Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-04-02

of marriage in this light before bond
Q Ii seems TO me that a woman's
freedom is something not to be given
w lightly. / have never been dictated
20 since left school, and do not be
lieve l should take it kindly. Tom, /
don't believe ! want 10 marry You, or
anybody; why, with a sudden fash OF
passion, IF you laid a command upon
me after our marriage / really believe
l should hate your
1t crossed Toms mind that Il might
be as well fur a man 20 cnrh his temnNS
until after the wedding day: He rose,
walked across the room, pushed aside
the heavy curtain and looked out. The
prospect was not pleasing; the sky was
black, and the driving sleet peted
against the plate glass. He came back
to where Miss Murray sat looking into
the fire and apparently lost in thought.
Elizabeth, ! thought you loved me. "
Did YOU l thought so, too, though
| have been told often enough that /
didn't"
"Who told you sof
Mamma. for one. Aunt Glare for
another. You see, mamma married
papa for love when he was a poor man,
and Aunt Clare's husband died before
the honeymoon was over. She moun1s
him yet. They always said / didn't
know the first principles of love per
haps they were right
NJ naralay- vuaG novar an tho -.1rghlv
astonished in his twenty-eight years Of
life; he asked, rather stiffly:
"'Wm you kindly state why you en-
gagged yourself TO meF'
well. Tom, l always liked you.
We've known each other for years.
Our families are intimate. What more
natural than that you, the only son,
and l, the only daughter, should marryl
Besides, with a little break in the clear
voice, until tonight / 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 your You
know l love you"
For an instant the yellow head rested
where he had placed it. Then Mis-
Murray drew herself away and rose to
her feet.
'No, Tom. II is too late TO make
me believe that. We are not fitted to
make each other happy. ! am quite
certain Of it. Let us break off our en-.
gagsment."
"And all on account of that con.
founded speech of mine about a dress
makeri" he exclaimed, savagely.
Not 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 eve be
fore, and he had loved her always, in
his way he had made a mistake in not
showing his affection more plainly.
Seth he said, 'forgive me.
didn't mean it. / was a brute. As my
wife you will be free as air; you mus
know that. Think a moment; it is not
an objectionable O%ffense, is itF'
Il tell you it is not because of what
you said" she reiterated. ut is be
cause / know you do not love me, anC
that / am not at all sure that l love
you"
Mr.. Barclays temper began to ris'
again. He remarked:
I'm IL -+~sl-m.aN g. mo-
10 hear three weeks before his mar
rage"
much nicer than it would be thre'
weeks after she retorted. THE invi
tations are not out; no one outside o
our families know that the day was set
1 will take my finery," she added witt
a smile, and go to Italy. Take you
ring. Tom, and say good-by drawing
off the diamond.
Mechanically Tom dropped the circle
into his pocket. Suddenly he took
step toward her, caught herin his arms
kissed her once, twice, three times
with all the passion Of a man VIII
loves, then, releasing her, turned an'
left the room, while Miss Murray. whit
and trembling. sank into her chair, hi'
her face and cried bitterly.
Much to Elizabeth's surprise, Mr.
Barclay made no attempt to see o
speak to her again She explaine
where it was necessary:
'Mr. Barclay and 1 have changes
our minds"
A month later she and Aunt Clar
we're outward bound for Italy for thei
goal. The balance Of the winter an
the following spring and summer wer
spent roaming from place to place
Then one Of those financial cyclone
called a panic swept over the Unite
States, and Miss Murray and her aun
were called home. Thomas Barclay
though a young man, was a large dea
er in coffee, teas and spices His wa
one of a dozen firms that failed tina
autumn. Dishonest and u~nfortunat
a - 1Nnn no d