The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-11-25
me after our marriage really believe
eh 1of "a ,f3

1t crossed Toms mind that 1t might
be as well for man to curb his temper
until after the wedding day. He rose,
walked across the room, pushed aside
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. F"
ibid you? thought so too, though
l have been told often enough that I
didn't"
"Who told you SOP"
Mamma, for one. Aunt Clare for
another. You see, mamma married
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 / 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 stiff1y:
"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 a little break in the clea r
voice. until tonight I 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. am quite certain
of it Let us break off our engage
ment"
And all on account of that con-
founded speech of mine about q dress
maker!" he exclaimed, savagely.
mot 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 a mistake in
not showing his affection more plainly.
Beth" he said. forgive me. 1
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 it is not because of what
you said," she reiterated. ut is be-
cause know you do not love me, and
that l am not at all sure that l love
you"
Mr.. Barclays temper began to rise
again. He remarked:
This is q nice statement for a man
to hear three weeks before his mar
rage"
much nicer than 1t would be three
weeks after" she retorted. 1.-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 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 a 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'ssurprise 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
ond the following spring and summer
were spent roaming from place to
place Then one of those financial
cyclones called panic swept over the
United States, and Miss Murray and
her aunt were called h ONE.
Thomas Barclay, though a 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 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, 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.