The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-29

Fellside air, my dodgers nervousness
gradually subsided. and he became less
watchful, more composed and, as one
might say. sleeker altogether than he
had been when he came.
One thing struck me: Montgomery
received no letters. He had been with
me now for six weeks. and lie had not
had one single letter. He seemed to
think must find fhis strange, for one
day when the bag had brought me two
letters from home and others from
friends, besides circulars and papers,
he said, with a laugh DO you notice
l never have a letter from anyone!
YES" I answered. frankly. Why
is it?"
Shall tell you?" he asked, a queer.
Quizzical kind OF expression about his
mouth: but his eyes were not quizzi-
cal. They were too searching, too anx-
ious, to fit well with the "wreathed
smile" about those thin and mobile
lips.
Certainly yes: tell me. ] see there
is a story in it" / answered, laughing
too.
"A highly romantic story, you bet
your bottom dollar xon that" he said.
Il am a fugitiyef'
Mercy I cried. startled. "A fugi-
tive from what-justice?'
tfsr-.. f,.-olif ho refd
I suppose I looked puzzled, for he
went on to say: "An old woman-at
least she is old to me. as am only
thirty, and she is past fifty-well, this
old woman. as l must call her, Lady
Asplin, has done me the honor to take
fancy to my unworthy person. She
has persecuted me for more than
year now, insisting on my taking her
presents, on my accepting her hospi-
tality, on my attaching myself to her
service. ] give you my word, ! no
more saw her little game at first than
| see now into the middle OF next week.
| took Il all as the innocent maternal
love of an old woman for a young man
making his way in the world-a wom-
an glad to be ot asa 10 one without too
many friends, and sadly in need OF
bankers. And I accepted all her kind
nesses as would have taken them
from my own mother. When she could
not give me money she loaded me with
iewelry to turn into money. have a
small portmanteau full of jewels that
she gave me. But was never so hard
up as to be forced to spout these treas
ures; and I kept them, meaning to give
them back to her as she gave them to
me, when l could truthfu'iy tell her
that had established myself so far in
my profession as to need no more help
from the outside Did not tell you !
was on the Stock Exchange? No? But
am. / am, for my business is a stock
broker. So things went on for about
a year OF more, when the lady's feel
ings either changed or became too
strong to be concealed. From mater
nal affection. as ] had thought, she
passed to glrlish coquetry-to young
lady's arts and fascinations-and lat
er, too. declared passion. She flung
of the mask and made me a distinct
Offer l was staying with her at the
time, and I declare to you I was as
innocent as a dove OF her intentions,
till she told me in plain language that
she loved and wanted me to marry her.
Then I was frightened ! confess It..
am the son Of a soldier, and a brave
one. too but I was fairly frightened by
a womanl In the middle Of the night
I made up my packets and stole ont Of
the house-like a thief When ! saw
your advertisement, I said to myself.
That's the ticket for met / answered
It and came down. as I say, literally a
fugitive from a woman's love, and-I
know the sex-her certain vengeance
to come II she finds me out So. Mr..
Waring, there's my story, sir, COM
plete In a nutshell; and / think you
win agree with me In saying a pretty
queer one It is, too. and fit to go into
a three-volumed novel, if ever there
was one"
why, yes, Il Is queer enough"
answered; "and I scarcely know what
to say to it. It seems a pity that you
should leave London and your business
lust for this. Why not pack up all
these jewels that you speak Of and
send them back to the lady. saying you
cannot keep them because you cannot
marry her, and then 90 to work with
your hands quite free2 That's what
would do il l we're in your place.
would not let myself be frightened OF
banished for any old woman in the
world"
He sighed.
"Ahl you don't know women as
do he returned. Nor have told you
unite an. There is another woman il
/ the case-Mary Edwaries, Lady Asp
/ Inns orphan niece. whom love and
who loves me. If we're to do tkis shs
would 'urp poor Mary out Of doors
and I do not know what would happen
theni For the dear girl has no money
and she would be ruined. No, I dars
not do thatr
I confess / did not see the logica