Are some logically contradictory sentences acceptable in fiction?

Editing a short story the other day, I came across this sentence: (1) "He was not welcome but not necessarily unwelcome."

Logically, that sentence doesn't make sense, but from context, I realize the writer means something akin to (2) "Though no one wanted him there, he was allowed to be there." I wouldn't write line 1 (it's not to my personal taste), but as an editor, should I leave line 1 alone or replace it with line 2?

 

This line to me is a little confusing. I'm not sure what it means.

This line is a little easier to understand, but maybe we can write it without repeating the word "there." -- No-one wanted him there, but they had no grounds to kick him out.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I like your rewrite of line 2.

 

"It was the best of sentences, it was the worst of sentences."

 

It was the sentence of welcoming, it was the sentence of unwelcoming;
It was the time of clarity, it was the time of confusion;
We tried to understand it, we gave up and muttered "Who the heck cares?"