The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-11

out Of his CULVER ] chose it because
it was small enough to go into an or
dlnary envelope. and she'll never sus-
pect until she opens H."
julius" said his mother what a
goose you are. Miss Forester is old
enough to be your mother
Miss Forester is just twenty" said
Julius, and I'm nearly fifteen. and I've
been dead In love with her these three
yearsi"
He scampered off with his letter, and
the goodly. untidy matron heaved
soft sigh and went back to the basket
OF unmended stockings which was the
Nemesis Of her life, and Major Midge-
field came down stairs to the once
more deserted study, quite unconscious
Of the raid which had been made upon
II.
"Parthenia-that was the name"
said Major Midgeheld- what could
have induced me to think II was Pa
tience or Pauline? Now where the
very dickens is that letter? Surely
didn't-oh, here 1t is, poked away un-
der the inkstand That housemaid
has been in here dusting, as sure as
live and it's a mercy she hasn't
thrown 1t into the CRATE. Mrs Par
thenia Pry, No. 16 Green court, Foxs-
ley street that's it, and I'll put my
initials in the corner, to insure a speedy
persual NJ NJ. with a flourish to the
tail Of the last NJ. | suppose my sis
ter wiz be very plaintive and injured
about this decision of mine, but she
has only herself and her noisy lout
Of a boy to thank for il"
And Major Midgefeld himself went
out to drop his letter into the nearest
post-box
St. Valentines Day came, bright
and sunshiny. with hard-frozen snow
crusting all the streets, and a silver
fringe Of icicles on all the caves and
tree boughs. and old Mrs. Pry stared
hard at the letter which the morning
mail brought her.
IT'S from Major Midgeheld. / know
1t is, said she, fumbling in her dress
pocket for her spectacles Il know
them little curly-tailed Ms Of his'n as
we'll as know my catechism. I'll bet
a cookey he wants to come back, and
a good thing for me. too, with my best
room standing empty for three weeks.
En- What? A gilt Cupid with no
clothes on to signify, and a lot Of green
leaves, and i love youi It amt pos
sible. unless the Major has gone
crazyi"
"A letter from Major Midgefeld"
said Miss Adela Forester. who was a
tall. black-browed beauty, with cherry
lips and a good high spirit Of her own.
And he wants to know II I will take
him."
"Nonsensel" said Mamma Forester,
who was buttering a Vienna roll with
the serenest calm.
Read 1t for yourself. then, and see.
said Miss Forester, with a toss Of her
head He calls me dear madam, the
horrid old bachelor, and dictates as to
his room, his dinner and his shirt but
tons BY goodness" with a lifting OF
the jetty brows. does he think the
girls are ready to drop. like overripe
plums. into his MOUTH"
of course. you'll say no, said Nam
ma Forester.
"of course, said Adela.
Then para must see the Major at
once. said the elder lady. Though
II he were only a few years younger.
the estate is"
4 wouldn't marry that horrid old
creature II he were the only man in
the worldi" cried Adela. with en-
phasis. as she remembered the young
passed midshipman now pacing the
deck Of the Silvestra in the Caribbean /
sea. to whom her young affections
were pledged.
So it happened that Mr.. Forester
and old Mrs. Pry both met IN Major
Midgeheld's room at the parsonage Of /
st. Adolphine. on the afternoon Of that /
radiant fourteenth OF February.
Il am sorry. Major" said the form
mer. that my daughter declines to en-
tertain your very complimentary pro-
p0sal."
what BloRord4 oaAo Aue MalOI. ]
Il never proposed to any one in my
life. and 1t is not likely that I shall /
commence now"
DO you deny your own handwrit- I
ing7" flashed out Mr.. Forester. who /
was Of a choleric disposition. and did I
not relish his word being doubted
j deny everything" shouted the
Major. Stop a minute. Forester: /
here is the respectable female who has
just called to see me on business. III
just see what she wants before we go
0n with this discussion Now. then.
Mrs. Pry.'
But Mrs. Pry was making amazon
Ian efforts TO get a letter out Of her