The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-07

urut NuI IuNAAftH4AiA as y III AtiANAA-'
Ahl there Is Miss Benton now Miss
Frances. win you tell your papa there
is a gentleman here 70 speak 70 him,
ploases7
A young woman had come languidly
out upon the porch from an adjoining
apartmeit. She had carelcssly taken
up Ier station in front Of the latter,
sianding with profile turned toward
them. her hands clasped in front Of
her. and her eyes fixed upon the dis
tent hilis.
Still rs a statue the girl stood until
the agents voice aroused her from her
apparent iethargy The likeness was
complete, Whiting was So startled
that he felt himself growing pale.
For this. with a ghostly difference, was
the very picture that kept him awake
an night
lie was In no mind to be trifed with
now. and. By Jove, II this pale-faced
maid with the white hair and insipid
face thought to play upon his super
stition by proWling about her old home
masquerading as a ghost to frighten
the tenants OF she would pay for her
prank-he would tell her father. he
would be would sue the agent-he
would move! He would would
please will you step into the other
roomg Papa Is not feeling wen this
morning. and is lying down. said a
timid voice al HIS elbow.
The agent had vanished Whiting
was alone. looking silly enough donit-
less with the flush and frown Of anger
adding their unbecoming emphasis 70
the deep sunburn he had lately ac-
quired owing to Florimers whim Of
making lin tramp for miles IN the
air every morning after breakfast
"Ah, he murmured, sarcasticasly. on
the Impulse 81 the moment, 'this is the
young lady, I presume. who had such
a vast amount OF fun at my expense
by haunting my window az Hallow-
cen. trust you didn't get cold. and
that you enjoyed Il more than / did"
-lr' She faitered, making a little ges-
ture with her hand-a gesture Of scorn
and hurt dignity. Il haunt your win
dow. man. IT,
The scorn expressed In that soft, con-
tempmous tome OF slow disdaln would
have cut a less sensitive man to the
quick. especially her way Of saying
mani
Ere be had time to rally from The
attack deep voice called from the
other room:
Frances. my lover
Coming. papaw
Miss Benton deigned 90 turn her
flashing eyes-heayen knows there
was no lack now Of expression IN the
angry face she turned upon him IN
his direction as she imperiously waved
him into her fathers presence.
Papa. she began AZ once. "this man
your manor tenant-c0mes here with
strange complaint He says he
dares 10 say-that masqneraded be-
fore his window last night as a ghost
or something"
~My daughter. My daughter. do not
be hasty. You forget the-" And the
whlte-haired old rector drew his
daughter 20 his side and murmured
something rM NI
To Writings amazemcnt the ex-
preston Of naughty anger and insult
ed pride Instantly faded from the girls
face. giving place to one or pensive
sadness, as when one recalls some
tender memory inseparable from sor-
row
"Slr." said the old rector courte-
ously ypu sleep In the little ground
door bedroom Ia the back wing. do you
notg But / know you do. else you had
not been annoyed A few years ago
lived in the old manor house with my
wife and my twin daughters Ny
children were born there and they hal
never known any other home. I
brought my wife there a bride. J
buried her there.
zone OF my daughters gave her heart
TO worthy man, and they were shortly
to be married. when quite Unexpected
Is he was summoned to Europe 10 ar.
tend the diving bed Of q relative lie
cabled home. however. that he would
surely De back IN time for the Both.
which had been the original date set
Tor the wedding, SO that no change
need IS made on the cards Az She WAS
IN somewhat delicate health. being at
an times consuutionally fragile. she
retired early 70 her chamber that even
Ing the small back one On the ground
loor-in order that she might gather
fresh strength for the morrow
There came up that night one Of
those sudden. violent thundersforms so
common here in the summer time. AS
she stood dreamily beside her little
window, looking out through the name
at the grandeur Of the storm-th crash
ing branches and bending trees-a
fearful flash of vivid lightning sud.
denly enveloped the whole world 10
binding brightness. haring fun upon
her face and figure. and. By some curl
Gus freak. photographing both lndeil-
bly, on the glassi But my child uttered
one piercing shrek aud fell to the floor
,lorn /"