Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-04-02

COAScAcASts
in cash.
He went west, and Miss Murray heard
no more of him. Her father, an i'm
porter of silks and foreign fabrics, cur
tailed expenses and, aided by a gener-
Gus loan from Aunt Clare, weathered
the storm.
One summer two years later Eliza
beth and her mother Joined a party who
were going e make a tour of the north
west, penetrating even the wilds of
Alaska before their return.
Il was in Portland that Miss Murray
met with an accident, and a treacheg-
Gus banana peeling was to blame for II.
She had gone out alone TO make some
small purchases, and, stepping on the
deceitful peel, would have fallen head
long had not a gentleman Just behind
her caught her in his arms. Almost
fainting with the pain of a badly sprain-
ed ankle Miss Murray looked into Mr..
Barclays gray eyes.
'aTom-Mr. Barclay" she STAN
mered, fighting the taintness that near
" overcame her, and then rallying
enough TO understand that Tom was
askine anxiouEly, care You hurtr my
ankle Il sprained." she Eid, with white
uus
A crowd wa gathering. gentle
man offered his assistance, and Eliza
beth was taken to tile nearest stone,
while Tom called q carriage and then
accompanied her home.
In spite of the pain Miss Murray
could not help looking at the man who
was 10 have been her husband. That
individual met her eyes and said:
Well
Miss Murray blushed painfully, o
scious that She had been staring.
1T 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 50 longF' he demanded
and then. noting her fading color and
! pale lips. he said: What a brute / am
TO question YOU so when you are suffer
ing such pain. / was never gentle
/ enough to win your love, Beth"
did you ever Try, Tom
Il thought | did"
'Didn't you take everything for
granted-that you loved me and that l
cared for you. and that in the cOurse Of
human events il was natural and proper
that we should get marriedf'
Perhaps 80" he answered quietly
and then the carriage stopped, the
driver was at the door, and Elizabeth
was carried up 20 her room.
1t was an obstinate, ugly sprain- and
held its victim a prisoner for six long
weeks. The party yer on to Alaska
leaving Mrs. Murray and her daughter
at the hotel, and, quite a a matter of
course, Tom Barclay called often. lie
was wonderfully gentle toward the
woman who had refused 10 be his wife.
Elizabeth did not know that he was
trying to win her love, but Mr. Murray
was well aware of that fact, and well
satisfied, too. Tom was established in
the old business in Portland. and again
on the road to wealth. She had always
liked him. and shrewdly suspected that
his presence on this planet had some
thing to do with her daughters strange
indifference TO certain brilliant matr-
monial chances.
As for Elizabeth, she was utterly
content and happy during the period Of
invalidism that confined her to the
house. What cared she for the beau.
ties 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 quick
ening heart beats and bouncing pulses
whenever he approached.
Elizabeth had been able to walk fOi
a week. Her friends were due ina two
days on their return trip, and she and
her mother were 10 join them and star
Immediately for home.
Mr.. Barclay asked the convalesoeni
to take a ride with him. He was 81
Elizabeth 25. Mn. Murray did no.
think a chaperon necessary neither
did Tom; they went alone.
They were far better acquainted thai
in the days when they were engaged
Miss Murray admired the honest cOur
age, the persevering Independence viii
which her friend was rebuilding hi
fortune, and Tom loved her as he al
ways had, and as he always would. an,
had learned TO show his affection II
many Of the thousand ways that de
light a woman's heart.
/ They talked of the scenery, of her ae
cident, and then Of the coming parting
Suddenly Tom exclaimed:
ooh. Beth, my darling, give me
, word Of hope before you 20! You wer
mistaken in the old days. / Away
, loved you, and o that We have me
! again / cannot let you go out Of my lf
fOreverT'
IF you always loved me, why hav
you been silent all these years. In
quired Elizabeth
srRecausa | was stunned that nich