The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-06-16

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Outwardly quiet, she kissed her
again but it was as though door, not
quite closed, had violently shut, never
to open again. She went back into
the house, into Geraldson's room; but
when she saw him look toward her,
pathetic in his helplessness, her heart
beat so quickly she could not bring
herself to say good-by at once, and sat
down in the shadow, angry at her own
weakness.
Nurse" said Geraldson, won't you
draw up the blind? Mayn't see your
face?
"The light would hurt your eyes," she
murmured. Il put on my bonnet be-
cause was going away"
"Going awayT Dismay was in his
voice.
"Yes. I am obliged to 60. There's
another nurse here to look after you"
"Bpt / don't want another nurse"
he cried. "And you've done so much
for me. can't even thank you. !
dop't know what your name is. I've
nSver seen you evenv'
ST., said nothing, but slowly measured
something into a glass. He could not
see that she was trembling.
May I have a drink 2" he asked, as
she put down the tumbler
She had intended to go now imme-
diately. She felt she had fingered too
long, but she could not refuse his
request. She held the cup to his lips,
and he drank slowly, looking at her
hands, which would fiutter away so
soon, like white birds of passage. He
was very weak, and the tears came
into his eyes. The hands were so beau
tiful-so like her hands.
She took the cup and rinsed 1t care
fully and slowly. AT the same moment
little feet pattered along the passage
and baby hands beat upon the door.
She opened it and carried little Mar
gerry to the bedside, telling her to be
very quiet. But Geraldson had turned
his face to the wall, and took no
notice. Having looked at him gravely,
the child seated herself upon the floor,
and began to examine the heap of
treasures in her lap. Suddenly she
held out a chubby hand with an en-
velope.
"A 'etterw she said, emphatically, to
the strange lady. "a 'etterp'
rs it for me, dear?"
"Ess, for 'oor' She ran across the
room. and held it out, triunlphactly.
The eyes under the sunbonnet glanced
at it with indifference. Then at the
name on it-a name with no address
the beautiful hands clutched it eagerly.
A moment after a touch on Geraldson's
shoulder forced him to turn.
Here is a letter." said the quiet
voice, "to a Miss Vining. The address
is not finished. Do you wish it
malledg"
At the thought of her so far away.
so inaccessible, Geraldson's eyes filed
again.
mo, no." he murmured, turning TO
the wall again, cit isn't to be posted
/ haven't any rightr' The next min
ute he begged her, Independently, to
give it to him that he might put it
under his pillow. But the room was
empty. She had gone
Outside, on the veranda, she paced
up and down with the unopened envel-
ope in her hand. He had wanted I'll
back. She had known that even as
she had closed the door, but it didn't
belong TO him. With her name upon it.
1t certainly belonged to her. But
ought she read it? Ought she? Well,
she didn't care-she must 1t was hers,
after all. Tearing it open, she saw
the tender superscription, and all her
scruples vanished like the wind. Then
she read it to the end ana kissed it
many times, and walking up and down,
longed, yet hesitated. to so back into
the darkened chamber.
Geraldson lay awake without any de-
sire to take up the thread Of life again.
All his difficulties pressed upon him,
and he felt lstless and dispirited in
his gloomy room. But soft sound,
the drawing of the blind, the food
ing Of the room with sunshine, caused
him to turn with faint revival of in
terest. The light was the light of sum
set, just bright enough to make every
thing clear, and some one with shining
hair was standing near the window.
Surely he knew that poise of the
head. Only one woman carried her
head just like thati And yet he must
be dreamingl
"Who are you?' he cried eagerly.
A clear voice came through the still
ness. 1--WE brought an answer to your
letter.
"My letter to her? But it wasn't ad-
dressed. 1t wasn't
There wasn't any need TO send it.
You see, Elsie vining isn't in Boston
just now"
mot in Bostonl Then where is she?
Where is sheG'
She came toward him. He saw iier
in the level sunlight as men see Wis
ions.
Don't you understand, Gerald?
Don't you understands"
1t was her voice He raised himself
on the pillows
"Elsiel Elsiev' he cried.
She dropped on her knees beside him.
She gave him her hands and her face.
San Francisco ArgOnaut,