The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-28

R1Q amusing mistake
she's madew and
then She began to read aloud from the
letter
ny Dear Niece Elizabeth:
Always my favorite as well as name
sake: I would have you apprehend
thar it was with unaffected pleasure
thar I read ia your most welcome epis-
tie the announcement Of your determ-
ination TO master the laudable accom-
plishment OF which ! myself was once
mistress, and in which no young girl
Of the earlier and better days felled Of
a desire to perfect herself Il is an ac-
complishment no longer as necessary
perhaps. but still graceful. elegant and
as you justly remark. health-giving,
even as OF old when its mastery was
deemed essential in every home
Elizabeth's family listened Ia mute
amazement as she read on. both merri-
ment and dismay in her girlish voice:
You somewhat surprise me in stat
ing that its mastery requires so large
an outlay. ! infer, however that in
structors in spinning must by neces-
sity. be rare in these days And my
'In-in what, Bess. dear2"
In spinning. Oh. don't you see
what the dear old lady means? It's
my wheel! She doesn't understand
that five bought a bicycle, and thinks
it's a spinning wheel! Listen:"
And. my dear Elizabeth as know
your straitened circumstances and APP
preciate your endeavor to Tighten the
burden--for. I believe, as you say, the
wheel viii be a saving in the end-I
take pleasure in presenting you with
the enclosed sum (Tom hastily peeped
into the envelope). which trust will
not only remove the obstacles 10 your
obtaining tuition, but also express in
some slight degree my qualification in
your desire, and my pleasure in be-
slowing. before I pass away, some
slight portion Of what viii eventually
become entirely your own.
Elizabeth at this juncture drew forth
the slip Of paper Mother 1t is a check
for Ave hundred dollarsw The pink
color rose family in Mrs. Greenleafs
pale cheeks. Mildred clasped her hands
rapturously. exclaiming, "Oh. Bess. the
while Tom was smitten
speechless. But Bess shook her head
sadly.
mo, don't let's build air castles. It
must so right back, Of course, and
must explain"
"Keet It and don't say anything.
She'll never know" advised Tom.
"Thomasr was all that gentle Mrs.
Greenleaf said; but it was the boys
turn to color
"But how in the world could You
have misled her So Bess?" pondered !
"Oh, I don't know" said Bess. miser-
ably Il said something about enjoy
ing a spin on my wheel, Of course.
Poor Aunt Lib / feared she would be
displeased enough when ! wrote her,
and now after this misunderstanding it
win be far worse Oh. if she would
only be equally benignant over the real
facts OF the case!'
"Well, get your poor mistaken check
OF, Bessie, dear" put in her mothers
gentle voice, before you take time to
gloat over its possibilities. And try
and smooth It over with auntie."
"Good-by, luck.' said Tom, detected
ly. "Let me just-smell Of It once,
Bess, that's ALL"
And then Bessie went away to write
to Aunt Lib. Alas her little trem
bling epistle wrought wrath and woe.
Miss Elizabeth Gardner. her aunt, had
had no young people growing up about
her. Her one maid was prlmmer and
erimmer than herself Her name-child
held the one soft spot in her heart; but
now that child had broken away from
the pattern provided for her. She had
seen men ride bicycles, and had heard
with astonishment that sometimes
women rode them, bupt she could not
think OF her little niece Elizabeth rid
ing one. It was a glaring misde-
meanor.
Miss Gardner acted promptly and
firmly. but with an aching in her heart,
and q feeling as If some one lay dead /
in the house. Back to Miss Elizabeth
Gardner Greenleaf travelled a letter
from Miss Elizabeth Gardner, which
voluminously stated the view Of the
elderly lady.
Miss Gardner had been shocked and
Mortified when the truth forced itself
upon her Not for a moment could
she tolerate the thought Of her niece's
association with so essentially mascu-
line and hoydenish a machine If the
niece did not abandon this evil device.
her aunt would be reluctantly COM
pelled to change the purpose she had
had respecting the future interests Of
her namesake. Great was the conster-
nation in the Greenleaf household at
this severe epistle.
"Its not the hateful money cried
Bess. with cheeks aflame ITS not
that at all. but I'm ashamed to have
auntie think so IN Of me. Mamma. am
I any less a lady since I got my wheel
one little atom less2"
Her mother smilingly shook her
head. you would never have wanted
wheel. dear. IL it was likely 70 make
.-.. r-g- - 1are ran trust my dauah-