagerly, — he was not oblivious even then of their future relations, — “ money is n’t to be despised. Wait one moment,” as she made a gesture ; “think of it, won’t you ? I have a great deal, which would be entirely at your disposal. There are things in life, such as travel, pleasure, the power to do good, which money alone gives. I am not in the least unwilling to use it as an argument, if it will get me the desire of my heart. I believe I can make you — make you ” —

Elizabeth interrupted him with a sort of frowning smile. “ Make me happy, is that it? How? Part of the programme would be my gradually becoming as devoted to you as you would be to me, would it not ? But if I did not, what would happen then ? No, Mr. Bryant, I will confess I have let you go thus far because you do interest me, and I thought I should like to see your real self. I don’t think I have succeeded, and now I am done. I have n’t the least intention of even considering your proposal. I don’t even like you.”

The young man stood up with something that suggested an oath.

“ Yes, I know that seems rude, but it is n’t. Let me say something more. You are very rich, you are not stupid, and you are rather handsome. You have, as a consequence, treated me with a subdued insolence which I have resented; you have been perfectly sure that in the long run I would agree to any proposal you should make me. I have seen you gradually making up your mind that though you disliked certain things I did, you found me sufficiently attractive to induce you to overlook them. You have done various things to women whom I like, said and done things for which I thought you required correction. Some women like cavalier manners and the compliments of a pasha ; I do not.” She stood by the fireplace, and pushed a log with her boot-tip. There was silence.

“ Have you quite done ? ” He rested one hand on the table, with the other buttoned his coat.

She faced him. “ Quite, I think.”

“ Then I will say good - afternoon, Miss Winter. If I have an opportunity, you may be sure I shall do my best to overtake it and cry quits.” He walked to the door, and tried to turn the knob; his fingers shook.

Miss Winter crossed the room, and stood by the table. “ In other words, I may expect reprisals ? ”

He gave her a steady look that suggested to her what life was like when people used physical force with one another, and managing the door-knob opened the door and left the room.

Elizabeth stood a moment, impressed with something very like dread; then going back to the fire, she looked at the clock. " He will catch the five o’clock train ; only five minutes to wait at the station. I hope nobody will get in his way ; if they do — murder and sudden death ! Well ! ” She threw herself into a chair and rumpled her hair. “ Well! ” she repeated aloud ; a nervous tension made her treat herself dramatically. “ I don’t care a pennyworth. What can Austin Bryant do to me ? Cut me ? He won’t dare to ; it would look too badly. Say nasty things ? Let him ; every one knows he has wanted to marry me, which draws his sting somewhat. I am glad I did it. I had some injuries to wipe out. Fanny’s account is squared, and so is Helen’s. The great, black hound, without magnanimity enough to let little dogs alone! If he only bit beasts of his size, — but trust him not to do that. And he is attractive to many women : that was what nerved my hand, — it dried up any pity.” The clock struck five. “ Off to town he goes, and the up train came in five minutes ago. By rights — by rights”—and, with a sudden revulsion of feeling, Miss Winter’s eyes filled with tears.

She sat by the fire in silence. Mrs. Winter had gone to town for the day and night. Elizabeth was not sure whether the absence of any one to whom it was possible to speak was a relief or an added trial. The door opened to admit Annie. “Mr. Graham, miss.” No card this time.

“ Mr. Graham ? ” repeated Elizabeth dully. The twilight lightened. What a blazing fire she had made ! “ Say I will see him, Annie.”

The maid closed the door. For a moment Elizabeth was alone. She instinctively put her hands to her hair and smoothed it, then turned to the fire. The door opened, and she rose to meet her second visitor as he came into the room.

” I did not expect you,” said Elizabeth. They shook hands.

“ You got my note ? ” There was an unusual constraint in his manner; he stood leaning his arm on the little shelf over the fire. “ I thought I could n’t get out, and then at the last moment found I could.”

She could not understand the barrier he erected between them, and, as she talked, tried to account for it.

“ When does your train leave ? Late ? Have you been busy ? ” What stupid questions !

“ Yes, I get off at twelve, and I have been a good deal rushed toward the end. I had many last things to decide with Harold, you see. Australia is a good way off, after all, and I can’t come back in a hurry ; it will he a year or two, certainly.” He stopped abruptly, and walked to the window.

Elizabeth leaped to a conclusion : he did not want to commit himself, and had intended to stay away to avoid doing so ; he had come out thoroughly decided not to say anything that would lead to an explanation. In other words, he liked her, yes, but not enough to ask her to go to Australia with him or to tie himself down. Many miles and a few months would cure him, he thought. It all came with the rapidity that is characteristic of such insights. She felt a sense of utter blinding pain.

