The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-15
An Odd Courtship.

BY Helena Dixon.

the pig trough TIL d your spare room
win be more like something II 1t had
carpet and a sofa. and picture on
two. and a centre-table and. above
all. curtains for the windows.
you haln't got many dishes I don't
suppose; but III bring a host. I've
got two whole sets Of blue stoneware.
al except the slop bowls. besides the
best part Of a gilt china set You've
seen 'em. I guess The house wants
painting, too; never saw 50 brown a
house for a white one Thea wen
want an extension table. so when Bet
~ aud her children visit as they can
an sit down. Don't be offended. dear
Ebenezer: l shouldn't have said all
this. for the world. but you know you
asked me-"
Ebenezer didn't know whether he
ought to be offended or not He was
hattered and yet mortified
Polly put her hand ia her pocket
and brought out her handkerchief.
and with Il came her tatting shuttle
and thread. The sight 9f these brought
her mind back 70 the sober realities
Of life. II was stitch stitch. stitch.
with poor Polly from morning 20
night. with no one 20 love her or
care for her as she merited SO she
sat down with her back 10 the bushes.
and wien Ebenezer knew by the low
sobs' that reached him that she was
crying. he let 20 the bushes careful
~, so as not 70 disturb her, and
walked on home.
He lay awake tlll long after mid
night that night His thumb palned
him some. but his sleeplessness was
not caused wholly By that.
lie was thinking of the time. many
years back. when Polly Virgins. then
n rosy girl OF eighteen. was very dear
TO him. He remembered. too. how she
had gone 10 Dame Chadwick's -apple
cut one night with Jim Winters. aud
that she flirted with him all the even
Ing. He remembered. too. how angry
and jealous he was about Il. aud that
he treated her coldly and never sought
70 woo her after that He made a re-
solve at last. and then he closed his
eyes and went 20 sleep-to dream OF
tables Of an kinds. with sofas and
pictures. and blue dishes. and rolls Of
earpetlng. and poppy and marigold
seed by the bushel being piled prom
lscuously IN his front yard. and that
be was giving TO the house a coat Of
white paint.
Then be was stretching aud taeking
down n carpet In the garnet. and
He awoke with a groan. He must
have been hammerlng away at his
sore thumb for II was throbblng and
aching terribly Sleep was out OF the
question now. so Ebenezer got up and
lighted lamp. and walked the bare
floor tin daylight. wondering why he
had never felt so lonely before. and
thinking, as be had never thought be-
fore that a bachelors life was a
wretched one
A few Gays after her walk on the
beach. Polly sat knitting ln her sis
ter's best room. when that lady came
ia from the store. where sc had
gone for a roll Of butter
"Sakcs alive. Polly. you will never
believe ~ Ebenezer Stiekney Is turn
ing everything inside out aud upside
down at his house. They're painting
the house outside. and papering and
whitewashing inside. and he's got Jim
Black there clearing out the yard. /
didn't think much ahout ail that. for
land knows the place needed il: but
just as I left the store. what should
stop IN front Of the miliers gate but
two loads OF brand-uew furniture.
Then, said to myself. that means
something spoke to Sally Brown
about Il. and we both say there's a
wedding ahead"
Mrs. Betsy Carver was SO excited
over this piece OF news that she ala
not notice how pale Polly had grown.
nor that her hand trembled SO that
she dropped half the stitches on her
knitting needle SO she ratified away.
Il reckon I know who he'll marry.
That brazen-faced Murray girl. that
sets right IN front Of him every time
he goes TO Nittoria TO church. She's
had her cap set for him these two
years. Sally says, and at last she's
trapped him"
Polly's face was flushed to crimson
row. She made no reply. but bent
over her work, nervously taking up
stitches she had dropped
II she loved Ebenezer Sucknev her
sister did not suspect it. Just then
Katy Rice. Ebenezers little niece
came IN.
Please Miss Polly. Uncle Eben
sent me down after the seeds YOU
said be could have"
let me see.r said Polly. musinelv
"oh. yes. He wanted Us to save him
some cucumber seed
ITS flower seed he wants. ever 50
many kinds" interposed KATY.
II never promised him anv. as r
know Of. didn't s'pose he cared for
such things" said Polly. little spite.
fully. as she thought Of Lucy Murray
IN connection with Ebenezer's flower
garden. Then eha naf,d .-.-t.4..