The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-10-06
know the first principles o. love; psz
maps they were rir;,;."


Mr.. Barclay was never so thoroughly
astonishsd IN his twenty-eiSht yeSrs OF
LIE He asked rather stifsy:
"Wiil you kindly state why yoa en-
gagged yourself TO me?'
Well, Toua. ] always liked you.
We've known each other to- 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 elesr
voice, ''uatl tonight I thought you
loved ne"
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 il. Then Miss
Murray drew herself away and rose 20
her feet
mo. Tom. 1t is too late to make me
believe that. We are not fitted to make
each other happy. am quite certain
of it Let US break OF our engage
ment"
And all on account of that con-
founded speech of mine about dress
maker" he exclaimed, savagely
mot certainly that. l 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-
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?"
Il tell you it 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 i love
you"
Mr.. Barclays temper began to rise
again. He remarked:
This is nice statement for a 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. ] will take my finery," she added.
with smile, land go to Italy. Take
your ring, Tom, and say good-by."
drawing of the diamond
Mechanically Tom dropped the circlet
into his pocket Suddenly he took n
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 ire milling, 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
were 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 4 panic swept over the
United States, and Miss Murray and
her aunt were called home.
Thomas Barclay. though young
man, was 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 mp his
own affairs. He cleared his sta bles,
when his own creditors were paid dol
lar for dollar, Mr. Barclay had a clear
conscience, a 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 gen.
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 treachcrous
banana peeling was to blame for it.
She had gone ont alone 20 make some
small purchase, and, stepping on the de-
ceitful peel. would have fallen head
long had not gentleman just behind
her caught her in his arms Almost
fainting with the pain Of a badly
sprained ankle Miss Murray looked into
Mr.. Barclays gray eyes
''Tom-Mr. Barclay" she starnmered.
fighting the faintness that nearly over
came her, and then rallying enough 10
understand that Tom was asking snx-
iously: Are you hurt7" My ankle Is I
sprained." she said. with white lip&
A crowd was gathering. A gentle
man offered his assistance. and Eliza
beth was taken 20 the nearest store.
accompanied her home.
In spite ofthe pain Miss Murray could .
not help looking al the man who was
to have been her husband That indi- i
vidual met her eyes and said:
"Well?'
Miss Murray blushsd painfully, con-
scious that she had been staring
1T Is 50 long since have seen vou.
and we used TO be such good fries6s."
She replied, gently.
''Whose fault IS it ths, yon have no.
seen me for 30 long," hs demanded. ard.