The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-08

I'm TITVI Y 0TV' I''71 ~ -
wreathed do0l where Victor
Doty's young wife sat, with her brown
haired baby in her arms.
A long hour she had sat there. with
the child on her knee. grooming old
songs, which she had loved to Sing
when a gay-hearted girl, in her faith
ers house. but which she had almost
forgotten in ihe work-day life which
had been hers for the last two years
She had been very happy, though, IN
her wild Western home. 1t had grown
to be for her the centre for all happy
visions. all pleasant dreams, all peace
ful days
BY her CHEEKY fireside IN the long
winter evenings and by the sweet
climbing roses out on her little porch
on the bright summer nights she
had learned contentment; and she
often asked herself. ia the quiet
autumn days which were spreading
a golden glory over the earth, what
there had been ia those old days half
as satisfying as the simple joys Of
their home-life
And then she would 90 in, and lay
the baby down In his cradle-bed, and
go about on light, quick feet to pre-
pare their evening meal
But on this brightest Of bright days,
when she had been thinking with a
T.o1F Inrn...4o nf tlo fnrn,o and Foaoc
nc home. there had dashed down the
road a gay cavalcade-fair ladies aud
brave gentlemen. in holiday attire
and foremost among them was Madge
Wilder. n careless, happy rider, intent
on the double duty Of managing her
fiery pony and of seeing every beautl-
ful thing on either side Of the road.
She was the first one to catch a
glimpse Of the cottage standing back
among the trees, and Of the sweet
picture framed in by the scarlet bloom
OF the autumn leaves
"Oh. Claraw she said wheeling her
pony so as to bring her to the side Of
Miss Rodelles horse. "do you see tina.
exquisite picture in there2 It's poem
without words. and isn't It beautifulT
Don't you know the face Madge"
"Surely it can be no one we know,
living here in this wilderness"
1T is Aimee Dane"
With a cry Of surprise, Madge Wild
er turned her ponys head, and beck
oning to Ray Harcourt, the gentleman
nearest her. she rode directly toward
the cottage
Aimee had come out on the steps aud
watched them as they dlsmeunted; but
only their side faces were toward her,
and the low branches of the trees
swept down between them, and so she
really had no idea Of meeting old
friends, until Madge's clear voice rang
across the intervening space:
Aimee Dane. is it truly your"
And then. like a fire that springs
suddenly into blaze, up leaped the old
love and friendship into vivid being
again.
"Oh. Madgew she cried
And the two friends had met and
their arms were round each other and
for one moment even baby was for
gotten.
But Madge introduced Mr.. Harcourt.
and that reminded Aimee that she too.
had a young gentleman to introduce;
and the brown-haired boy. so like his
father. with his big blue eyes and
smiling mouth. was brought out and
held up with a mothers proud delight.
Before they were half through adj
miring him. Victor Doty came in, and
when he found that her friends had
gone on, and that Madge was intend
ing to spend two or three months with
a relative only FIVE miles distant be
said at once. with a genial smile:
why not stay with us little
while, Miss Wilder? Our cottage is
a small one, but we always have room
for a friend; and / am sure your pres
ence would cheer Aimee"
Aimee looked her entreaty. and Vic
NDi HAN4tAaNu " eN4A ADA AAAASI
trunk the next morning.
Il cannot resist so warm an invita-
tion: so II ycu viii give me a nook at
your freside for five or six days. /
VIII stay" said Madge
Mr.. Harcourt agreed to take note
for her. that her trunk might be ready
in the morning. and galloped away
with 4 little look Of regret at leaving
her behind
You won't need much here. AIadce,
ia the way OF dress" said Aimee.
laughing. "Wc never see company.
snd tie dress you have on win do for
~ occasions.
Aadee smiled. but evidently thought
differently. for when her trunk came.
shere was an array Of dainty dresses
spread ont Tor inspection that made
Aimee's brown eyes enyious.
That night Madge put on a eof-tint-
"a six. the hec Of w0od-yi0lets. and