The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-19

in the first six months. he rented a
room Of the lady on the floor below us,
and we became quite one family.
Donald is quiet-between ourselves
the dryest old stick OF a handsome
bachelor you ever saw. / myself take
my high spirits by fits and starts; but
Mel, as we soon came to call him, like
child in the house. is a well-spring
Of joy. I never hear any creature lex
cept a mocking-bird) whistle as he can,
and his good humor is perpetual, eiter-
vescent, and irresistible
Donald Is a big, handsome, distin-
guished-looking man-with an indiner-
ent air-which is not an air merely
whose clothes always fl him. and who
is always IN the style without seeming
to care to be. I'm immensely proud Of
him. II you met him on the street
you'd take him for no less than the
president Of half dozen banks and a
railroad or two And Donald doesn't
like people much generally-he regards
them with a kind Of gentle toleration;
they all talk too much and are too
unanimous" for him. But Mel suited
and pleased him from the first; partly,
I think, because no human creature
could fail to fall under the spell OF his
perfect good humor and sweetness Of
nature. and largely-to quote Donald
himself-because he was "such a young
tiger to work. and so ambitious"
Mel and / were as constantly togeth-
er in those days as the fact that ! was
in school and he working hard and am
bitiously at his profession would admit.
We read the same books, when we had
time for reading; we won't togsthef to
the theater and opera; we thought
enough alike to care for the same
things. and differed sufficiently to make
an interchange OF opinion interesting.
And Mel was always the best Of good
companions He was ugly. there was
no mistake about that: but in such
delightful way that Il was much more
charming than being handsome. He
appreciated to the fun the style Of the
costumes I was so fond Of construct
ing for myself, and frequently told me,
with patronizing air. that was really
growing such a fine woman that he
was proud to take me around. ] had
a particularly gorgeous house-dress
which he called my Queen Of sheba
gown: and Donald's "purple and fine
linen" we're a source Of continual diver
sion 70 him. II was about this time
that be named our little family "A
Trio IN A fat"--and a most harmonious
trio It was
When I graduated at the high school
1 announced my choice Of a profession.
/ had decided 70 be an architect Dom
aid rather laughed at It. but Mel. 90 my
delight, said. "Why not? It's a nice
profession for q woman. Maybe Helen
will get the designing Of the annex TO
the Capitol. which we need so badly at
Washington. and support as both in
our old age
. "No. Mel" I said. chats sweet Of
you. but III let you and Donald design
the public buildings. am going to de-
vote myself 20 reforming domestic ar
chitecture. A woman. and a good
housekeeDer like me. ought certainly
10 know more about planning a house.
a home for folks TO live in and some
woman TO keep. than a man"
"How is a girl like you 70 superintend
a building and see that her plans are
properly carried out?" said Don.
well, can have a partner, can't II"
"You can" said Mel, with emphasis;
"and I am the man. You're such a good
girl 70 work, Helen; and being female.
you won't expect a fun share Of the
profits Donald's getting fat and elder
ly. and wants now 70 poke of all the
hard work on ne. and I'm looking for
just such a fellow as you'd be to pass
Il on to-"
Il don't see"-here I appealed to DON
ald-"why you shove me out this way.
II I can make myself about twice as
good q designer and craftsman as you
are-@and ought easily 70 do that
why don't you want mel"
Donald laughed his patronizing
laugh. but had my way.
About this time Donald began draw
ing the plans for a handsome villa on
me Hudson for a very wealthy lady by
the name Of Van valkenburg. Mel
told me a great deal about her, and,
indeed. although my prentice hand was
not allowed to touch the work. was
allowed 10 make suggestions about the
more simple domestic arrangements Of
the plan. found myself rather AZ sea-
however. on a house intended for a
housekeepcr. butler. and haif-dozen
house-servants.
"she was az poor ss anybody and
taught school a year and half ago"
said Mel. when her old uncle. who
owned a big brewery and lots OF other
stun died. The old gentleman was
dutch. a. you may have gathered from
his mclodious name. and be didn't be-
lieve IN display-never displayed any
thinr but a keen eye to the main chance
..i...-.fr t4r didn't Give his ninrn much !