The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-08-30
Elizabeth's Romance
Bv REBECCA HARDING DAVIS
copyright. by joseph B. Bowlesl

Elizabeth was engaged to be mar
ried next month. John Melvin did not
like sitting under bushes, or In the
moonlight-he had enough OF out'of'
doors on the farm, he said. Lizzy was
pairing peaches by the kitchen table
with her mother the morning the mat
ter was definitely settled.
Mrs. Woods had hoped for this for
long time. John Melvin was as steady
as a rock, and his farm was his own
| and unincumbered. There was great
weight lifted from her heart ABOUT
Lizzys future.
AS for John, he, too, had been anx-
ious about the matter for years. ELIZA
beth was very dear to him; yet ne
would never have married her II she
| had been a shrew, or Wasteful. But
she mad no faults that he could dis
cover. He had suddenly come INTO
full daylight this morning.
People in the country, however, usu-
ally smother emotion under the com
monplaces nearest at hand.
"Will you come out and show me
your wallfoWers?'
It. was the stranger from New
York, whom Mrs Merrill had brought
over for tea, who spoke. Elizabeth
was so used to strangers that she had
not noticed him before. She went be-
fore him now, glad to get away from
them all, down through the dusky gar
den-paths to the wallfiowers.
A queer-looking little man, Lizzy
thought, turning toSlook at him sharp
ly; with a biliohs-yellow complexion,
dead black eyes, and lank hair put be-
hind his ears, dtessed in a coarse
brown suit of Gity cut, the gaping
pockets stuffed with letters and
cigars.
The stranger was very friendly. He
told her The was newspaper man.
Lizzy was dumb Nobody who had
not livedA in a country village, and
known the awe-approaching dread ex-
cited by man who has written for
the press" can comprehend her emo
ton. They sat there until dark
came. I'VE must go in, or we
will have your knight down to reck-
on with me. You ought not to put
the yoke about your neck by-the-bye,
until you had seen more of the world,
Miss Lizzy If you were a boy, how
should like you for compagnon out
yonder exploring the vest"
Lizzy did not answer. If John came
down, he undoubtedly had the right to
break up this delicious dream which
the last hour had brought. Why did
she give him the right? The yoke
CALLED her. If there had been any ap-
proach to Irritation in Hanlon's man
ner, her purity would have taken the
alarm. But this intellectual sympathy
this wish that she were a boy and
his compagnon; there was a greeting
here of soul to soul, which she had
never received from John Melvin, and
in which was no disloyalty to him.
Must you go now" she said
Eyes. have an engagement with,
with These stupid duties are the
chain wherewith we're darkly bound,
after all, think" He held her hand,
pressed it slightly, and hurried away.
The truth was, it was Mrs. Merrill's
supper hour, and he had keen re-
membrance of her fried chicken and
waffles.
AS for Lizzy, she sat still, to think.
She had learned from her favorite his
tories that in every heroic life comes
| the crisis, the imminent moment when
She thought 1t had come now; John
| Melvin. she acknowledged, was one of
the noblest of men, generous, honor
able to fault, and loved her dearly.
OF Hanlon she knew nothing. He was
the acquaintance of day. He might
be weak, cruel, gambler, or a roue;
but he pleased her passion or her
within. To be sure, Hanlon did not
| love her, there was no chance that he
| ever would.
| Night gathered around Lizzy as she
sat alone. Her blood grew chilled her
head panied her. The cutlery and per-
| secution would be terrible IL she broke
her betrothal; she was not a strong
girl and she began to cry. But /
cannot marry him with the feelings
that l have!" she sobbed. II will 60 to
John and tell him all" she cried. get
ting up. ,'
I Perhaps If she had had time to reach
the house, the story might never have
been told. But hand was laid on
her shoulder as she spoke.
whats the all you have to tell me,
Elizabeth"
ooh, john" (There was no need to
tell all; half would do) II meant to
say to you," pale and desperate, that
1t must all stop. l cannot be your
wife. John
why not, Lizzy?" He laughed-a
wild, discordant laugh, she thought.
1--WE are not alike. There is not that
kindred instinct, that sympathy be-
tween those born under one star"
trying to talk the dialect of all young
women in her situation.