Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-08-25
WITHOUT THE SHADOW OF A
DOUBT.

UUUOli
When l looked at Elizabeth as she stood
aEere before me, l understood fully, and
for the first time, why she refused to marry
me just get, and in my heart | could not
blame her.
Picture to yourself fresh and charm
ing young girl in brave atIire-that is, in
silken robe made rldiculously long and
iooped up rldiculously high, with de-
family fiaring affair of ribbon and lace and
feathers towering above a most bewilder-
ing arrangement of puifS and friZzes, from
which elaborate structure one poor little
golden curl had escaped and run away over
her shoulders; with silver bangles upon
her perfect arms, and Jewels in her bits of
ears, and a delicate perfume floating like
incense about Eer-and you have Elizabeth
as she appeared that summer morning
when We discussed the nome teus question
OF our marriage and its possible conse-
quences. She was speaking:
II mean to say, my dear boy, that We
could never live upon what you earn
never. 1t would barely give rs bread
Don't frown, Julian you know that would
only be drag upon you. l am such a
helpless, ignorant creature. | can dress
and dance, and play the piano little,
and don't believe that know girl who
can do any more. 1t Is great mistake,
l suppose, letting us crop up into such
worthlessness; but there. the mischief is
done, and We can't help it, can We? OF
course not. Now see, dear, you must re-
member that father refuses to listen to us,
and as l have not penny of my own
"You do not need penny" I inter-
rupted, angrily. "Will not my life, with
all its years and possibilities, be yours, to
reign over for eyer2'
"Nonsense " laughed Elizabeth. Come
now, get to work, like brave fellow, and
paint something grand something that
will make you famous. Can't your"
shook my head despondently.
AT least you will tryt"
Eyes, and fail once more"
81 lose all patience with you" exclaimed
my companion, her blue eyes flashing,
warningly. You provoke me past endur-
ance. What! Am l not worth trying for2
Paint portraits, then, and leave off tLose
fussy old historical things. Why, some
men have become famous at portrait paint
ipg-haven't they?"
"Oh, as for portraits, yes" | answered,
nonchalantly. al am quite willing to VEN
tire upon that field, for there is Miss Talbot
she has offered me a sitting more than
once"
Bluuceu luItlNely III EliLaDetn, ana saw
that my shot had told. Her eyes fell, a
vivid flush stained her cheeks, and that
pretty, pouting neither lip qmvered piteous-
ly. Only for a second, however. Then
she looked up fearlessly, and said, with
out tremor in her voice:
You speak of Miss Talbot because you
think that l am jealous of her. You are
wrong. l do not pretend to deny that l
have been Jealous rightfully SO, even
but that feeling is dead now, Julian, and
you have Just killed it. All, believe me,
may be very silly i'll many respects, but l
have my own ideas about some things, and
especially about lovers, and can tell you,
sir, that the man | love is placed as far
above other men as heaven is above the
earth. He cannot do anything dishonor-
able; but if YOU"
"Well, and if / should, what them" /
asked, mimicking her emphasis.
Elizabeth dismissed the subject with
wave of her little white hand.
at is three o'clock" she exclaimed,
looking at her watch. "Goodness Aunt
Janet will be frantic. l am going, Julian"
You will come again tomorrow to see
this picture?"
81 think not; | may be busy. Wait,
must leave you these-some fresh, sweet
violets; | gathered them expressly for YOU"
| received the little cluster of flowers in
differently enough. That Elizabeth had
worn them on her brsom and blushingly
detached them was to me n matter of small
import then.
Tell me good-by, please" she MUIR
INJURED.
"Shall it be good-by or FAREWELL"
She did not answer, so | kissed the
tempting lips that were raised to mine,
said something don't remember what
something cold and cruel, no doubt, and
presently stood alone UPON the threshold
OF my studio, listening to the rustic of
silken robe, the ti"kling of bangles, and
the blinking of little bottines as she sped
swiftly down the stairway. Then / re-
turned TO nv work, grimly resolute.
That chapter in my life is ended" I
said. 10 myself. 1T was very sweet, but
very silly. Tomorrow l will write TO the
poor child and release her from all her
promises. Little simpletonl She has her
ideas of what lover should be, has she?
BY Jove! she was sensible in refusing to
marry me. And l not only imagined that
was in love, but fancied that she-bah!
I am an idiot! A girl like that, and so
mercenary-and, by heavens not ashamed
to tell it, either! Well, l suppose she will
marry some rich fool. l hope So"
have said that went to work; it was
not SOL could not work. Somehow the
sunlight seemed no longer to freshen and
brighten up the room. 1t was gloomy
place at the best, but now it seemed hor-
nbly lonely and cherries.
Then, too. thoughts Of Elizabeth and OF
my miserable position were half-crazing
me, for, despite my pretended indifference,
was madly in love, and knew it.
"By all the gods of pagan Rome she
shall be my wi Q, if she cares enough
about it TO wait for me!' | mentally ex-
claimed, for. like an inspiration, plan of
action had suddenly suggested itself, and l
resolved TO lose no time in putting it into
execution.
had a friend-an old college chum-
Fred Denbigh. q royal good felIow-free-