The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-04-03

len with sudden rage sprung from the
doorway and lowered over the old
man.
'I'n trample your dirty tongue down
your throat for that you sot," he
roared.
oh come now, Mr.. Masters
didn't mean nuthin by that" whined
old Jeff Virgins, throwing his arms
over his face. SAL Sal, don't let Jack
stomp on me. Sail"
Masters felt a little hand on his arm
restraining him. Go. Jack" he heard
her whisper, and the girl turned from
him to kneel protectingly before her
whimpering father
For fully a minute John Masters
stood and ragged silently. as binding
passion and wounded pride struggled
against a longing to stoop and lift the
girl In his arms. But the realization
that she had turned from him to kneel
to that which he hated bitterly came
uppermost at last. and rage fared up
in him again.
so you have chosen" he blurted
out, standing above her. And so It
shall be forever and forever"
He turned abruptly and walked from
the house with long. stamping strides
The whining OF old Jen Virgins went
on continuously, but he had reached
the turn Of the road before he heard
a sound from Sally. Then he heard
her begin to sob with a perfect aban-
donment OF grief, and he started to
run, that he might the sooner get
away from it all. That afternoon the
Plant System express was tagged to
take on a passenger at Great Swamp.
It was John Masters leaving the
neighborhood Of the Virgins shack
forever and forever.
It was late the next spring when
John Masters came back to Great
Swamp with a tired heart. His face
was grave and his chin was stubborn;
but, too, there was a new gentleness in
his expression. Brooding a year In a
Florida turpentine camp had taught
him to love with understanding. So
he shrank from himself and drew
closer to the woman he loved. He
was still "masterful John Masters"
and he came back to her because he
wanted her for himself But under
meath this was the beginning Of the bet
ter part Of love. and, partly, he came |
back that he might serve her. Jump /
ing from the train before it had well /
stopped, he walked rapidly through the
town and out on to the Moultrie road
toward the cabin Of old Jeff Virgins.
About a mile from the railroad he
came to the burying ground Of the
parish. II was a neglected acre. When
he had reached the graveyard, Mas
ters' pace had slackened. An uneasl-
ness was growing on him; what II
Sally did not want him back? A vague
sense Of shame was increasing as he
thought Of the last time he had seen
her. Yet this was a scene OF which
he had been rather proud for the mas
terful part he had played Il gave her
every chance" he argued to himself.
ITS not my fault If she chose him"
But the closer he drew to the scene
IF that last interview, the more un-
Easy he became. His eye chanced upon
/ broad, fat tomb in the shade OF a
i've oak, and. entering the burying
ground, he seated himself on the tomb
IS on bench. and tried TO reason out
lis own justification.
After he had seated himself. he 1
leard the thud OF shoyeled earth and !
he voices OF several negroes at work. 1
evidently they were digging a grave '
N the other side OF the live oak and
Eeregrumbling over the difficulty they
Fere finding in getting out the water
oaked clay at the bottom OF the
rench.
you quit that cursing." Masters
aid, grimly. "or you'll be needing a
rave yourself" I,
The negro glanced sheepishly up
nd pulled on his old hat. "Ah right. :
oss he said, grinning cheerfully. u y
one forget whar ! wus Doan hit me. u
oss cause dis ycre grabe got to be !
sady TO de carpse right away.
Finish It, then, but keep your +,
louth shut" said Masters, and the ne a
70 dropped back to his work. Mas J,
RS did not 90 back to his seat. but i
God within the shadow Of the oak.
recting the grave digging.
BY and by. half dozen cracker wo- !.
en- from Great Swamp strolled list :,
ssly into the burying ground and X
aited. They inspected the open grave =,
Iberly, and nodded to Masters with a :.
ok Of feeting surprise. but ne spoke i,
none Of them. For some unaccount- N
DE reason, he, too waited. standing i,
Z the grave like a soldier on guard -
After a while, a wagon. drawn by an N,
OK, crept down the road from the =,
rection Of Moulirie. It was driven n
a negro boy, who kept from whis- q
ng by a stern self repression. but ~
lo could not resist shouting happily y,
his OK. He was seated on the end IN
a long pine box that stretched be- ,b
"a him IN tho wagon. A shriveled ~