d Elnora calmly. "The second time I met
Philip Ammon he told me of his engagement to you, and I respected it.
I did by you as I would want you to do by me. He was here parts of each
day, almost daily last summer. The Almighty is my witness that never
once, by word or look, did I ever make the slightest attempt to interest
him in my person or personality. He wrote you frequently in my presence.
He forgot the violets for which he asked to send you. I gathered them
and carried them to him. I sent him back to you in unswerving devotion,
and the Almighty is also my witness that I could have changed his heart
last summer, if I had tried. I wisely left that work for you. All my
life I shall be glad that I lived and worked on the square. That he ever
would come back to me free, by your act, I never dreamed. When he left
me I did not hope or expect to see him again," Elnora's voice fell soft
and low, "and, behold! You sent him--and free!"

"You exult in that!" cried Edith Carr. "Let me tell you he is not free!
We have belonged for years. We always shall. If you cling to him, and
hold him to rash things he has said and done, because he thought me
still angry and unforgiving with him, you will ruin all our lives. If
he married you, before a month you would read heart-hunger for me in his
eyes. He could not love me as he has done, and give me up for a little
scene like that!"

"There is a great poem," said Elnora, "one line of which reads, 'For
each man kills the thing he loves.' Let me tell you that a woman can
do that also. He did love you--that I concede. But you killed his love
everlastingly, when you disgraced him in public. Killed it so completely
he does not even feel resentment toward you. To-day, he would do you a
favour, if he could; but love you, no! That is over!"

Edith Carr stood truly regal and filled with scorn. "You are mistaken!
Nothing on earth could kill that!" she cried, and Elnora saw that the
girl really believed what she said.

"You are very sure of yourself!" said Elnora.

"I have reason to be sure," answered Edith Carr.

"We have lived and loved too long. I have had years with him to match
against your days. He is mine! His work, his ambitions, his friends, his
place in society are with me. You may have a summer charm for a sick man
in the country; if he tried placing you in society, he soon would see
you as others will. It takes birth to position, schooling, and endless
practice to meet social deman