The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-10-14

we'll satisfied, too. Tom was we'll 90
eablished in the old business In Port
land. and again on the road to wealth.
She had always liked him, and shrewd.
ly suspected that his presence on this
planet had something to do with her
daughters strange indifference to Ger.
tain brilliant matrimonial 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 oi
Alaska, of which her friends wrote such
glowing descriptions? Did she not have
long talks with Tom every other even
ing? 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 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 thirty.
one, Elizabeth twenty-five. Mrs. MUIR.
ray did not think q chaperone 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 with
which her friend was rebuilding his
fortune, and Tom loved her as he al
ways had, and as he always would, and
had learned to show his affection in
many of the thousand ways that de-
light q woman's heart.
They talked Of the scenery, of her &C.
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. I always
loved you, and now that we have met
again cannot let you go out of my life
forever!"
'If you always loved me, why have
you been silent all these years?" in
quired 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. 1 said:
L will wait five years; if another wins
her shall know that she could never
love me; perhaps 1 shall better know
her. You know the rest The crash
came. l had to come west and begin
over. l am not as rich as was then,
but there is every prospect that I shall
be, and know, Beth, that money makes
no difference. 1 can give you every.
thing you want, even the dressmaker,
and indeed, darling, that speech of mine
was only the outcome of bad temper,
Observation-Disclosures under
stand woman's moods little better
now than then"
There was a short silence, while Mr..
Barclay, having made his plea, waited |
for the verdict. At length Elizabeth
said, softly:
Perhaps loved you then, Tom. I
could never care for anyone else.
always compared other men with YOU.
to their disadvantage. If you care to
come, after some time, I 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 me-"
he said, simply, because you had
worn it."
Somehow the tears sprang into Eliza
beth's eyes when he slipped it on her
finger.
Mrs. Murray was not at all surprised
when her daughter announced with
several bushes that she was going to
marry Thomas Barclay.
81 always thought you would" that
lady replied, calmly.
The next winter Tom went east after
MS bride. They are happier than they
would have been without that quarrel,
) blending of comedy and high tragedy,
but it does not follow that anyone
should 20 and do like wise.-St Paul
Globe