Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-05-07
AFTER ALL.

the engagement. too, but although a
man seldom quite understands woman,
Tom was even more dense in this respect
than most men; and Elizabeth, more
difficult than most women for any man
10 comprehend, unconscious of the fact,
wondered at 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 bc mar
ried. In fact, Miss Murray was already
at the mercy OF dresmaKers aud MILL
ners, tor it was December-latc Decem-
ber--and the wedding was set for the
10th OF January.
One night, the drcssmakcrs and milli-
ners having kindly waived their claims
for a few hours, Mr.. Barclay called to
see his prospective bride. He was not
in the best possible humor; an ugly east
wind drove the seet 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 night; IL man had
failed him in an important business ap-
pointment, and it is quite possible that
he was a trihe bilious; at all events, he
was about as cross as he ever allowed
himself 10 become.
Now it happened that Elizabeth was
nearly worn out with the turmoil incident
to the preparations for a fashionable
wedding. She was nervous and irritable
probably the east wind affected her also.
She needed some one to smooth her hair
talk tender, comforting words-in short,
pet her until she was rested; for the
w"m"a--ne Fof - lisAd who did nat
like occasional petting.
Now Thomas Barclay was not a demon
strative man, and petting was somewhat
out of his line. How was he to know,
especially in his unamiable mood, thai
the young girl soon to become his wife
was in no condition to meet impatience
patiently2
"Thank fortune" he said ungracious
ly, kissing her as a 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 drcssmaker on the place after we
are married.
Mr.. Barclay did not mean anything by
this speech; it was simply an ebullition
of temper, and Elizabeth should have
met it as such. 1t suited her mood, how
ever, TO retort with:
Indeed l mean to have dress
maker in the house all the time
81 wouldn't if were you," disagree
ably, especially against my wishes
"And IL l shouldw she returned dc
family.
"Well-" then common sense asserted
itself, and he laughed. ''Do you know,
Beth, we are just ready to quarrel about
nothing1 My wife will 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 il it is possible
that after our marriage you would at
tempt to coeice me in the least2"
Tom was obstinate 1t would have
been better not to have asked the ques-
ton. He said:
"a woman promises to obey when she
marries."
"Not always; the word is frequently
be better left out of ours"
"Do you mean that you will not
obey" asked he, looking at her GU
riousIy.
'Just that"
"a man is the head of the family; il
is a wife's duty to obey"
$50 have heard. / never thought
of marriage in this light before-a bon.
dage. 1t 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
believe should take it kindly. Tom,
don't believe / want to marry you OF
anybody; why" with sudden flash OF
passion, ''if YOU laid command npon
me after our marriage, really believe
should hate you'll"
1t crossed Toms mind that it might be
! as well for a man to curb his temper till
after tho wedding day. He rose, walked
across the room, pushed aside the heavy
curtain, and looked out. The prospect
was not pleasing; the sky was black, and
the driving sleet peltsd against the plate
| glass. He came back to where Miss
Murray sat looking into the fire and APP
parently lost in thought.
Elizabeth, ! thought you loved me. >
"Did you? thought so too, though
have been told often enough that
| didn't"
"Who told you soG"
Mamma for one, Aunt Clare for an.
other. You see, mamma married papa
| for love when he was "A poor man, and
| Aunt Clare's husband died before the
| honeymoon was over. She mourns him
yet. They always said that l didn'i
know the first principles of love; per.
haps they were right"
Mr.. Barclay was never so thoroughly
astonished in his twenty eight years OF
life; he asked, rather stiffiy--
Twill you kindly state why you en-
gagged yourself to met"
swell, Tom, always liked you
We've known each other for years. Oul
families are intimate. What more nat
ural than that you, the only son, and l.
the only daughter, should marry9 Be
sides, with little break in tho cleal
voice, "uutil to night l thought yol
loved me-
Tom pulled his chair close to Eliza
beths and drew her head down to hi
shoulder. He ought to have done tina
earlier in the evening Then he said
my dear, what possesses your Yo'
know love you"
For an instant the yellow head restee
where he had placed it; then Miss Muir
ray drew herself away and rose to he
feet.
"No, Tom, Il is too late to make mi
believe that. We arc not fitted to MAKE
1 f.t