He stood looking through the wide casement. “ How beautiful the hills are against that last faint light in the west! I shall not forget this room.” He turned back toward her, his eyes searching for her through the gathering darkness.

“ Will you ring for the lamp and tea ? ” she asked.

He obeyed, and going back to the window stood there in silence till the light was brought, and the tea-things. It was not long, but it seemed long to both of them.

“ Come over here,” said Elizabeth. “Sit there,” — she pointed to a chair near her. “ I must look at you carefully, since I may never see you again.” She stopped pouring the tea to look at him ; their eyes met. Should she ever forget the look of his black hair on his temples ? — the skin showed its natural white there. How long would it take to put out of mind the blue eyes, clear and cold as spring water, the handsome jut of the nose, the dark line on the short upper lip, the long, graceful, clever hands ? Turning away, she stared into the fire.

“ You are very silent,” said Graham. “ Have you no good wishes to give me ? I shall think of you very often, Miss Winter.”

She turned toward him. “ Did you come out to say that, Mr. Graham? ”

“ Yes, partly. I came — I came — God knows why I came ! ” and getting up he took a hasty turn up and down the room, then sat down again. “Forgive me ; I will be cheerful and sensible. We have only half an hour together,— let us enjoy it; we have enjoyed many before this.”

“ And shall enjoy many again,” she added quickly. “ So tell me, have you settled everything for your brother, and when will you come back again?” She handed him his cup.

“ Harold ? Oh yes, he ’s all right now ; and I was selfishly glad of his difficulties, since it brought me home for these six months. But about coming back, — that is in the limbo of the future. I must look after myself, Miss Winter. I should hate to fail, and leaving the ranch has been a dangerous experiment, not to be tried soon again.” He had forgotten his constraint.

“ What do you hear from your overseer ? ”

“ Excellent news ; but they need me, and I shall be glad to be back, too, in many ways. I love the life, you know. I” —

“ Yes,” she said slowly, “ I know. You have told me enough to make me feel as though I understood it all pretty well, and it must be a pleasant life.”

Graham looked at her, stared at her almost, then turned away and put his cup down. “ I fear I must have bored you very often when you were too kind to say so, and I want to tell you how kind I think you have been. I should have felt awfully out of place here, after my long absence, if — if ” —

“ If I had not been kind to you ? Have I been kind to you ? ” It seemed impossible the pain in her voice should not reach his ears ; for all her dignity, she wished it would.

“ You have indeed, most kind ; when I look back with open eyes, I thank you for it all. But I must not keep you now. The skating yesterday and the dance must have tired you. You do things hard when you do them, and you must want rest. I ought to go.” He got up and stood near her. “ I wish you every happiness, I wish you every good thing. Don’t forget me utterly, and good-by, Miss Winter.” He held out his hand.

She put hers in it and stood up beside him ; there was a moment’s painful pressure, then he turned to leave the room.

“ Mr. Graham, I have said nothing; I have n’t even wished you luck. You know how much interest I take, how much I want your welfare. Won’t you write to me when you get home, to say how it all is, — how the sheep are, and the ranch, and ” —

Graham took her outstretched hand and raised it to his lips ; then, without an answer, he left the room. A minute later, opening the door of the library, she heard the house door close. Very quickly Miss Winter went up the wide staircase to her own room, and locked the door.

Mrs. Washburn’s tea was almost over, and the hostess, her niece, and the two girls who had received with her were beginning to relax their attention. Half a dozen men who were to stay and have supper at half past seven had gathered round the fire, and Elizabeth Winter threw herself on a sofa in the front room, for the moment alone.

She was not tired. She had felt as though her muscles were of steel and would compel her to move restlessly about; but now she sat relaxed and quiet, consumed with a longing for the hour when she could leave the house and take the train home ; only ten minutes more then, and she would be in peace. Looking across the room, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, fine gray gown and all, and it seemed as though it must be some other woman who had such red lips and bright eyes. Another figure blotted out hers in the mirror, and a man sat down beside her on the sofa.

“ Mr. Bryant ? ” Her voice demanded an explanation.

“ I have only come to square accounts, Miss Winter. I warned you last week, and my opportunity was sudden. I took it. Will you hear what it was ? May I say in parenthesis that, much as I regret having to acknowledge it, you are certainly very beautiful to-night ? ”

She looked at him steadily. " What have you said or done, Mr. Bryant, if I am to be told, though why ” —

“ I think you will be glad to know.” He had less color than usual, but his eyes had a certain savage steadiness that improved his expression. " I had five minutes at the station ; while I waited a train came in from town, and on it — Graham.” He stopped.

“ Yes?”

