St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-15
CHAPTER II.


Much to Elizabeth's surprise, Mr.. Bar
clay made no attempt to see or speak to
her again. She explained where it was
"Mr. Barclay and I have changed our
minds"
A month later she and Aunt Clara
were outward bound fo1 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
panic swept over the United States, and
Miss Murray and her aunt were called
home. Thomas Barclay, though a
young man, was a large dealer in
coffee, teas and spices. His was one
Of a dozen firms that failed that au-
tumn. Dishonest and unfortunate cred
it0rS had cost him hundred thousand
dollars. But that cut no figure in set
Ting up his own affairs. He cleared his
stables, sold every inch OF real estate,
and when his own creditors were paid
dollar for dollar, Mr.. Barclay had clean
conscience, stainless record, and $4,000
in cash.
He went West. and Miss Murray
heard no more of him. Her father. an
importer of silks and foreign fabrics,
curtailed expenses and, aided by a gen
erous loan from Aunt Clare. weathered
the storm.
One summer two years later Eliza
beth and her mother joined party who
were going to make tOurOf the North
west, penetrating even the WildS OF
Alaska before their return.
1t was in Portland that Miss Murray
met with an accident, and treacherous
banana peeling was to blame for it. She
had gone out alone to make some small
purchases, and, stepping Oh the deceit
full peel, would have fallen headlOng
had not gentleman just behind her
caught her in his arms. Almost faint
ing with the pain of a badly sprained
ankle, Miss Murray looked into Mr.. Bar
clay's gray eyes.
'Tom-Mr. Barclay" she stammered,
fighting the faintness that nearly over
came her, and then rallying enough to
understand that Tom was asking anX-
iously care you hurt?" "My ankle is
spraIned." she said with white lips.
A crowd was gathering. n gentle
man offered his assistance, and Eliza
beth was taken to the nearest store,
while Tom called a 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
"WelI?"
Miss Murray blushed painfully. con-
scious that she had been staring.
sit 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 suffering
such pain! 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 |
cared for you. and that In the course of
human events it was natural and proper
that we should get married?'
"PerhapS SO," he answered quietly;
and then the carriage stopped, the driver
was at the door, and Elizabeth was car
ried up to her room.
1t was an obstinate, ugly sprain, and
held its victim prisoner for six long
weeks. The party went on to Alaska,
leaving Mrs. Murray and her daughter
at the hotel, and. quite AS a 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 try
ing to win her love, but Mrs. Murray
was we'll aware of that fact, and well
satisfied, too. Tom was established in
the old business in Portland, and again
OH the road to wealth. She had always
liked him, and shreWdly suspected that
1lla
thing to do with her daughters strange
indifference to certain brilliant matri-
monial chances.
AS for Elizabeth, she was utterly con-
tent and happy during the period of in
validiSm that confined her to the house.
What cared she for the beauties of
Alaska. of which her friends wrote such
glowing descriptions. Did she not have
long talks with Tom every other even
ing2 Though she took care that he
knew nothing of her quickening heart
beats and bounding pulses whenever he
approached.
Elizabeth had been able to walk for a
week. Her friends were due i'll two
days on their return trip, and she and
her mother were to join them and start
Immediately for home.
Mr. Barclay asked the convaescent to
take ride with him. He was thirty
one, Elizabeth twenty-five. Mrs. Murray
did not think chaperon necessary;
neither did Tom; they went alone.
They were far better acquainted than
in the days when they were engaged.
Miss Murray admired the honest cour-
age, the persevering independence,
his fortune. and Tom loved her as he
always had. and as he always would,
and had learned to show his affection in
many Of the thousand ways that delight
a woman'S heart.
They talked Of the scenery, Of her ac-
cident and then Of the coming parting.
Suddenly Tom exclaimed:
"Oh, Beth, my darling, give me a
word of hope before you go! You were
mistaken In the old days. l always
loved you, and now that we have met
again, l cannot let you go out Of my
life forever?'
..If you always loved me, why have
you been silent all these years?' in
CURED Elizabeth.
Because | was stunned that night
when left you, realizing that by my
own stupid laundering lost you. Then
l set myself to do penance. said. L
will wait five years; ii another wins her
shall know that she could never love
me; if not; perhaps will try again to
gain her love, perhaps l shall better
know her. You know the rest. The
crash came, / had to come West and
begin over. I am not as rich as was
then, but there is every prospect that l
shall be, and l know, Beth, that money
makes no difference. l can give you
everything you want, even the dress
maker, and indeed, indeed, darling, that
speech of mine was only the outcome
of bad temper, and''-hestatingly-
"perhaps understand woman's moods
little better now than then"
There was short silence, while Mr..
Barclay, having made his plea. waited
for the verdict. AT length Elizabeth
said softly
perhaps l loved you then. Tom. l
could never care for any one else. l al
ways compared other men with you. to
their disadvantage. If you care to come
after. some time, will be your wife"