The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-26
A MUTUAL SURPRISE.

I really thought sou had better sense
What DO you know Of the love OF which you
speak 90 enthusiastically Nothing As
% your Ellen sophm don't make out thc
other name-i have no doubt bnt what She
is, in your eyes, the adorable creature you
portray, but / am good deal more sure
that she is no more like the wife you would
choose ai the nga that you are capable Of
selecting one than this creature Of your
fancy Is like fhe angel you think her.
I entirely disapprove Of your doing any
thing 20 foolish. Five years hence Is soon
enough Tor you % think Of such a thing.
in the meantime center your mind and
energies enurely upon business and. when
thn suitable tine comes, ! will select a
companion for you-one that will make
your home happy and be q credit 20 as
both. Your ancetiOnate father.
JANIS FAiEsrEEcH
He had just sealed and directed this
when his housekeeper came ia 10 an-
nonnce that tea was waiting.
Mrs Parker lei the way to the
bright, cheerlul-looking supper table
And as she took her seat behind the
kissing urn, which gave forth such a
fragrant odor, one could perceive that
she was q very comely woman, albeit
that she was on the shady side Of
thirty
Forty. If she's a day." said certain
ol her lady associaics. who envied her
the bloom and freshness that still lin
gercd upon cheek and lip, But they
were wrong Alrs. Parker was barely
thirty-six, aud i she had said she was
ten years younger no one would have
disputed il that had looked upon her
As Mr.. Fairspeech glanced across
the table his eyes rested complacenily
upon the smiling face opposite him,
and which seemed 10 have new charm
every time he looked al III
What fresh complexion she hadl
What bright eyes aud what a pleasant
smile. And, then, what an excellent
honsekeeper. Never, since the death
81 bis sainted Mary, had tue food on
his table been SO nicely cooked and
served, and all the appointments Of
his house 20 carefully looked after
aud adjusted
What nice wife she would make.
to be sure. aud how fortunate the man
would be who won her Why shouldn't
ho be that fortunate individual?
AZ these thoughts passed through
the mind Of Mr.. fairspeech he stirred
his tea absenily, betfaying a want Of
appreciation Of the good things before
him that was unusual
Mrs Parker observed this, saying
ia your tea sweet enough, sirg"
VERY sweet, said Mr.. Fairspeech,
absiraciedly, looking hardatthe pretty
widow
Whereupon Mrs. Parker blushed
aud looked down upon her plate,
which gave Mr.. Fairspeech oppor.
iuniiy to observe the length and
beauty Of her ietty lashes, Of which
he took fun advantage
The more Mr.. .Fairspeech pondered
on this idea the more satisfactory it
became.
Mrs. Parker was the widow OF n
clergyman and had come to him highly
recommended.
a widow with no incumbrances"
this Is what she had written in re-
ply 10 his letter. and which had been
called forth by her advertisement for
a position as housekeeper in some
genileman's family, "widower pre-
ferred."
Mr.. Fairspeech was not long ia
putting his resolution into execution:
he proposed and was duly accepted.
IN accordquce with the views Of
both parties. the marriage that imme-
diaiely followed was very quiet
a few mornings aftef the happy
cvent-ior happy il proved to. be to
those chiefly conoerned-M Fair
speech entered the breakfast room to
iiud his wife absorbed in the contents
Of q letter she was reading.
"lt is from my daughter, she said,
quietly. as, laying it down, she pro-
ceeded 10 pour the coffee.
''Your-yorr daughterw exclaimed
Mr. fairspeech, as soon as he could
speak. II thought you told me you
had no-no incumbrancesg"
II did not consider my daughter in
that light And then / expected that
she would soon be OF my hands. At
the time ! engaged as housekeeper
she was engaged to a very intelligent
and worthy young man.
Was engaged2" inquired Mr.. Fair
speech, anxiously. who viewed with
dismay the unwelcome addition Of a
grown-up daughter to bis establish
meni; ''do you mean 10 say that it is
brokenf"
4 fear so, said Mrs. Fairspeech,
with q sigh; "ihe young mans father
Is strongly opposed to It.
'is he Of ageg"
The young mau2 Oh, yes; he's
tacniy-three years old