News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-03-26


Besides, " with q little break in the clear
voice, ''until tonight l thought you
loved me-"
Tom pulled his chair close to Eliza
beth's and drew her head down to his
shoulder. He ought to have done that
earlier in the evening. Then he said:
''My dear, what possesses you? You
know 1 love you"
For an instant the yellow head rested
where he had placed it. Then Miss
Murray drew herself away and rose to
her feet.
''No, Tom. 1t is too late to make
me believe that. We are not fitted to
make each other happy. 1 am quite
certain of it. Let us break off our en-
gagement."
''And all on account of that con-
founded speech of mine about dress
maker!" lie exclaimed, savagely.
mot entirely that. l feel that you
do not love me, and something tells
me that l ought not to be your wife"
Mr.. Barclay, man like, loved the wo-
man who was slipping away from him
at this moment better than ever be-
fore, and he had loved her always, in
his way; he had made a. mistake in not
showing his affection more plainly.
Beth" he said, "forgive me. 1
didn't mean it. l was q brute. As my
wife you will be free as air; you must
know that. Think a moment; tits not
an unpardonable offense, is it?''
Il tell you it is not because of what
you said" she reiterated. cit is be-
cause l know you do not love me, and
! that | am not at all sure that / love
you"
Mr.. Barclays temper began to rise
again. He remarked:
This is a nice statement for a man
| to hear three weeks before his mar
riage"
Much nicer than it would be three
weeks after" she retUrted. 1.-The invi-
| tatiOns are not out; no one outside of
our families know that the day was set.
1 will take my finery," she added with
a SMILE ''and go to Italy. Take your
ring, Tom, and say good-by." drawing
off the diamond.
Mechanically Tom dropped the circlet
into his pocket. Suddenly he took a
step toward her, caught herin his arms,
kissed her once, twice, three times,
with all the passion of a man who
loves, then, releasing her, turned and
left the room, while Miss Murray. white
and trembling, sank into her chair, hid
her face and cried bitterly.
Much to Elizabeth's surprise, Mr..
Barclay made no atteanpt to see or
speak to her again. She explained
where it was necessary:
''Mr. Barclay and l have changed
| our minds"
A month later she and Aunt Clara
were outward bound for Italy for-their
! goal. The balance of the winter and
the following spring and summer were
spent roaming from place to place.
Then one of those financial cyclones
called n panic swept over tlse United
States, and Miss Murray and her aunt
were called home. Thomas Barclay,
though a young man, was a large deal
er in coffee, teas and spices. His was
one of a dozen firms that failed that
autumn. Dishonest and unfortunate
creditors had cost him $500, 900. But
that cut no figure in settling up his
| own affairs. He cleared his stables,
sold every inch of real estate, and
| when his own creditors were paid dol
lar for dollar Mr.. Barclay had a clean
conscience, q stainless record and S., 900
in cash.
He went west, and Miss Murray heard
no more of him. Her father, an i'm
porter of silks and foreign fabrics, cur
tailed expenses and, aided by gener-
Gus loan from Aunt Clare weathered
| the storm.
One summer two years later Eliza
beth and her mother Joined q party who
were going to make tour of the north
west, penetrating even the wilds of
Alaska before their return.
1t was in Portland that Miss Murray
met with an accident, and a treacher-
Gus banana peeling was to blame for it.
! She had gone out alone to make some
small purchases, and, stepping on the
deceitful peel, would have fallen head
long had not gentleman just behind
her caught her in his arms. Almost
fainting with the pain of badly sprain-
ed ankle Miss Murray looked into Mr..
Barclays gray eyes.
''TOm-Mr. Barclay" she stam-
mered, fighting the faintness that near
ly overcame her, and then rallying
enough to understand that Tom was
asking anxiously, care you hurt I" my
ankle is sprained," she said, with white
lips.
A crowd was gathering. A gentle
man offered his assistance, and Eliza
beth was taken to the nearest store,
while Tosl called carriage and then
accompanied her home.
In spite of the pain Miss Murray
could not help looking at the man who
was to have been her husband. That
individual met her eyes and said:
''Wcll"
Miss Murray blushed painfully, con-
scious that she had been staring.
cit is so long since | have seen you.
and we used to be such good friends"
she replied gently.
Whose fault is it that you have not
seen me for so long?" he demanded;
and then, noting her fading color and
pale lips, he said: ''What brute l am
to question you so when you are suffer
ing such painl l was never gentle
enough to win your love, Beth"
'Did you ever try, Tom"
81 thought did"
'Didn't you take everything for
granted-that you loved me and that l
cared for you, and that in the course of
human events it was natural and proper
that we should get marriedP
perhaps so" he answered quietly;
and then the carriage stopped, the
driver was at the door, and Elizabeth
was carried up to her room.
1t was an obstinate, ugly sprain, and
held its victim a prisoner for six long
weeks. The party went on to Alaska,
leaving Mrs Murray and her daughter
at the hotel and quite as matter of
course, Tom Barclay called often. He
was wonderfully gentle toward the
woman who had refused to be his wife.
Elizabeth did not know that he was
trying to win her love, but Mrs. Murray
was well aware of that fact, and well
satisfied, TOO. Tom was established in
the old business in Portland, and again
on the road to wealth. She had always
liked him, and shrewdly suspected that
his presence on this planet had some