The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-29

farm wagon turned the corner Of the
road which led to his lonely and III
kept home.
There's the light a-burnin' already
in Mis- Elviry Richards window" he
commented. 1T does git dark awful
early nights now. Seems like her'n's
the cleanest KEEP an the cheerfuIest
lamp in the hull township
And indeed it did seem to illumin-
ate with its friendly radiance the lit
tie one-story house by the roadside. It
looked like a beacon-a star It made
Farmer Brown think in admiring but
unformulated fashion Of a steadfast
loge-pure. unwavering. brilliant. It
attracted him. It drew him-the worn
and harassed body and soul Of him.
Unconsciously he tightened the reins.
But It was not until the plodding
horses stood still in response that he
wondered whether he might venture
in-and what excuse he could give for
his visit.
Suddenly he lifted his head and
sniffed-once, twice. Then he hurried
ly twisted the reins around the whip
stock. .clambered down from the high
seat. Swiftly. soundlessly, excuse had
come to HMM the guise OF an odor
at that
Chill saucel II she amt a-makin
Chilli saucei" He was hurrying up the
short path to the front door, at which
he knocked. "I1l tell her l want the
receipt for Susie Reilly to make some
by. That's the ticket O-howdy,
Mis- Richardsl was goin' home from
mill an the incest smell come a-float-
IN down the road! Seemed IS II 1 was
back in mothers again. an she was
putin up Chilli sauce" He sighed,
and moistened his lips at the recollec-
ton. 80 I thought I'd come in an
find how you make It. Our ripe to-
matoes lint all gone yet Maybe Susie
Reilly could make a quart or sol"
Forty placid and heninant summers
had passed over the brown head Of
Elvira Richards, but where was the
girl along Turkey creek who carried
herself with more grace and dignity.
and what matron could boast such
fresh complexion and bright eyes as
she?
ITO be surel" she cried, heartily.
you come right in. Mr.. Brown" She
drew forward the best rocking-chair
with the Battenberg tides on the en-
treating red plush arms.
'Tisn't much ! need make, living
alone as I do. but a good storeroom
is fine thing to fall back on. You'd
need a lot in your house I'm thinking
III give you the receipt with pleasure
-and a Jar to take home for Susie
to taste by. How does she get on, Mr..
Brown"
Barstow Brown looked around the
bright little room, at the shining glass
lamp With the red flannel wick, which
stood behind the row Of freshly-potted
geranium slips in the recessed window.
then back at the plump. white-aproned
figure opposite
Not too well, Mis- Richards. She's
kind Of shiftless. II comes natural to
some folks to be shiftless. Seems like
the work allus keeps a BIT ahead Of
her. Seems like she can no more catch
up with It than-than she could with
a cotton-tail But she means we'll.
Most shiftless folks allus means we'll.
got TO be moyin" He rose reluc-
tantly The young ones-they1l be
a-missin' me-"
Lands sake. now. an you couldn't
wait till / make you a cup OF coffee?
No? That's too bad Wait till I get
you the Chill sauce anyhow. What's
that? Could you come ont TO the
kitchen while I'm gettin' it? why, OF
course. Mr. Browni"
Twittering. and stepping briskly,
Miss Elvira tripped ahead. and Bar
stow Brown plodded after He was
aghast at his own temerity. but the
appetizlng smell Of the Chill sauce
drew him TO the kitchen. as the white
brillianee. OF the lamp had drawn him
to the parlor.
"My." he breathed, and stopped
short "This-beats--" He was
looking around the gayest. contest.
most immaculate little kitchen he had
ever beheld. From the black mirror
Of a stove, with its golden grin through
the opened draft. to the shining plates
on the dresser, the row OF crimson
filed glass Jars on the table. the dish
pan that gllttered like silver, and the
cat asleep on the braided mat, all
things bespoke industry. energy. com
fort
Something in his attitude Of tim
idity. in his look OF wonder that was
almost one OF awe. IN his neglected
peronal appearance. went straight to
the woman's warm heart OF Miss FL
vira Richards He had been such a
spruce. g0od-looking fellow fifteen
years ago. Her glance. that was keen
II kindly. noted al things-the shirt
with the band al but gone. the coat
with holes az the elbows. more than
an the hoilows az bis temples and n
his cheeks. Those-and the weak tears
that came into BIS eyesl She busled
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