The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-10-12


| the heavy curtain and looked out. The
prospect was not pleasing, the sky was
black and the driving sleet pelted
against the plate glass. He came back
to where Miss Murray sat looking into
the fire and apparently lost in thought.
elizabeth, ! thought you loved me-"
did you? | thought SO too, though
] have been told often enough that l
didn't
"Who told yon sop
Mamma, for one. Aunt Clare for
papa for love when he was poor man,
and Aunt Clare's husband died before
the honeymoon was over. She mourns
him yet. They always said l didn't
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:
"Will you kindly state why you en-
gagged yourself to me?"
well, Tom, / 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? Be-
sides" with little break in the clear
voice, until tonight l thought you
loved me-"
Tom pulled his chair close to Eliza
beth'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 | love you"
For an instant the yellow head rested
where he had placed it. Then Miss
Murray drew herself away and rose to
her feet.
mo, Tom. 1t is too late to make me
believe that We are not fitted to make
each other happy. l am quite certain
of it. Let us break off our engage
ment."
And all on account of that con-
| founded speech of mine about a dress
maker" he exclaimed, savagely.
Not certainly that. | feel that you
do not love me, and something tells me
that 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; but he had made mistake in
not showing his affection more plainly.
Beth" he said, forgive me. l
didn't mean it. | was brute. AS my
wife you will be free as air; you must
know that. Think moment; it is not
an objectionable offense, is it?'
II tell you 1T is not because of what
you said" she reiterated. at is be-
cause | know you do not love me, and
that am not at all sure that love
you"
Mr.. Barclays temper began to rise
again. He remarked:
"This is a nice statement for man
to hear three weeks before his mar
riage."
Much nicer than it would be three
weeks after" she retorted. "The invi-
tations are not out; no one outside of
our families knows that the day was
set l will take my fnery," she added,
with smile, land go to Italy. Take
your ring, Tom, and say good-by,"
drawing off the diamond.
Mechanically Tom dropped the circlet
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 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.. Bar
clay made no attempt to see or speak
to her again. She explained where it
was necessary:
"Mr Barclay and have changed our
minds
A month later she and Aunt Clare
We're 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 Il panic swept over the
United States, and Miss Murray and
her aunt were called h ONE.
Thomas Barclay, though a young
man, was Il large dealer in coffee. teas
and spices His was one of the dozen
firms that failed that autumn. Dis
honest and unfortunate creditors had
cost him one hundred thousand dollars.
But that cut no figure in settling up his
own affairs. He cleared his stables,
sold every inch of real estate, and,
when his own creditors were paid dol
lar for dollar, Mr.. Barclay had clear
conscience, Il stainless record and five
Thousand dollars in cash.
He went west, and Miss Murray
heard no more of him. Her father, an
importer of silks and foreign fabrics,
curtailed expenses and, aided by u gem
erous loan from Aunt Clare, weathered
the storm.
One summer, two years later, Eliza
beth and her mother joined party
who were going to make a tour of the
northwest, penetrating even the wilds
of Alaska before their return.
1t was In Portland that Miss Murray
met with an accident, and treacherous
banana peeling was to blame for it.
She had gone out alone to make sonss
small purchase, and, stepping on the de,
ceitful peel, would have fallen head.
long had not gentleman just behind
her caupht her i'm his arms AlmoS,