“ I am not a fool, Miss Winter. I had seen a letter lying on the mantelpiece, and recognized the hand. When I saw Graham I remembered, and something in his expression led me to a conclusion. He was going out to propose to you before he left for Australia.” He stopped again, his eyes unwavering. They were directly facing each other, each with an arm on the back of the sofa. Bryant resumed : “ I had guessed somewhat of his feelings before ; I knew you liked him,—liked him a good deal, — and it occurred to me that at any rate his saying nothing would not please you; you like men to propose in full form, even when you intend to refuse them. I stopped him, said I had come from you, looked radiant, he stared, and then I was overcome with friendly confidence, took his arm, and told him that of course he had seen how it would end. I loved you. You — well, I was the happiest man in the world. Nothing settled — not to be spoken of — but — I did it pretty well. He took it like a man, drew a deep breath, and went on to see you instead of going back to town with me, as most men would have done. The rest you know better than I, Miss Winter. What do you think of my story? Are we quits ? ”

It was touch and go. She pressed the sofa with rigid fingers, but the look of exultation in Bryant’s eyes ran like wildfire through her veins. She dragged herself together, and there entered into her a great rage.

“ Quits ? ” She spoke with deliberation. “ Not yet. Give me time, Mr. Bryant. Come, we will have our supper first.” Bryant stared at her, speechless. " Come,” and she moved past him into the other room.

“ Are you all ready ? ” Miss Winter drew off her gloves, and sat down at the table where her aunt was seated. “ I am hungry ; come, let us begin. Miss Rose March can flirt with uncle Charles after supper.”

They all sat down with laughing alacrity, — all except Bryant; he had grown gray as Miss Winter’s dress, and took his place by her aunt with a sort of horror in his eyes.

“ Are all the glasses filled ? ” Miss Winter was in high spirits. “I propose as a toast — let me see — aunt and uncle first, of course.”

The health was drunk, and the party became a merry one. Elizabeth’s sallies were especially applauded, and Bryant’s cheek regained some of its native red. There was a pause, and Miss Winter leaned forward.

“ Ladies and gentlemen, I have a story to tell you.” She threw back her head and laughed. “It is to illustrate the changes that have taken place in the principles of warfare. Will you have it?” Applause and assent. She pushed back her chair and fanned herself.

“ Very well, to begin ! It used to be the custom in America, is still in places, that a blow in the face should be returned in kind ; in fact, if dealt by a woman, I have heard it is at times not returned at all. However, granting the justice of hitting back when you are struck, the injured man attacks his adversary in open fight, does he not ? ”

A roar of yeas from the men ; the girls laughed.

“ Well, a variation has been introduced, and I want your opinion on it. A week ago I struck Mr. Bryant in the face, morally speaking, and he stabbed me in the back in return. Is this according to the rules of honest warfare ? ” She paused ; there was an intense silence.

“ The details are these. Mr. Bryant proposed to me,”—her aunt gave a gasp, the girls were white, the men red, feeling ran with Bryant, — “ and I refused him. I then took the opportunity to tell him my opinion of him ; it was not a pleasant one. Wait! ” Public feeling still with Bryant; the room horribly still. Bryant, with his arms folded, looked at Elizabeth.

“ He left me, saying he would be quits, and at the station met Mr. Graham. He decided that Mr. Graham was coming to do as he had done ; he thought his chances good, so, displaying some dramatic gift, he told Mr. Graham that he had proposed to me and been accepted — and been accepted.” The passionate utterance of those last three words echoed in a sort of groan from the men.

“ Now, ladies and gentlemen, I have ruined your supper, and made myself most disagreeable; but I will relieve you of the necessity of saying anything to me. You can discuss us at your leisure. Good-night, aunt,” and before any one had answered, Elizabeth had disappeared through the doorway.

A moment later, coming downstairs in her wraps, with her maid, she found her aunt and uncle waiting for her in the hall.

“ Elizabeth, Elizabeth dearest,” began Mrs. Washburn. “ How terrible this all is, but why, why ” —

Mr. Washburn interposed. “ Let the child go home, my dear. She is what few women are, — game.”

Elizabeth gave him an answering look, and, kissing Mrs. Washburn, saw Bryant coming down the stairway.

He stopped before her, and there was a silence that made the hum of voices in the dining-room audible.

“ You asked me to say quits, Mr. Bryant : I will do so. Will you open the door ? ”

He complied mechanically, and she passed out, followed by her maid.

Bryant bowed to Mr. and Mrs. Washburn, who stood speechless, and going out closed the door behind him. He turned toward the Club. A sudden realization of what would greet him in the next hour, if one of the men he had left at the Washburns’ came in, penetrated his being. Could he face it all down ? Hardly. Europe for a year would be the best solution ; he hated the continent of America, — and with this in his heart he walked home.

Francis Willing Wharton.