The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-07-25
EHzabeth's
Warning

the pane and now and then sharp
gusts of wind shook the naked limbs
Of the trees and sent flying the few
withered leaves that still chung to the
branches.
II seemed to Elizabeth. sitting at
the window, that the day was typical
| Of her own life, for the rain OF dis
content beat in upon her soul and the
gusty winds OF adversely shook her
faith In mankind and sent scurrying
through the void the dead leaves OF
her withered ideals.
Tomorrow she would go back home
home to the dingy little farmhouse
where she had toiied and shaved
through all her youre life; hack to
the drudgery of baking, sewing. and
the thousand and one tasks OF domes-
tic life, yet in her hand she held a
letter which offered her an avenue OF
escape and assured her a cessation OF
the drudgery that had borne In upon
her soul ever since she could remem-
Der.
Until recently she had been content,
for she knew no other lot. Then had
come an invitation from her sister to
visit at the latter's home through the
summer. Margaret. her elder sister,
had married for money through the
kindly Offices of a summer boarder
who had taken an interest In the
clever girl Her husband, Mr.. Tobin,
was compelled to remain In town this
summer that he might be under the
care OF a famous specialist and. de-
prived Of her accustomed visit back
home" Margaret had asked that
Elizabeth might come to her.
For four months Elizabeth had
moved through a dream life in the
extensively furnished home OF the To
bins.
There were always guests In the
evening, for Richard Tobin enter
tanned lavishly. though he was for
hidden the rich foods that he loved
TO set before those who enjoyed his
hospitality. Dicky Bedding had called
It eating Tobin's dinner for him"
And now she was to leave It all. to
II
until. In the spring. Guy Rawlings
should claim her as his wife. Mar
riage to Guy would mean only work In
a new home: perhaps even more work,
for his farm was small and q heavy
mortgage had been left upon It by his
father.
Cyrus Hartzell. too, had written her
an offer Of marriage. and the letter
lay In her lap as she looked out of the
window across the park. Hartzell was
an intimate friend Of Tobin's; a dry,
withered, money-making machine,
whose first wife had died-so II was
said-because OF the privations she
OF money making. when every penny
was put back into the business to be
turned over and over again, multiply.
ing itself until at last Hartzell was
at once a widower and millionaire.
And now he honored Elizabeth by
offering hen his hand and fortune. He
| wanted someone to preside over his
home as gracefully as Margaret played
the hostess for his friend II was a
business communication rather than
love letter, but Elizabeth preferred
It 80. She could not have endured
II had he spoken of love. As 1t was,
| she rose, at length, and crossed the
room to the tiny writing desk. There
was no real engagement with Guy
| and In few short words she ex
pressed her appreciation OF the honor
Hartzell had done her and accepted
his offer.
She still sat at her desk. the letter
sealed and stamped, lying before heI
when Margaret entered. Something In
the tenseness OF her attitude alarmed
the younger girl and she sprang tc
her sisters side.
What is 1t, Meg?" she cried. as
she threw her arms about her. "Wha
has happened"
Margaret bent and kissed the girl,
white lips. Richard Is dead, thanh
God" she said simply He was seizee
with an attack and died before W,
could get the doctor"
Elizabeth recoiled at the harshnes.
of the tones and softly murmurec
Thank God?" Margaret turned to he
passionately
; Yes, thank Cod she cried. "Bess
you don't know what | have gon,
through with. No one will ever know
what have suffered unless they, too
have sold their lives for comfort ant
wealth. For six years have been tiaC
to a man | did not love. VINO did no
love me. denied even one word o
love Now have my reward an
rich and widow, but-God help me-
! no longer have heart. II is deaC
within me- killed by my loveless life.
y Gently Elizabeth led the hyst RIGA
woman to sofa and while tne house
hold, upset by the occurrence, 1T riet
about to see that needful things wer,
done, Elizabeth sat with her sister
Valnly trying to comfort the stunne,
woman.
Al last with an effort Margare