Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-02-28

a
would no doubt appear IN due
tine. Tidy. our maid OF all
work. declared il was the dirtiest
house she ''ever set foot in. but Fanny
said that was what everybody thought
who was not used 70 mcvirg INTO
old hoases. It was Fanny's nature 70
make the best Of things. snd At the end
of month she and Tidy had contrived
70 make our cottage snug and home
like
And was not at an unhappy. In
deed, my own indifference caused me
the graTest fonebOding at frs. seemed
20 be paralyzed. Perhaps NV neighbcrs
had recognized my mental disorder.
saa attributed our change CT residence
to It. As tine vert On, however. l re-
turned 70 nv old self The humdrum
life was forced to lead grew iniolera-
BILE The spell of longing for my cid
haunfs cane upon me.
just about this time received let
ter calling me % the city upon n mat
ter Of Business. Fanny made arrange
ments for me to go BY an early tram,
50 that | might return that same even
ing. for she was timid. and dreaded the
thought of nv absence for a single
night Upon my arrival. however, /
found that l could not do this l.
therefore, felegrzphed my wife TO that
effect and also that Miss Jones, whom
l had invited 10 visit Us. would 90 in
nv place. Fanny WAS fond of all
/ voung ladies', and Mss Jones in par
I ticuiar So l haftered myself that !
had made such a satisfactory arrange
ment that need be in no haste 10 re-
turn
Twas hardly able 70 conceal the boy
ish delight with which / entered my
club that evening. Ny friends were
glad 20 see me. in = way; but l felt
{. that they were less enthusiastic than
the circumstances demanded They
greeted me with: "Wei. Warren. y0u
begin to look better" and '.Giad to
see tina. farming agrees with YOU.
George iii felt Ike knocking every
man down that l met The salad Was
fat and the wines insipid- | thought
of Fznny's dainty table with sigh l
even stole = glance AZ my watch to see
If / could catch the train and get back
that night The thought of nv wife
made me uneas-- She would be lonely.
50 far from neighbors She had owned
70 me that even in our pleasant home
on Fourth street, with Tidy in the
nursery, she had sometimes been 50
nervous in the long nights when
I was away that the beating Of her own
heart sounded ike \ kIrscking at the
street door. Or when the little curly
dog prirkcd up his ears 10 listen she
dared not guess what lie might hear /
wondered that I had not thought of
this before There was a slow train
leaving at midnight which would reach
Peachville about two in the morning.
and / resolved to take IL / had not
= minute to spare. and As we crswled
along at = snaifs pace was puzzled At
nv ot<n impatience II get back Il
was long enough after two when | lcft
the train and began my homeward tramp
through the deep sand
Fanny in the meantime had received
my telegram and FASTENED to meet Miss
Jones at the station II was : lone
some drive for the little woman; so she
took Tidy and the bOys along. for the
new carryall was very ro0my- As she
returned with her guest her heart s1nk
heavily. 70 remember that there was no
one there 10 greet her. Still. she tried
TO keep up q show of cleerfulness. as
with = laughing -.Open. Sesame" and
three loud knocks she unlocked the
door and entered. Tidy FASTENED TO
prepare supper. while Fanny slowed
the bows in their cribs Then the two
women sat on the piazza. talking as
women viii as long as they dared
When no excase could serve to keep
Miss Jones up longer my wife r.leful-
" lighted her to our pretty guest
chamber. dreading beyond expression.
no doubt. the return 20 her own quar-
ters-
II hope YOU don't frel lonely. dear.
away up heres" she sail AZ last. taxing
up her candle
Mo. not lonely exactly" re-
turned the girl; "a little afraid per-
haps-n
s-Afrz;dsT cried Fanny. aud the cold
ehills crept along her spine
Yes, little. because you were all
away 50 long and the house was left
alone | only thought some tramp
-" Fanny interrupted her. isaying.
as calmly as she could:
Then come down and stav witty me.
shall be glad Of YOUR COMPANY"
How good my wife was I am an,aid
Miss Cones guessed by her eager n
TiiasiOn. She told me that Il Mss joins
had inishei the sentence about tie
tramp she should have tainted
So the two descended to my wife's
room. which was in tine Il" and
opened into the nursery, rs well as up-
on the piazza ! suppose they had un-
consciously frightened each other. for
they carefully Inspected all the fs~ien-
ings, which Tidy bad secured hours be-
fore. snd began 70 prepare for bed
They talked till they were tired. then
each tried to make the otrer believe she
was asleep. lying with wide-open ewes
and cars strained TO catch the hum of
an insects wing. What a comfort il
would have been if the call OF some
watching sentry could have assured
them hour bv hour thct all was WELT
At last sleep fell upon them. but how
long they slept they could never tell
Fanny was wakened by n faint sound,
As of some one trying the outside d01r.
A lamp had been left burning in such
position that the door could be distinct
IL seen As she hstned. il slowly
opened
!, .-Shut that door" she cried. with
the voice OF \ clarion Itsiowly closed.
Up sprang Mss Jones in mortal fear,
her face as white as her pillows. The
poor things looked al each other in 81
lence. Again the door began TO open.
snd once more Fanny commanded i 20
shut The order was obeycd; but suit
iag the acton TO the lurking falier in
nay wife S voice. no doubt, the move
ment was less prompt than before
With one bound Fanny sprang to i and
tarned the KEY, which was stiil inside
Then the women held long and anx-
ious consultation. neither trying this
tina IN conceal bo- faa-~ T'he-s was