An Easy Victory.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 15 December 1906, Page 37

An Easy Victory.

There was a certain nielam holy about; him as he came near her.

."Darling,” he said, “'1 have seen your father.”

"He likes you,” she murmured, trying by her note of encouragement to forestall his announcement. "Otherwise he would not have let you eomc so much. I know that. Papa is peculiar in his ideas. He has always been strict with me. He has kept me at home and guarded me. But he has been good to me,” she added, almost as if she felt it necessary to defend him.

Her lover looked at her gravely. “From his standpoint,” he said, “lie is not unreasonable. He wishes us to be parted for a year. Then, if we are still of the same mind, he gives his consent.” “A year!”

“Yes. His idea is this: that we arc both young, both inexperienced, and he feels that we should be sure that we are right. So he wishes me not to see, hear, speak or write to you for a year.” She looked away for a long time. “I’siiposc it must be so,” she said, “if Papa wishes it.” “You consent? You will wait?” “I shall have to. And you?”

“Never!” he replied passionately. “I must have you —now! You must <hoose between ns.”

She looked at him sadly. “Dear,” she replied, “it is impossible, I cannot disobey Papa.”

"But it is absurd. We know each other.”

‘“Nevertheless, I ” He took her hand. “Never mind, darling,” he said, “don’t let’s settle it now. Wait. To-morrow I will come again. Meantime reflect.” And thus they parted, with kisses and tears. The next evening he came again. A new light was in his eyes. During the twenty-four hours that Lad passed he had been very busy. He took her hand gravely in his. “You still feel the same?” lie said. “Yes, dear. I’m afraid it must be so. A year will soon pass.” “I suppose I must give in.” “Then you agree?’ “Yes,” he said. “I wish, of course, to obey your dear faiher--to the letter. To do this, darling, we must separate ourselves from each other en -rely. Had you thought of that?’’ “I suppose so.” She looted at him vaguely. “That would, no doubt, L-e best.” she said. There was a subdued ami almost gentle note of partly conceal-! 1 exultation in bis voice. “I shall have to travel,’' he replied. “It. is the only honourable way.” “Travel? Where?” “Everywhere.” He drew from his pocket a buneh of time tables. “There is no help for it,” he said. “It will be hard to leave you. darling, but still, as you say, a year will soon pass in this way. I shall sec my own conn fry first,” he went on proudly. ‘“The noble Hudson, the Great Lakes, the Yosemite. California, the Grand Canyon, then off for Japan, a winter on the Nile. Rome, Naples, the Alps, the Rhine, grand old Paris —” “Stop!” she cried. “Do yon mean all that?” “Certainly, dearest. I —” She sprang upon him with a fierce feminine cry. “‘Then.” she whispered passionately, “you’ll take me with you. even if 1 have to climb down a rope ladder at midnight and Papa never, never, NEVER speaks to me again!” And folding her swiftly in his arms with a triumphant smile, he replied, “1 thought, darling, I could bring- you around all right.”-—Toni Masson.