The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-23
Ny AarlOry.

Tan blond-bearded. blue-eyed, a
young giant. WIN Ernst lounged be-
side the door Of his cabin half way up
the mountain. An eighth Of a mile
from the house was the branch with
It's sllvery food fed from q sprins far
up in the hills. and ah around the lit
he home were patches Of corn. Grow
ing sturdily. while here and there a
tree loaded with ripe apples waved IFS
houghs IN the sun.
Inside, the small house consisted OF
two rooms and a loft, the latter
reached by a narrow ladder-like stair
AS IN an the region round about IN
most North Carolina mountains, the
furniture was very plain and simple,
and there was little Of IL. A large bed,
puffy with feathers. stood in a corner
OF the living room. The gay quilt
which covered it was Of patchwork IN
an intricate pattern. A chlld's crib, q
shining brass and curiously dainty In
its white sheets. pillow-eases and
spread. stood at the beds foot, but it
had a sad look. as II no childish head
had lately pressed is snowy surface.
Overhead strings Of red peppers fea-
tooned the ceiling, and a ham hung
above the kitchen table; spotlessly
clean and scrubbed until Il shone.
This table bore mute evidence = fas-
tidious houseWifery. But .he eye o.
the occasional visitor fingered longest
on one BIT Of the rooms furnishing, It
was so unusual and so suggestive Of a
past: different from the present Of the
mistress Of the cabin. Three swinging
shelves held books. some Of them in
sumptuous bindings some college
textbooks, others editions Of standard
authors. Here were George Eliot
Hawthorne. Tennyson, Browning, En-
erson and Whittier, a stray volume or
Kpllng, and Barrie's Little Minis
ter" and Sentimental Tommy
Above the shelves hung an exquisite
copy OF the slstlne Madonna-her ten
der countenance bending in radiant
roace over the life In the poor home.
In each book, on the title page. was
written the owners name-"M "Mariory
Chisholm, Ellerslie. 1891
MY Mariory," called the man at the
door, in a soft drawing voice. come
and help mo on with my boots. please.
and fetch my slippers"
"Ohl VIII, won't you bring me a
bucket Of water first want It for
the supper"
Silence. After an interval the re-
quest was repeated.
"Wrl Ernst. please bring me some
water from the spring. I've been want
ing II for this hour"
The answer came IN a low growl
"Marjory Ernst. wait on yourself I'm
not goiu' 10 tote water for a woman;
what DO you take me fort"
"A brute" she murmured under her
breath. inaudible to the man outside,
who presently said again.
Come. honey. bring me my slippers.
or itu be the worse for you. Come.
my Mariory Didn't you promise to
love. honor and obey? You keep your
word. honey. or IN know why you
don't All that belongs to me minds
me. horse, dog. wife; haven't you
found that out, yet2'
with a shudder Of repugnance which
shook her from head to foot. Marjory
Ernst stopped under the bed picked
up her llege lords slippers. carried
them TO the door. knelt down. unlaoed
the heavy shoes and put on the soft
moccasins she had brought AS she
did 90. his hand kent gently stroking
her bowed heae. smoothing her thick.
curling hair. and touching softly tho
curve OF her beautiful ear.
'Mariory. Mariory, darling. kiss
me. he said. holding out his arms as
she rose. You are an angel / love
you"
The blood rushed IN warm wave.
tinging her cheek with its lovely flush.
She was a beautiful creature. tall, sup
pie. finely dev Hoped her head well
poised. her shoulders thrown back. and
her carriage that OF a princess. At col
iege she had been the class beauty; In
her fathers house. she had reisned as
a princess Then she had been Mar
iory Chisholm. laughter OF a judge.
belle Of a county. heiress in prospect
cf a large fortune Now. she was Mr.
iory Ernst wife. BY her own G grlish
self-will and folly. Of boor. who could
DO little more than read and write and
who regarded her as eha-sel. slave.