Élise and Firmstone stood close. There was a measure of will opposed to will in the unflinching eyes. Élise felt a strange thrill, strange to her. With Pierre and Madame opposition only roused her anger, their commands only gave piquancy to revolt. But now, as she looked at the strong, resolute man before her, there was a new sensation fraught with subtler thrills of delight, the yielding to one who commanded and took from her even the desire to resist. She felt warm waves of blood surging to her face. The defiant poise of her head was unchanged, her eyes softened, but the drooping lids hid them from those that she acknowledged master. "May I go if I give my answer?" "If your answer is right, yes." The eyes were veiled, but the mobile lips were wavering. "Madame and I have decided to go East." The look on Firmstone's face changed from resolution to pleading. "I have no right to ask more, unless you choose to give it. Don't you know what I want to ask? Will you give me the right to ask?" The drooping head bent still lower, a softer flush suffused the quiet face. Firmstone took the girl's unresisting hands in his own. "Can't you give me my answer, dear? You have come to be all the world to me. You are going away for the sake of your friends. Will you come back some time for mine?" Élise slowly raised her eyes to his. He read his answer. There was a slight answering pressure, then her hands were gently withdrawn. Firmstone stood aside. Élise and Madame moved over the threshold, the door swinging to behind them, not quite shut; then it opened, just enough to show a flushed face, with teasing, roguish eyes. "I forgot to ask. Is that all, Mr. Minion?" Then the door closed with a decided click. THE END Other Book to Read By Arthur Stanwood Pier Author of "The Pedagogues" THE TRIUMPH The Triumph has fire and pathos and romance and exhilarating humor. It is a capital story that will keep a reader's interest from the first appearance of its hero, the young doctor Neal Robeson, to his final triumph--his triumph over himself and over the lawless, turbulent oil-drillers, his success in his profession and in his love affair. It displays a delightful appreciation of the essential points of typical American characters, a happy outlook on everyday life, a vigorous story-telling ability working in material that is thrilling in interest, in a setting that is picturesque and unusual. The action takes place in a little western Pennsylvania village at the time of the oil fever, and a better situation can scarcely be found. Mr. Pier's account of the fight between the outraged villagers and the oil-drillers around a roaring, blazing gas well is a masterpiece of story telling. _Illustrations by W. D. Stevens_ By James Weber Linn Author of "The Second Generation" THE CHAMELEON