The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-11-25
Miss Murray blushed painfully, cor.

Miss Murray blushed painfully, con-
scious that she had been staring
sit is so long since have seen Won.
and we used to be such good friends"
she replied, gently.
"Whose fault is it that you have not
seen me for so long?" he demanded, and,
then, noting her fading color and pale
lips, he said; "What brute am to
question you 30 when you are suffering
such pain! was never gentle enough
to win your love, Beth"
ibid you ever try, Tom7"
II thought did"
Didn't you take everything tot
granted-that you loved me and that I
human events it was natural and proper
that we should get married?"
Perhaps So" he answered, quietly,
and then the carriage stopped, the
driver was at the door, and Elizabeth
was carried mp to her room.
1t was an obstinate, ugly sprain, and
held its victim prisoner for six long
weeks The party went to Alaska,
leaving Mrs. Murray and her daughter
at the hotel. and, quite as matter of
course. Tom Barclay called often. He
was wonderfully gentle toward the
woman who had refused to be his wife.
Elizabeth did not know that he was
trying to win her love, but Mrs. MUIR
ray was well aware of that fact, and
well satisfied, too. Tom was well es-
tablished 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 of
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
. "COhs 4CA AAlCA0o WCIC uuC III 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 a ride with him. He was thirty.
one, Elizabeth twenty-five. Mrs MUIR
ray did not think 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 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
word of hope before you go! You were
mistaken in the old days / always
loved you. and now that we have met
again I cannot let You go out of my life
foreverr'
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
set myself to do penance. 1 saids
I will wait five years; If another wins
her shall know that she could never
love me; perhaps shall better know
her. You know the rest. The crash
came. had to come west and begin
over. am not as rich rs was then,
but there is every prospect that shall
be, and know, Beth, that money makes
no difference. / 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 a little better
now than then"
There was short silence, while Mr.. .
Barclay, having made his plea, waited
for the verdict. At length Elizabeth
said, softly:
Perhaps / loved you then, Tom.
could never care for anyone else I
always compared other men with you,
to their disadvantage. If you care to
come, after some time, will be your
wife!"
Out of an inner pocket Tom took
tiny morocco case, and. opening it. Miss
Murray saw the solitaire that had been
her enpapement ring. q
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. II
81 always thought you would" that
lady replied, calmly.