The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1904-12-01
The Persian Rug

That rug was a perfect sumner, all
gorgeous rich blues and greens, with
a background of a most beautiful ter
ra-cottary crimson. 1t had been made
expressly for us" as Nita explained
proudly to the greasy Oriental, who,
however, did not seem bit impressed
with the information, but persisted in
the extremely low price he had offered
US at the beginning. An absurdly low
price, yet one to which we finally had
to agree, for both Nita and were
firmly resolved on one thing-we
would 60 to Mrs. Stephenson's house
party. 1t would probably be our last
bit Of fun with the old crowd. Hence
forth we would have to forego society
and earn our own livings. (How we
hated the ideaD For Mrs. Stephen
sons house party one, of course, need
ed new gowns, etc, and in conse-
quence, money. Now, since a most
unlSind guardian-cousin (not angeD-
had invested our small fortune in such
a way that it not only became smaller,
but was finally lost to view entirely
we were penniless, and when we de-
cided we must sell something at once,
the discovery was made that no one
thing in the house would bring more
than the rug. Having the better
business head" of us two-did the
most Of the bargaining. | argued, the
Oriental stood firm. | argued again.
and-succumbed. Nita bore up brave
ly until the man began counting the
money out to me, then, with one howl,
she flew from the room, slamming the
door after her.
Well, we went to the house party.
would have had a good time if it had
not been for Nita. She spoiled every
thing. Each evening while we dressed
for dinner she would scold nightly.
Each night she would sob herself to
sleep, and me to wakefulness, and
through all the seedlings and the tears
swept the refrain: "Our rug, our dear,
beautiful rug!"
Then, one evening, some little time
after the dressing bell had rung, Nita
came in from-I don't know where
She bad fearful sunburn on, and was
80 mussy, and on my timidly suggest
ing her hurrying a bit (she was aim
lessly gazing into the mirror), she
turned to me with the sweetest, gem
tlest smile, and said. Il know it, dear"
nearly tainted. Not being as well
acquainted with Nita as / am, you may
not appreciate this. | can only say 1t
wasn't like her. OF course was puz-
zled by the change, but thought she
might have realized there wasn't time
to scold then. That would have
double measure at the next opportun-
ity l had no doubt; but no, bedtime
came and no outburst, wrathy or tear
full. Such a relief Yet hours after
Nita was asleep lay awake thinking.
What could it mean? Alas, no light
dawned on me. The next morning
(Nita being late) the rug was men
toned the first thing, but so different
ly.
Dear old rug" she said, gaspingly
(she was being hooked into her gown,
perhaps it is Just as well, Henrietta,
that-that we didn't keep it."
| started.
"A house party is rather good fun,
isn't it?" she continued.
The next day we dined on board a
yacht, and didn't see Nita alone un-
til bedtime.
"Oh, I'm having a bully time, Hen
riettal" she exclaimed.
! felt hurt 80 would have had
from the start. if"
"Ye., know-you poor dear" she
said. IF hadn't been so very horrid
about the rug. But now I'm not, am