The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-03-13
BY HELENA DIXON.

The next morning when John re
paired as usual to his studio he uttered
vehement sentences not at all in prais,
Of his wifes mother.
While he was engaged in undoing 81
far as lay in his power the mischief sh,
had unconseiously wrought Mrs. Per
ring was closeted with Carrie. Tht
young wlfe's face was colorless. an6
her eyes were wild with anger and in
dignation as she listened to her moth
ers words.
Its a beautiful face-the handsom
est picture of real person ever saw
Great dark eyes, that seem to look you
through, hair as black as night and
hanging In ringlets all about her face
and neck. The skin is just like alabas-
ter, so white and clear, and the lips
look like ripe cherries for all tLs
world"
Carrie sank back in a fainting condl-
ton and her mother caught her in her
arms.
"Oh. my poor lamb. that should see
you treated in This shameful manner.
And John so dignifed and proper
seeming. The hypocrite But I'VE mis-
trusted that his loving ways were all
put on ever since cleaned his desk
and found scraps Of poetry about love
and such like nonsense"
Mother, don't; you viii Kill me by
your suspicious. can't believe it.
John cares for no one but me. He is
too noble. too
Take my keys then. ana 90 satisfy
Yourself Go look at the SIRENS por-
trait in the closet. 1t isn't finished vet.
! could see that, and l wish now I'd
had presence Of mind enough to give it
t,fo or three extra touches With tile
orush myself. No wonder you found
his room locked so mapy times Of late.
and had to wait your artists pleasure
before you could enter. And that old
woman in the alpaca hood that we've
noticed going upstairs so many times
Of late isn't an old woman at all. I've
made up my mind about her. She's
the original Of that portrait. ana no
mistake. See, there she goes up the
steps nowl Mighty careful she IS. too.
not TO show her face. There-did you
ever seen an old woman with such feet
and ankles? She's the womanw
When the unknown woman had de-
parted. and the unconscious John was
quietly eating his dinner, Carrie left
the table under some pretext, and with
the rusty key in her hand she ascerd-
ed the stairs and entered the 81 dio
closet and stood before the painted
painted form Of woman before whom
her own charms sank into insignifi-
cance.
What was this beautiful creature to
her husband.
Carries heart lay like a lump Of lead
in her bosom as she turned away and
sought her mother.
Shortly after John returned to his la
bors, tile two women-the elder. filled
with vlrtuous indignation. the younger
too utterly wretched even for tears
left the house, taking little Eddie with
them.
Silently the poor wife followed her
mother in quest of some quiet retreat
wherein to pass the night. On the
morrow Mrs. Perring had resolved on
taking her charges into the country.
This was Carries birthday, and al
ways heretofore. during the few years
Of then welded life, John had remem-
bered the day with a suitable gift, but
to-day he seemed to have forgotten not
only the present but even that it was
her birthday
Poor thing" murmured Mrs Per-
ing, philosophically as in lonely
room, Carrie clasped her boy to her
bosom and went passionately over her
wrong.
Poor thins it's hard for h 70 to bear
at first She loved him altogether bet
ter than he deserved even were he
true to her. It's best she should see
him no more. Let her have her cry out |
and then she will be calm and differ
ent woman entirely strong to resent |
the insult and injury which wretch |
has heaped upon her.
When the gloomy night was curtain
ing the earth In darkness, Carrie
begged plteously to be permitted to
took upon her old home once more. she
would not enter the house-she might |
never again do that--but she could !
gaze'a moment into the dear, familiar |
room. John might be in the pleasant |
sitting room as Of old. She had left a
note for him, and she ionged to know
how he bore the separation; whether
he was rejoiced or sorry that she was
gone
ITS all NONSENSE" said Mrs. Per-
ring. angrily, "but If you're determined
to 80 | shall 20 along to keep you from
rushing right into the villains arms"
A cheerful light shone out from the
windows Of the Royaton
cottage as the two women stealthlly