The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-23

stopped at the station, it was evening
and the long slant beams from the set
ting sun, lay over the familiar land
scape
AS it was mile to Aunt Mary's.
Bessie chose a shortcut through
the woods. and Jack Ward driving
slowly along the woods road was
startled 70 see a figure emerge from
the shadows The fact is Jack was
at the time thinking about her. and
when she appeared with the question.
Say, Jackl Can't / ride as tar as
aunt's?" he was So surprised he al
most dropped the lines.
Why, Great Scott, Bessiel Wherd
you spring from?" he cried.
From the city" answered She. I'm
coming home for good and an. I'm
sick Of hollow smiles. and falsehoods.
It is farewell to Old Drexels," she
said.
He kept you busy. didn't heg /
heard he done big business"
'Yes. I had plenty to do, but that
was not all. I am weary Of the city
with its fashionable idlers, who wish
to amuse themselves at others ex-
pense"
Thus. it came about that the pretty
flower girl vanished from the bower
Of lilies and roses; and the elegant
Winthrop mansion was not decorated
for the Sunday dinner, and Old Drexel
fumed with rage, because he lost
new customer, all through a mere
caprice Of the Lee girl-he found after
ward-and the proud Mrs Winthrop
was SO vexed, by the occurrence.
At the Easter dinner she related her
grievance, and If Mr. Percy stanhope
changed color slightly, no one noticed
it. That morning se had been sur
prised on opening an envelope to see
the ring with the opal setting. drop
upon the hoor
"Ahl" exclaimed the gentleman.
so my wood nymph has returned the
bauble2 Wonder what she heard. to-
cause her to come down upon my
vanity in this shape Pity I couldn't.
have kept this other affair from her.
All, hum, hum So she's done with
me, I suppose. Sorry, too. because Il
fully meant to carry on this side is-.
sue. Wen, she was jewel anyway.
but guess / couldn't have EN- both.
Goodbye. sweet Bessie" and he tossed
the ring in the CRATE.
Bessie was happy amid the old home
scenes. and early in the morning she
was out in the woods hunting for ar.
butus. AS she stopped and swept away
the dead leaves. with ardent hopes,
there came up the sweet almond frag-.
rance and clustered close to the brown
earth lay the waxen beauties breathing
out the delicious perfume As shei
gazed down upon the tiny blossoms,
the words OF Mrs Winthrop came to
her, and in her joy she gathered IT,,
and kissed It, and cried over t.
Hearing a twig break, she started
up, both hands fun Of the waxen
beauties. And there stock Jack, his
hands full too; they had been out on
the same quest.
'Hellol Bessie. I bet have got the
most, for our hands are full and mine.
hold as much again as yours" said
Jack N a CHEEKY tone. You'll have
a plenty, meant these for you. Bessie.
II you won't have them. I'll throw
them away. / couldn't ever offer ar.
butus to any woman but you. Don't
you remember how we sought the wee.
shy blossoms together?' he asked.
"Yes yes" she half whispered
% Jack. that was happy. joyous
line. You don't know quite all that
has happened since those days. i
ihudder. when l think how very near
came to making a shipwreck OF my
ife."
Later in the day they attended serv-
ces at the little ivy draped church.,
md laid their floral offerings upon the
iesk beside the Bible, and together
hey Joined in the holy Easter Joy, and
n giving praises to Risen Lord-Anna
Altoona, Iowa.