The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1891-05-28

Tom pulled his chair close 70 Eliza
hcth's aud drew her head down % BIZ
shoulder. lie ought 20 have done thai
earlier 10 the evening Then he said
Ny dear, what POSSESSES youi Yoi
know love you"
/ For an instant the yellow head rested
where he had placed II then Miss Muir
ray drew herself away and rose TO her
feet.
"No, Tom, Il is too late 10 make me
believe that. We are not fitted TO make
each other happy; am quite certain Of
IL. Let US break of our engagement
And all on account Of that speech
Of mine about a dressmaker!' he ex-
Claimed savagely.
"Not entirely that feel that you do
not love me, and something tells me
that ought not 10 be your wife,
Mr.. Barclay, mau-like, loved the
woman who was slipping away from
him Of this moment. better than ever be.
fore, aud he had loved her always in his
way; he had made mistake in not
showing his affection more plainly.
Beth" he said forgive me.
didn't mean il. was a brute. AS my
wife You will be free as air; you must
know that Think q moment 1t Is not
al objectionable offence, is itN
! VI tell yot IL Is not because OF what
/ you said, she reiterated. 1T is because
know you do not love me, and that
am not 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 marriagen
''Much nicer than II would be three
weeks after" she retorted. "The in
vitations are not out no one outside Of
our families know that the day was set.
! will take my fnery, she added, with
smile, "and 60 TO Italy. Take your
ring, Tom, and say good-by, drawing
OIL the diamond
Mechanically Tom dropped the circlet
into his pocket. Suddenly he took
step toward her, caught her in his arms,
kissed her onee--twice --three times, with
all the passion Of man who loves, thee,
releasing her turned and left the room,
while Miss Murray, white and trembling,
sank into her chair, hid her face ana
cried bitterly.
Much to Elizabeth's surprise Mr.. Bar
clay made no attempt to see or speak to |
her again. She explained, where it was
necessary:
"AIr, Barclay and have changed our
minds.
A month later she and Aunt Clare were
outward bound, with Italy for their goal.
The remainder Of the winter and the fol-
lowing spring and summer were spent
roaming from place to place; then one
OF those financial cyclones called a panic
swept over the United States, and Miss
Murray and her aunt were called home.
Thsmas Barclay, though young man.
was large dealer in cotfees, teas and
spices. His was one Of a dozen firms
that failed that autumn. Dishonest and
unfortunate creditors had cost him
hundred thousand dollars. But that cut
no figure in settling up his own affairs.
He cleared his stables, sold every inch of
'eal estate, and when his own creditors
we're paid dollar for dollar, Mr.. Barclay
lad q clean conscience stainless rec
'rd, and five thousand dollars in cash.
lie went West, and Miss Murray heard
10 more Of him. Her father, an impor-
er Of silks and foreign fabrics, curtailed |
Expenses, aud, aided by a generous
oan from Aunt Glare, weathered the
torn. j
One summer two years later, Elizabeth
nd her mother joined party who were
DING to make tour of the northwest
GENERATING even the wilds Of Alaska be-
ore their return. :
1t was in Portland that Miss Murray =
let with an accident, and treacherous
anana peeling was to blame for it.
he had gone out alone to make some
mall purchases, and stepping on the !
eceitful peel fell TO the ground.
A crowd was gathering. A gentleman
fiered his assistance, and Elizabeth was :
AIKEN to the nearest store, while the i
entleman called carriage and then 5,
ccompanied her home. 1t was Tom !
Barclay.
In spite Of the pain, Miss Murray could y
OF help looking at the man who was to I
ave been her husband. That individ- =
al met her eyes and said =
Well2n Q
Miss Murray blushed painfully con-
,ious that she had been staring.
Ii is SO long since | have seen YOU,
al we used TO be such good friends, " h
he replied gently.
" Whose fault is it that you have not h
zen me for So longn he demanded: and !;
len, noting her fading color and pale u
rs, he said What a brute / am to 4
lestion you SO, when YOU are suffering q
lch pain I was never gentle enough II
, win your love. Beth. p =,
" Did you ever try, Tomp NJ
Il thought did ri
Did You take everything for II
that you loved me and that +,
red for you, and that in the course Of ~
iman events it was natural and proper A.
at We should get marriedm Lo
Perhaps So" he answered Quietly; -
ID then the carriage stopped. the driver M NJ
rs at the door and Elizabeth was -;
ried up to her room.
1t was an ugly, obstinate spra.v. and ~
Id its victim prisoner for six long "a,
'eks. The party went on to Alaska. or
wing Mrs. Murray and her daughter az
the hotel, and quite as matter of =.
urse, Tom Barclay called often. He
Is wonderfully gentle toward the
IMAM who had refused TO be his wife.
izabeth did not know that he was try
: to win her love, but MrS Murray fui
IS well aware Of that fact. and well Phi
listed. too. Tom was established in ~,
Q old business Ia Portland. md again str
tho road 10 wealth -, IA .i,,-..-. -.