Middletown transcript., 1891-03-26

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 quiet
~; and then the carriage stopped, the
driver was at the door, and Elizabeth
was carried up into 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 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 trying to win her
love, but Mrs. Murray was we'll aware
OF the fact, and well satisfied too.
Tom was established in the old busi-
ness in Portland, and again on the
road to wealth. She had always lik-
ed him and shrewdly suspected that
his presence on this planet had some
thing to do with her daughters
strange indifference to certain bril-
liant matrimonial chances.
AS for Elizabeth she was utterly
content during the period of invalid.
ism 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 evening? 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 week. Her friends were due in
two days on their return trip, and she
and her mother were to join them and
start Immediately for home.
Mr.. Barclay asked the convalescent
to take ride with him. He was 81,
Elizabeth 25. 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 en-
gagged. Miss Murray admired the
honest courage, the perservering in
dependence with which his friend was
rebuilding his fortune, and Tom low
ed 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 woman's
heart.
They talked of the scenery, Of her
accident, and then of the coming
parting. Suddenly Tom exclaimed !:
"Oh, Beth give me word of hope
before you go! You were mistaken
in the old days. always loved you,
and now that we have met again I
cannot let you 60 out Of my life for
ever p
eff you have always loved me why
have you been silent all these years p
inquired Elizabeth.
Because I was stunned that night
when l left you, realizing that by my
own stupid blundering l lost you.
Then set myself to be penance. /
said, I will wait FIVE years ; if anoth-
er wins her I shall know that she
could never love me If not, perhaps
| will try again to gain her love; per-
haps | shall better know her, You
know the rest. The crash came. |
had to come west and begin over. /
am not as rich as l was then, but
there is every prospect that shall be,
and I know Beth, that money makes
no difference. l can give you every
thing you want, even the dressmaker,
and indeed, indeed, darling, that
speech of mine was only the outcome
Of bad temper, and "-hesitatingly-
perhaps l understand a woman's
moods little better now than then"
There was short silence, while Mr..
Barclay, having made his plea, wait
ed for the verdict. At length Eliza
beth said softly:
Perhaps l loved you then, Tom.
could never care for any one else.
| always compared other men with
you, to their disadvantage. If you
care to come. after some time, | will
be your wife"
Out of an inner pocket Tom took a
tiny morocco case, and opening it,
Miss Murray saw the solitaire that
had been her engagement ring
II have always carried it with ne, :
he paid, simply, because you had
worn it."
Somehow the tears sprang into
Elizabeth's eyes when he slipped it on
her finger.
Mrs. Murray was not at all sur
prised when her daughter announced
with several bushes that she was
going to marry Thomas Barclay.
"I always thought you would" +"
that lady replied calmly.
The next winter Tom went east
after his bride. They are happier
than they would have been without
that quarrel, a blending of comedy
and high tradegy, but it does not. fol-
low that any one should go and do
likewise. st. Paul Globe.
Nothing Like 1t!