The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-22
QO-O-o-o-o-o-O0-oO-oC
8 Letitio; a 8
2 Dreamer Z


Ahlhb % DldchF IL going to-"
She stopped. suddenly conscious of
a tension in the atmosphere. Both
her aunts were regarding her ST.
lently, with an aspect so grave, so
reproachful, that she looked from one
to the other in astonishment and quick
compunction.
What is it?" she cried. Were you
worried about me? came as quick
as | could, and indeed / am not wet"
Yes, Lefty. we were worried gbout
you" said Harriet, austerely. "But
not on account Of the rain. That would
mt have mattered. It is something
very different from that"
Well, said Lefty, grown suddenly
quiet, what is 1t, then? Something
has vexed you-something that have
done? Why don't you tell me what It
is?"
TO think" Josephine burst out al
most tearfully. that you should have
kept 1t from us all this time-that you
should have done 1t without ever ask
ing, or even mentioning 1T II isn't as
II we hadn't INDUCED you, either, and
always let you do what seemed right
and proper It does seem as II you
might have given US your confidence.
at least!"
TO take the responsibility Of doing
a thing like that" Harriet went on. "A
young girl like you. And you might
have known how It would be talked
about by everybody. Indeed. It is al
ready, ! don't doubt; for II Mrs. Fos-
dick knows it."
And she saw you, so you can't deny
It. The back window, tool And you
know what sort Of a man he is--how
he would hate anything like that. Why
he's been around thanking half the
parish" said Josephine. with fine In
consequence. so Mrs Fosdick says,
though someway II hadn't got to our
ears-and whether he suspects or
not"
A deeper flush than that which the
wind had set there famed up sudden
ly in Letty's cheeks.
DO you mean" she cried. crimson
10 the tips OF her little ears. that
have been doing anything out Of the
way about-about--M Hollister?"
"Out OF the wayl" Harriet repeated,
IN high displeasure. Il don't know
what you call IT, II may seem to you
entirely proper and praiseworthy to
be taking him things-pies and ginger.
bread and what not-and stealing
round to his kitchen window with
them az all hours. and never saying a
word about It 20 your own family"
Il didn't" cried Lefty. Il never did
such a thing in all my lifel What
can you mean7 Why. Aunt Harriet.
pies--and--it's too funnyl--the kltch-
en- window"
She began to laugh Historically.
Lefty, Lettyl" said Josephine. shak-
ing her head with sad and warning
significance.
Then the girls anger took fire and
blazed quick and hot
''You don't believe mel" she cried.
"You think am telling you lie about
it-when I have never deceived you
in my lifel II Is you who haven't any
confidence IN me. You accuse me OF
something never dreamed Of doing,
and when tell you It isn't true you
don't believe mel You take Mrs. Eos
dicks word instead OF minel will
not tell you any more. win not stay
and liste--I will
She turned with a little Wild sob.
and ran--out OF the room--out Of the
house. They heard the door slam after
her. and the roar OF the rain as 1t
caught her In It's fierce embrace. The
next moment Letiti1 had sprung into
the room. She, too. had heard the
bang OF the door and Letty's voice.
raised in her last passionate words.
what have you done? Where is
Letty?" she cried.
Her sisters were on their feet, white
and frightened.
shes gonel" gasped Josephine.
looking at the door with her aston
ished eyes.
"Gonel In this STORM And you
sent herl You blamed her for some
thing that she didn't dol"
Letitia's terror had fed. Her cour-
age and nfience had come back in
a reassuring wave. She could have
smiled at the misery Of moment be-
fore.
"It Is all ny faultH she cried. !
told you to wait-and never dreamed
that she would come so soon. It was
mt Letty--it was 1! was afraid TO
tell you, but it was-I. And now
Lettyl" she cried. as II the girl could
hear. And then, before her bewil-
dered sisters could stop her, she. too
had thrown open the door and plunged
out into the rain, catching a cloak
from the rack as she ran.
Josephine collapsed on the sofa. but
Harriet's strong and practical common
sense asserted itself firmly.
"Of all thingsl" she said, still pale,
but severely collected. "Letitia's
crazy--and SOS Lettyl Heaven only
knows what It All means, but why
couldn't they wait and listen to rea-
son. instead Of flying on the handle
ike that7 They'll both catch their
death, out IN this storm. And all on
account of 4 little gingerbread and-a