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

On an visit her. ! can't get OF. seein
IT'S Jess preservin' time. but YOU might
as well take it an go as far as wash
ington. July AIMS sister-in-law keeps
a clearinghouse there an she'll take
you 10. IN write her to meet you an
she'll tell You how to 20 bout it.
That's just the very thing. I'll find
someone goin' on from Northboro ter
put you in care Of, an it'n give you a
chance ter see the capitil too-it's a
powerful pretty city, SO they say. Now.
guess I've got you all axedw And
Elvira drew her shawl around her and
prepared 70 take her departure.
Don't yer worry about yer things or
nOthin'. I'll be over an fix EN- for
you"
Miss Penelope sat motionless for a
long time after her visitor had left her.
The sun crept down behind the horizon
line. and the stars lit the glimmering
tapers one by one. A thread Of moon
light stole through the parted curtains
and glittered on the shining andirons.
When she stumbled to her feet at last
and began to prepare her simple meal
there was still a dazed expression on
her face.
Nigh on ter seyenty-tw0 an goin
ter the capitill l wonder what Nathan
would say? Elviry seems ter think it's
my duty. She sed It wuz a slighun' Nv
Providence"
Even now. after Nathan had been
dead thirty years, Miss Penelope found
herself deferring to his opinion, as she
had always tried TO do while living
not that she had ever followed his adj
vice when given. 1t was simply a form
OF respect by which she stroye to hide
the consciousness that Nathan's judg-
ment was not to be relied upon. In
deed, no one but Miss Penelope had
much opinion Of Nathan Briggs. To
obtain a certificate OF respectabllity in
Canaan it was necessary 70 be familiar
with ones family tree Nathan had
come there a stranger
He had always been singularly retl-
cent as to his ancestry, and although
this had been a source Of regret to
Miss Penelopes pride she had been too
loyal to question him.
All Of her friends had openly re-
belled when, In addition to her own re-
Of making both ends meet
on slender income, she had taken
upon herself the care and maintenance
OF Nathan Briggs Miss Penelope only /
smiled contentedly.
Il can't say as Nathan loves to work
-no-but then, you see I'm seeh a
driver myself that kin do 'nongh for
two. An I've heard tell how people
oughter choose their opposites." For
proof OF which she would drop her
needle and thread and run out to light
the kitchen fire rather than disturb
him from the perusal Of the evening
paper.
"He isn't a Canaanite, that's IT,
Taint fair ter weigh him in the same
5cales,' she would say TO herself by
way OF excuse, when she was wonder
ng how she would meet the grocer's
SIN while her husband sat with his feet
IN the porch railing. discussing the
lnanclal state Of the country.
But when the war broke out then
Mss Penelope's heart thrilled with
,ride. Nathans name had been drafted
md he could not very well secure
but she did not know that.
She only realized that she was giving
her all in defense Of her country, and,
ike the Spartan mother, she rejoiced
IN the sacrifice It had been her one
in her bereavement that
Nathan had at last clothed his name
with glory and shown himself 10 be a
worthy citizen Of Canaan.
No one disabused her mind OF this
belief in her soldiers bravery by lnti-
mating that her Nathan was generally
n the rear guard. On the contrary.
hey endeavored to foster her loyalty
~ every means possible Corporal
Brent went over the old battle scenes
lgain and again, and Miss Penelope's
syes would fash and turn toward the
Iaber on the wall. while, in imaglna-
ion. she saw her hero storming the
,arricade, climbing the ramparts and
acing the fire Of the enemy.
She's the one that oughter gone ter
he war an left Nathan home ter wash
he dishes" Corporal Brent would say,
With stamp Of his wooden leg. "She
rot precious little satisfaction out OF
lim when he wuz alive: I'm goin' to
,lve her all I kin now he's gone"
He was the first to come around and
I'D her godspeed on her journey
"Ef you haven't got a claim agin the
no one has, Wilder Briggs.
ID hev seen thet you got yer just dues
ong afore this, only / knew your senti-
nents on the subject. I'm glad you're
akin a different view uv the matter,
am sol"
II was the same with all the neigh
yors, old and young. They took such
IN interest in her undertaking and
eemed to look upon It with such pro-
bounced approval that Miss Penelope
lad not the courage to intimate that