The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-29

r--+tt EA[NHNNNN
life. The sunshine had never seemed
so tender, the skies so blue. the lovely
distances all around her so full Of gra-
cious and beckoning suggestions.
Something stirred at her heart, too
vague to have a name. yet so real and
so marvellous that It seemed itself the
actual and all about her its echo and
reflection
She had been glad of the bright
crisp day, cool for July, yet wondrous
in its purity and freshness. She had
had comfort in her fathers greeting,
the home-content. the morning task.
She had been glad. too. Of the happy
solitude when they all had driven away
for a days visiting, and had left her
by herself in the house with all the
summer calms around her. She I'm
ished the Tuesdays ironing at last,
and sat down behind the half-closed
blinds to rest a little 1t was yet early
and the day had not grown hot; and
the country-folk had not yet all gone
by. iourneying downward on their
daily ertands. Sometimes she liked
to sit, half out Of sight, and listen TO
them, but today she was wrapped too
deeply in her own dreams. She did
smile however, over one frank speech
They'll never let her marry any
body Specially If they didn't pick
him out for her. They might do that
II it happened to strike 'em just right
But as for her choosing somebody
why they'd never hear to it, They're
that set and cranky about her-why,
don't blieve it's ever occurred to
EN-, nor to her either, that she had a
will Of her own, or ever could have
Queer.,
Paulina had to smile over this.
dreamily, as ! said. but as the shrill
voices grew indistinct in the distance
she settled back into her reverie
again It did not occur to her to
wonder who this will-less she
could be. with never chance to choose
lover or husband. But presently came
another rattling wagon down the
dusty road. and. slackening over the
jutting ledges, the sound Of strident
voices again smOte her ear.
He owned It to George Kendall.
fair and square Said she was every
thing to him. and that he would hev
her II he could. Oh, he put Il in a
nice way OF course. and he was drove
to It. but he want afraid to say 1t,
nor to tell what he meant There.
anybody could see that he set his life
by her; why. you'd thing there never
was another woman made afore Pau
lima stackpole. the way he looks at
herl lie haint no call to tell he loves
her. though he did say It. straight as
H. We an knew it about as soon as he
did And most folks think she don't
see II yet l don't know"
The harsh voices. that had told so
wondrous a secret, died away in the
distance. The locusts droned IN the
garden. and the bees hummed in the
orchard. while Paulina sat quite STILL
her hands lying IN her lap where they
had fallen. and her cheek resting
where II had lain ten minutes before,
close against the cushion Of her chair
II could not be sol What right had
they to say such things-and Of him?
II could not be- Yet Paullna's heart
stood still with the fear that Il might
not be. Was it true? From Paulina's
soul came the answer-an intuition
that revealed TO her In one sweet, awe
some moment. the certainty OF his
: fa.a, al. narorfe......c.. - h.- 49,.
The happy color crept to cheek and
brow. and she dropped her face into
her hands upon the window-sill
when she lifted IL again 1t was quite
pale but a solemn Joy shone In her
eyes
Il did not thlnk-I did not think
OF that" said maiden Paulina. II did
not know what it was to love-anyone
So And I could not say that-that
you loved me. dear But now, love
you, dear. my dear my dearl" Her
head dropped again upon her folded
arms. She raised Il presently. her eyes
still shining
i had not thought that God had
made me SO that anyone should love
me-sol That you should care for
me- And yet it seems 70 me as though
He had made me. dear. just for you
for youl For I am yours. dear. now
always. II you but want me. dear
None shall hlnder-none shall hinder.
everi"
Il was well that she was quite alone
an day. for In her FIRST strange happi-
ness. it would have been impossible
for her 70 conceal her feelings or 20
be interested after her custom in the
little concerns Of the household. She
could only look. that day. at one tran
scendent fact. natural. inevitable. the
very sunrise In her tranquil life. yet.
like the sunrise. a marvel and a rev
elation At twilight she ran In with
some early raspberrles for Mrs Bat
It's. She found her friend on her
farther porch, tying up the rose-leaves
that she had been drying here in
the cool dry air for weeks.
fs