The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-04

| IDENTIFY. for nobody replied to It; ana
while be wafted, a low. murmuring |
voice reached him from reom within,
lust hidden from him by tiny box OF
a hail.
Il did my best. mother gillish tones
answered. wearily; "and | thought II
very nice. ! oftea wonder how people
can say such harsh and cruel words to
me. when I try SO hard to please them. |
Nother-ny poor mother-it is very
hard to be poor; to be woman, and
pear-there's nothing harder IN tnis
whole wide world."
The sweet voice had taken more than
weadness on its music. It became pas
sionate and bitter, and ended in burst
of sobs.
The young man was profoundly
touched, but he lifted his hand once
more and knocked more loudly
This time he was heard, and a light
but languid step crossed toward the
door. In moment Louise Vennevale,
with undried tears OF her long lashes,
was looking at him with wondering
eyes, brown as hagelnuts He held out
his shapeiy hand.
"You are one Of my people are you
not?" he questioned, with smile i
have not called before, but you Will
pardon that, and bid me enter now
will you not?'
Certainly"
And she led him into the tiny room,
where Mrs Vennevale lay on sofa,
frail and helpless.
Mamma she said, quietly, "this is
Mr.. Grant. He has come to see you"
And, greatly to the young mans dis
appointment, after placing chair for
him beside the sofa. she glided out.
He remained almost an hour con-
versing with the invalid. He heard the
pitiful story-too sadly frequent for
men to mind It much to-day, in their
> busy, selfish lives; the struggles to
Z purchase little home for wife and
) child by the stalwart young farmer
: who had only his strong hafds and
) honest heart to rely on; then the long
> lingering illness of the woman, during
: which the first mortgage had fallen on
S the farm; then the sudden death, BY
], sunstroke Of the man, and the helpless
n widows Efforts to educate her only
" child, before allowing the girl to take
it UP the weary burden that now hat
n been borne for four years with gentles
> and tenderest patience.
: 1T breaks nay heart to see her worl
r at her sewing from morning till night
and often half the night" Mrs. Venne
d vale said, in conclusion, her eyes din
a with tears. "And sometimes she ha
e to take such insolence. too, That !
: very hard to bear. To-day Miss Gus
sic Elliston came for a dress she hai
IS left for Louise to make, and she foun'
IS so much fault. and said such cruell,
le unkind things that my heart achet
e, for my daughter Did you notice tina
+ Louise had been weeping when yol
'r came in2"
y q noticed that she looked very pail
S and weary" he answered, wondering
" he had mistaken the character OF Mis-
le Gussie so completely when he though
j. she would be so sweet minister
le wife, SO truly a helpmeet to one VIII
ne had chosen that most arduous of al
e, positions-to be the spiritual advise
~ of village full Of people.
1t was with a pang at his heart tha
a he began to think the blue eyes an
Is, fair face of the girl who had smiled s
ut shyly at his coming might but be
N, mask for a cold and selfish heart.
u There is a picnic in the birch grow
g on Monday" Mrs. Vennevale went OF
MS "and it was for that Miss Gussie want
ne ed this particular dress. My poor chill
gs cannot go, or, rather, she will not, fo
ad she. never leaves me, urge her as ma.
r. She was just saying how hard it
ed to be a woman and poor when 20
IS came, Mr. Grant
at Yes. he had heard her say the word
mt but did not say so. Instead. he stoo
up and took the weak hand OF tn
II woman.
~ II do not think will join the merry
~ makers on Monday, either" he sal
~ pleasantly my dear madam, you an
i. - | have been strangers too long. L.
II me come here on Monday and becon
~ better acquainted with you.
y So, when Gussie Elliston, arrayed
nu ~, the pretty, dainty muslin, which wi
~ really very well made and well fittin
and set off her blue eyes and fair con
-se plexion to advantageous watchir
ne for one face vainly in the grove
.as birch, that masculine face was turnt
"a toward a window in the little cottas
'u' of the Vennevales, as which a girl s.
, ,Ie sewing, with her bent brown head az
eyes alight.
Gussie met him next after the NOR
lee ing service on the following Sunda
~ when they encountered each other
~ ~ the door of the church
~ ~ She chided him playfully for his a
sH sence from the picnic, but he on
- slailed, and, after few pleasant word
IN an passed on and joined Miss Louise We
'ne nevale, with whom he walked throul
70, 20 the whole village, ieaving her at t
sa3 cottage gate
So 1t was only three months later tn
W W a pretty gothic dwelling shot up ra
=" :, Idly beside the. church, not at all min