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

They had known each other long befor
the engagement, too, but although
man seldom quite understands woman
Tom was even more dense In this respec
than most men and Elizabeth, NOR,
difficult than most women for any mar
10 comprehend, unconscious Of the fact.
wondered al Toms many failures in this
direction.
They were very good friends. how
ever, and thought they loved each other
had even said SO IN strict confidence
and, as ! said, were engaged to be mar.
ried In fact, Miss Murray was already
nj the mercy Of diessmakers md MILL
ners tor II vas Decembcr--late Deem
bcr-and the wedding was set for the
10th Of january.
One night the dressmakers and MILL.
ners having kindly waived their claims
for few hours, Mr. Barclay called to
see his prospective bride. He was not
in the best possible humor; an ugly east
wind drove the sleet into his face as he
walked the few blocks from the cable
cars To Miss Murray's home, for Tom
thought too much Of his hcrses to take
them out on such a night; a man had
failed him IN au important business APP
pointment, and ii is quite possible that
he was trile bilious at all events, he
was about as cross as he ever allowed
himself to become -
Now 1t happened that Elizabeth was
nearly worn out with the turmoil incident
10 the preparations for fashionable
wedding, She was nervous and irritable:
| probably the east wind affected her also
| Sic needed some one TO smooth her hair:
talk tender, comforting words in short,
pet her until she was rested for the
woman never yet lived who did not
like occasional petting.
Now Thomas Barclay was not demon
strative man, aud petting was somewhat
out OF his line, How was he to know,
especially in his unamiabe mood, that
the young girl soon to become his wife
wasin no condition TO meet Impotence
patiently2
"Thank fortune, he said ungracious
~, kissing her as q matter OF course.
and dropping into a chair "this dress
making row will soon be over I've |
scarcely seen you for month won't /
have a dressmaker on the place after we
are married.
Mr. Barclay did not mean anything by
this speech 1t was simply an ebullition
OF temper, and Elizabeth should have
met II as suth. II suited her mood, how
ever. TO retort with.
"Indeed | mean to have dress.
maker in the house all the time.
II wouldn't II were YOU disagree.
ably, especially against my wishes
"And If / shouldgN she returned de-
family.
well" then common sense asserted
itself, and he laughed. ''Do you know.
Beth, we are Just ready TO quarrel about
nothing' My wife win probably do as
she pleases.
Miss Murray did not smile She was
morbidly sensitive, and an ugly thought
had lodged in her brain. She said
quietly
Tom, I don't like that remark of
yours at all, | wonder If il is possible
that after our marriage you would at.
tempt to cocrce me in the leastF'
Tom was obstinate. 1t would have
been better not to have asked the cues.
ton. lie said
"A woman promises to obey when she
marries
Not always the word is frequently
left on; of the marriage service. Itwould
be better left out of ours
"Do you mean that you will not ,
ohey3' asked he looking at her Gu
riousiy
"Just that
"a man is the head Of the family, it !
is wilcs duty to obey"
80 | have heard I never thought $
Of marriage Ia this light before-a bon.
dage IL seems to me that woman's
freedom is something not to be given up
lightly, have never been dictated to
by any one since left school, and do not Z
believe ] should take it kindly. Tom. c
don't believe l want TO marry you or h
why, y with a sudden flash Of [
passion, III YOU laid a command npon
me after our marriage, really believe / a
should hate youln v
II crossed Toms mind that il mightbe c
IS we'll for a man to curb his temper till
lites the wedding day. He rose. walked
Across the room, pushed aside the heavy "
,uriain, and looked out. The prospect i
was not pleasing, the sky was black, and a
The driving sleet pcl;ed against the plate c.
glass. He came back to where Miss W
Murray sat looking into the fire and ap. "
1arently lost in thought +
" Elizabeth, thought you loved me 80 il
" Did youl though, so too. though W
have been told often enough that $,
lidn't." Il
"Mho told yon sof' o.
Mamma for one, Aunt Clare for an Ii
'ther You see, mamma married papa hi
Tor love when he was a poor man. and Il
Iunt Clarc's husband died before the in
honeymoon was over. She mourns him nj
e. They always said that / didn't
now the first principles Of love; per &c
aps they were right" y,
Mr Barclay was never so thoroughly "
stonished IN his twenty-cight years Of A
fe: he asked, rather stifiy-- Il
will you kindly state why You en-. 10
eyed yourself 90 mel iu
+" Well. Tom, ! always liked you. h.
Te'vc known each other FOR years. Oar D..
.milies ase intimate. What mere nat ar
raj than that you. tic only son. and ].
he onir daughter. should marvl Be Vi,
des, With little break ID the clear "a