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

taken up with the idea. He was now
going to see that Dutch woman" as J
now called her; he had actually said
she was mice"
/ appeared to myself in any but an
enviable light. How much more wo-
manly 1t would have been to fight for
my happiness, to do my best to win, let
the issue be what it might; and the hot
tears Of humiliation bedewed the eleva-
ti0n Of a two-thousand-dollar detached
cottage upon which I was working
There followed on this day some OF
the most unhappy weeks Of my life.
Older people may smile at that; but 1
am older now myself, and have never
gotten to the point where could make
light OF their remembrance. Mel was
continually at "the Dutch woman's,
so. indeed, was Donald: but the where
abouts Of that seasoned bachelor trcu-
bled me little.
Ny cup Of misery was filled and sew
eral drops sent trickling down the side
about this time, by meeting Miss Van
Valkenburg, whom I had not SO lar
seen Donald insisted upon my going
up with him one day to see the frieze
that was being painted in her dining
room. / found her not Dutch at all,
nor even German, though her name ana
her uncle certainly we're; but very
handsome. In a severe way, and with
the quiet air Of one to the manner born.
How soon we women can acquire i
when we have the chancel
I comforted myself by thinking that
she looked all Of her thirty years,
which was true. and that she had
school ma 'amish air, which was not.
She evidently made a special effort TO
be nice to me-which was noticeable IN
woman Of her reserved manner-and
seemed to be on the most intimate and
friendly terms with Donald and Mel.
Soon after this she came to the Office
late one afternoon to discuss some point
in the work. She had come in from
Brooklyn, and by previous engagement
her carriage was to call for her at six.
II failed to appear on time, and Donald
came out and told me 10 80 and insist
on Miss Van valkensurg's staying for
tea. I went with perfect willingness.
Things couldn't be any worse than they
were; and my heart was entirely brok-
en-, anyhow. She already had all !
cared for she had Mel; and she might
just as well be made welcome beneath
my roof-tfee and eat my mullins and
jelly. ! was even rather glad Of The
chance Of displaying to her what no
table housekeaper I was. and how
daintily our little menage was ordered.
We had been housekeeping since my
graduation.
! followed Mel out into The hall to
say: i've got everything prettily ar
ranged now, all but the flowers. and
Miss Val Valkenburg is IN my room
making herself neat for tea. Please
stop and order them up for me, II you're
going ont He looked at me with an
expression that made my heart jump,
and then spoiled 1t all by saying, with
evident sincerity. isn't she a lovely
woman, Helen7" Then, as he stepped
into the elevator. "Are you going to
change your dress7"
"Isn't this one all rlght?" I answered.
but Mel had disappeared down the
shaft, and went back into my dining
room to add a few little extra touches
and wait for my flowers. and to wonder
bitterly whether Mel was 50 crazy
about Miss Van valkenburg that he
thought I ought to put on full toilette
to take tea with her.
When the flowers came up the matter
was explained Besides those for the
table there was a bunch Of long-stem-
med La France buds. evidently for me.
as they harmonized exactly with my
gown Of paler pink. I grew quite iu-
bilant in a subdued way. Time was
when It seemed a small matter to have
Mel send me flowers, and all cared for
was the blossoms themselves. Nov
the gift was nothing; but the fact that
he cared to notice the color OF my dress
and to buy me a posey to match it was
everything. and I was amply content
till Miss Van Valkenburg came from
my room with her fair, clustering hair
freshly arranged, her lace scarf crossed
low on her bosom. and in its folds q
bunch OF roses. the very twin Of my
own.
I thought, drearily. that It was bad
taste Of him to get them just alike. but
that. after all. Il didn't really matter.
and my JOY in my nosegay entirely
evaporated.
was forced TO admit. before Miss
Van valkenburg's carriage came and
the evening was over. that she was not
only very handsome. but. when she
so chose. a very charming woman as
well. AS / watched her sitting. fair
and gracious. opposite Mel at table.
talking with him and with Donald
seeming to be aware Of their tastes and
prejudices as fully as myself, who had
grown up with them. and giving to the
on-lOoker an impression Of such deli
cate self-poise and tact. I wondered Ii
being young-as young as ], for in