The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-13

-ltlltI hItItllt ItSdlhth Ahio hhDAe
Of mine as slightly vulgar. and EN-
mic shared her views; but neither ever
ventured upon open remonstrance.
On this day the fruit had looked
particularly tempting. and. though l
was burdened with various other par
cells Of considerable bulk, could not
refrain from investing the customary
sixDence
With some difficulty I managed to
convey myself and parcels up the steps
Of my usual bus. and to sink into the
nearest vacant seat-I ought to have
said the nearest apparently vacant
seat. For II l had not had so many
parcels and things 10 distract my at
tention ] might have noticed that n
bag Of strawberries-the exact coun-
terpart OF the one l was carrying-wa
reposing upon the seat was about to
occupy / might have saved myself
the humiliation Of sitting down upon
n perishable article which did not be-
long to me. But fate willed otherwise.
Ny mind was distraught. My thoughts
were bent upon the parcels In my en-
brace. In fact, sat down, fairly and
squarely. upon those strawberries. and,
realizing their presence. became Gov
cred with confusion. so much so that
1t was fully thirty seconds before
dared TO look at the owner Of the In
sured fruit seated by my side.
1t certainly did not add 10 my com
posure 10 discover that this was none
other than my interesting fellow pas
senger with the attractive voice.
l stammered a confused apology.
feeling / had made myself thoroughly
ridiculous. but grateful for the fact
that the incident had apparently es-
capped the general notice.
Then. an in a fash. the funny side
Of my misfortune became revealed 10
me- would have given all my worldly
goods and chattels to stiae the demon
Of mirth that took possession Of me
at that moment. AS it was. the ef-
fort to hide my merriment nearly
killed me- ] glanced az my neighbor.
hoping ! had not been observed-only
TO discover that he also was shaking
with silent laughter. The sight was
too much FOR my self-control. My
sense Of propriety suddenly deserted
me. and / Joined quite unrestralnedly
in the series OF low chuckles to which
the owner Of the crushed strawberries
was giving vent.
1T was frightfully awkward OF me"
/ gasped at last, feeling / had not suf-
ficiently expressed my sense Of the
enormlty OF MY offense.
"On the contrary" he returned,
promptly. ct was entirely my fault
| had no business TO put that bag
down on a seat which | might have
known would be occupied"
"But I ought 10 have looked where
was going to sit"
And I ought 10 have seen you COM
Ing But please don't distress yourself
any more about such a trihe"
Then you must put an end TO my
distress by taking my strawberries and
giving me the crushed ones It's 4
fair exchange"
Il can't allow that. l am bound to
tell you that, in sitting on those straw
berries, you have really done me
good turn that l can never repay"
Ny curiosity would have demanded
an explanation Of this mysterious ut
terance forthwith, but just then the
bus arrived at its destination. s-e~>
From that day felt as II ny new
acquaintance and l had been Intimate
friends for years; and it seemed the
most natural thing in the world that.
at our next meeting. we should resume
the conversation OF the previous day.
What did you mean by saying
had done you a good turn in crushing
those strEwberrlessr l asked Don't
you think me inquisitive," l added
hastily. seeing the look of embarrass-
ment on his face. TT would ease my
conscience If you told me. that's ALL"
Well then. at the risk of being
thought impertinent, l viii tell you.
Those Strawberries gave me an oppor-
tunity Of making your acquaintance.
which I should have otherwise d.
SPARED Of
That was an answer / had not ex-
pected. The idea that any one. par
ticularly young man. should go out
Of his way TO wish to make my ac-
quaintance was so novel to me that
every other feeling gave way TO one
Of astonishment.
what on earth did you want to
make my acquaintance fory' / ex-
claimed
IF | gave truthful answer 10 that
question" he said. you would have
right to be very angry with me-"
Whereupon ! discreetly held my
tongue.
THAT reminds me-" he continued
presently. I'VE have made one anoth-
er's acquaintance in such an uncon-
ventioDal manner that we haven't even