The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-03-15

ana unmOyed, and somehow Max was
distinctly vexed thar she took his news
so quietly.
Il am very glad,v Gretchen repeat
ed, as she took o paper from the desk
and twisted it into curl papers about
her pretty curls. She treated Max as
she would have treated an elder broth
or, and the familiar action served to
reassure him completely.
Il must dave made a mistake" the
young man thought to himself as Gret-
chen, with soft goodnight, left the
room.
The next day Max awoke with
light heart. He was no longer trou-
bled about his cousin, and to-day
Frau Bettina had promised to give
him a definite answer. Their last in
teryiew had been of nature to leave
the anxious lover with high hopes of
success. In fact, his triumphant love
had demanded expression in a sonnet
which he had sat up late to compose.
This, Max determined, should accom-
pany the most beautiful flowers that
money could buy, and when he was
sure that the object of his devotion
had received his offering he would go
himself and demand the confirmation
Of his ardent hopes.
"Gretchenr'
At the sound of Max's impatient
voice the young girl came quickly out
of her room, still dressed in a wrapper
and her forehead surrounded by row
of brlstling curl papers.
"Good morning, Max. Did you call
me?v
"Yes. Has any one been neddlIng
with my papersT'
Mercy, no. you may be sure that
no one except yourself ever sits at
your desk. and 1 never allow any one
to 90 into the library. But is anything
missing?'
"Y-yes, a-a-somethins had writ
ten"
"A page Of manuscript
Max turned sharply toward his cou-
sin. Did that new note in her voice
mean that she was laughing at him?
Forgetting himself il his irritation, he
cried angrily:
so 1t was you, then, who took my
poetry You saw TO whom it was ad-
dressed and"
Max stopped, ashamed at the sight
Of Gretchens naughty face.
Forgive me. child was vexed,
extremely yexed. This poetry-a SON
net-had a special importance for me
and--it is ridiculous thing to confess
II am absolutely unable to write it
over. l cannot even remember a sin
Gle line. Ny mind is 4 perfect blank.
Ach, Himmell was ever man 50 un-
lucky heforefn
Away lie went, slamming the door
hehind him.
Max did not return until evening,
and even as he had done in the morn
ing, he slammed the door upon his
return. Entering his library, he was
disagreeably surprised to find an EN-
PITY room instead of warm fire with
Gretchen toasting her toes before it.
"Gretchenr'
In answer to his call, the young girl
hastily appeared, still dressed in her
flowing wrapper and curl papers.
"Whatr' Max exclaimed. "Not
dressed yet? At o'clock in the even
ingTt
For all answer, Gretchen began to
cry.
IL was $3.50 sorry about that
poetry she sobbed. Il have-been
hunting for it all day long, and !
can't find 1t anywhere and I'm SO
tlred-and so discouraged-for row
youn never trust me again"
Hunting for my old sonnetw cried
Max. "Why. Gretchen, child. ] can
never be thankful enough that I did
not send it. If you only knew-but
listen.
when went this morning to see
the-the lady / told you about yester-
day. can you guess what welcome
awaited me? The announcement OF
her marriage to a horrible old man, a
man as rich as he is wicked, which Is
saying a great dealF'
Then then-you do not love her
any longergp
Il detest herl OH Gretchen, dear
little girl do not cry so hard Come
forgive me for all the pain | ha
caused YOU"
Max put his arm around her and
drew her head down upon his shoulder
"Stop crying, little cousin, and III
tell you what Wen do. You hurry
and get dressed, and then wen go of
and have nice little supper some
where and then 90 to the theatre. Will
that please youi"
AS he spoke Max natted the soft hair
beneath his hand and pricking his fin
gers on one Of the stubby curl papers
drew it carefully off. Suddenly a deer
and hearty burst of laughter filled
the room.
Look, Gretchen cried the young
man.
And spreading out the paper before
the eyes Of the astonished Gretchen
Max showed her the missing sonnet
"Oh, Max, indeed did not mean
ttII,ch chfld fffc ncnm was WRITER