The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-26
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QREAKING IT GENTLY.
BY SARAH WILLIAMSON.

BY SARAH WILLIAMSON.
EEEEEEGE EEEEEE
-4O&A HE messenger boy waited
Y while Jack Powers wrote
8 7 D his answer TO her note.
She might have telephoned,
WOW but it was her way TO send
messengers with her missives
"yery well, Kathleea.r wrote Jack.
-In be there. You say for the last
time wonder whyfr
He sent a boy with this note and an
order on a florist for a box Of violets.
as the messages accompaniment, and
then he turned to his work again
But his eyes failed to 90 more than
stare at the figures before him. His
brain could not grasp their meaning.
KathIeen's face persisted in dancing
about the ink-well. in a twostap that
playrd havoc with business.
"Tm a beastly cad" cogitated Jack,
Aand that's what. But it must be done.
For the last time. she said. Perhaps
she's heard II would help things a
lot IL she had
He looked ms,4itatively at a photo
graph which he fished from dark
pigeonhole in his desk.
shes a mighty nice little thing be
said to himself. but"
And then he took another photograph
from an inner pocket Of his coat, and
kissed it tenderly.
"vioIetsr'
Kathleen buried her nez retrouse in
the purple fragrance and shifted with
satisfaction.
'Jack always sends vlolets," she
said TO no one in particular. though
her maid sat near by sewing some lace
on the dinner frock her mistress had
bade her lay out for her to wear
Kathleen looked gloomily upon tall
vase Of long-stemmed American Beau
ties that stood on the table.
"That's the difference in men. Law
renee sends big Beauties because they
cost money, and Jack sends violets
because they're my favorite flower.
Poor jack How can / break his heart
for I suppose it will. You say for
the last time. l wonder whys Heigho
We must take our medicine, Marie.
Because 7 prefer millions to love in a
cottage-that's why Hurry with the
waist Marie, l must not be late at my
last dinner with Jack"
'No. 1 didn't think we needed
chaperon tonight, Jack"
"Why not to-night:y
Because. we'll
"'Life is too short to quarrel
Life Is too short to sigh
"Tll tell you by-an-by, Jack-after
the fish, perhaps
IT, too, have something to tell you.
Kathleen"
For the space Of ten minutes. while
the garcon placed the soup before
them. Jack felt uncomfortable. Every
body hates to attack a disagreeable
duty. When the duty involves a pretty |
woman. it is doubiy distasteful. How
ever. he took a surreptitious peep at the
photograph in his breast pocket and it
neryed him to his task. Nevertheless, !
there was no hurry about it.
Isn't it absurd, Jack, to say that
love makes the world 90 round?" asked |
Kathleen.
In her diplomatic, feminine way, she
had wished to lead up to the subject
she had come to discuss
"Of course it is" he answered, when
champagne-if one has enough Of it.
will do the same thing"
"Salmon-oh, Jack, do yon remem-
Der how we trolled for salmon at Del /
Monte last summer:"
Did he remember? He had to pat
the photograph In his pocket to forget
: Il read the other day" Kathleen was
saying, that a girl who couldn't make
up her mind between two lovers hasn't |
a mind worth making up"
She looked at him from the corners
Of her eyes
Jacks face lighted up. She knew.
then. and that was the meaning Of her
desire for farewell dinner. How easy
it would be now TO explain.
But Kathleen was not waiting for an
answer.
They say there's no skill in winning |
game where one holds all the trumps |
But in the game Of hearts. JacK, sup
pose one held just two. Don't you
think it would be hard to know which |
to discardw
Bravol thought Jack. What clever /
iittle diplomat Kathleen Isl
But she veered to the other side.
Isn't it nice, Jack. just we two sit
ting here like thisgv oh. so tenderly.
"Isn't it like old timesy'
He really couldn't help it-one little
kiss was nothing.
There was a pause Of some minutes.
and then Kathleen sprang to her feet
Don't, Jack, don't. or won't be able
70 brace myself for the ordeal Don't
look like that"
He put bis hand in his coat pocket
Yes. the photograph was there Had
be had been untrue to her?
I'm engaged-engaged, Jack" said