The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-05-17
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Tom, I don't believe want to marry
you, or anybody; why, with sudden
flash of passion, eff you laid COM
mand upon me after our marriage I
really believe I should hate you
1t crossed Toms mind that it might
be as we'll for man to curb his tenn
per 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, I thought you loved
me-"
''Did you? I thought so, too,
though I 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 I 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 stif1y:
evil you kindly state why you en-
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 I, the only daughter, should
marry? Besides with little break
in the clear voice, ''until tonight I
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 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. I am quite
certain of it. Let us break off our en-
gagement."
''And all on account of that con-
founded speech of mine about dress
maker!" he exclaimed, savagely.
''Not certainly that. 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 mistake in
not showing his affection more plainly.
''Beth," he said, ''forgive me. I
didn't mean it. [ was brute. AS nv
wife you will be free as air; you must
know that. Think a moment; it is
not an objectionable offence, is it?"
81 tell you it is not because of what
you said," she reiterated. cit 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:
''Thls 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. 'sThe in
v1tatlons are not out no one outside
OF our families knows that the day was
set. I will take my fnery," she added
with 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
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.
x
Much to Elizabeth's surprise Mr..
Barclay made no attempt to see OF
speak to her again. She explained
where 1t was necessary:
"Mr. Barclay and I have changed
our minds"
A month later she and Aunt Glare
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 panic swept over the
Urlted States, and Miss Murray and
her aunt were called home,
Thomas Barclay, though a young
man, was large dealer in coffee. teas
and spices His was one of a dozen
firms that failed that autumn. Dis
honest and unfortunate creditors had
cost him 100000. 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 cred
1tors were paid dollar for dollar. MIR.
Barclay had a clear conscience
stainless record and $4,000 in cash.
He went West, and Miss MURRAY
heard no more of him. Her father.
an importer of silks and foreign fab.
RIGS, curtailed expenses, and, aided bv
generous loan from Aunt Glare
weathered the storm.
One summer two voaos 1o+or E,1: