The Opelousas courier., 1893-11-11

rose, walked across the room, pushe
aside the heavy curtain and locke
out. The prospect vas not pleasing
the sky was black and the driving elee
pelted against the plate glass. H
came back to where Miss Murray sa
looking into the fire and spparentl
lost 5j II t5SSght. | tnopkt YOU love.
me.
Did you? ] thought SO, toe
though | have been told often enough
that | didn't
''Who told you so?'
Mamma, for one. Aunt Glare, 70
another. You see, marrie'
papa FOR love when he wasa poor man.
and Aunt Clare's husband died before
the honeymoon was over, She mourns
him yet. They always said | didn't
know the first principles of love; per
haps they were right"
Mr.. Barclay wasnever so thoroughly
astonished in his twenty eightyear ol
life: he asked. rather stif1y;
will you kindly state why you ell,
gagged yourself to me?'
"Well, Tom, I always liked you.
We've known each other for years.
Our families are intimate. What more
natural than that you, the only son,
and ], the only daughter, should
marry? Besides" with a little break
in the clear voice, until tonight
thought you loved me-"
Tom pulled his chair close to Eliz.
abeth's and drew her head down to his
shoulder. He ought to have done that
earlier in the evening. Then he said
my dear, what possesses you? You
know I love you
For an instant the yellow head
rested where he had placed il. Then
Miss Murray drew herself away end
rose to her feet.
"No, Tom. It is too late to make
me believe that. We are not fitted to
make each other happy. I am quite
certain of it Let us break off our en-
gagement."
Sand all on account of that COZ.
founded speech Of mine about 9 dress
maker!' he exclaimed, savagely.
"Not certainly that. I feel that you
do not love me, and something tells
me that I ought not to be your wife"
Mr.. Barclay, man like, loved the
woman who was slipping away from
him at this moment better than ever
before, and he had loved her always,
in his way he had made a mistake in
net showing his affection more plainly.
Beth" he said, "forgive me. I
didn't mean it. I was a brute. As my
wife you will be free as air you must
know that. Think q moment; it is
not an objectionable offence. is it?"
II tell you it is not because of what
you said," she reiterated. 'It is be-
cause I know you do not love me, and
that [ am not at all sure that 7 love
you"
Mr. Barclays temper began to rise
again. He remarked:
''This is a nice statement for a man
to hear three weeks before his mar
riage."
"Mueh nicer than it would be three
weeks after" she retorted. "The in
vitations are not out no one outside
Of our families knows that the day was
set. I will take my fnery," she added
with a smile, "and go to Italy. Take
your ring, Tom, and say goodby,"
drawing off the diamond.
Mechanically Tom dropped the cir
clet into his pocket. Suddenly he took
a step toward her, caught her in his
arms, kissed her once, twice, three
times, with all the passion of q man
who loves, then, releasing her, turned
and left the room, while Miss Murray, |
white and trembling, sank into her |
chair, hid her face and cried bitterly.
Much to Elizabeth's surprise Mr..
Barclay made no attempt to see or
speak to her again. She explained
where it was necessary:
"Mr. Barclay and l have changed
our minds"
A month later she and Aunt Glare
outward bound with Italy for
their goal. The balance of the winter
and the following spring and summer
were spent roaming from place to
place. Then one of those financial
cyclones called a panic swept over the
States, and Miss Murray and
her aunt were called home,
Thomas Barclay, though a young
was q 1aroe dealer in ooffoo 4o,e
md spices. His was one Of q dozen
firms that failed that autumn, Dis
honest and unfortunate creditors had
cost him 500, 600. But that cut no
igure in settling up his own affairs.
he cleared his stables, sold every inch
If real estate, and when his own cred
tors we're paid dollar for dollar, Mr..
had a clear conscience, q
r~tainless record and $4,000 in cash.
He went West, and Miss Murray
leard no more of him. Her father,
n importer of silks and foreign fab
les, curtailed expenses, and, aided by
generous loan from Aunt Glare,
Teathered the storm.
One summer, two.yeaas later, Eliza.
eth and her mother joined a party
Tho were going to make o tour of the
orthwest, penetrating even the wilds
t Alaska before their return.
1t was in Portland hat Miss Murray
let with an accident, and a treacher-
us banana peeling was to blame for
!. She had gone out alone to make
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