The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-26
The SOlace in
Time of Trial

interest
you're the dearest old papa. muir
INJURED she.
Well, Ino. what is it?' smilingly
inquired the recipient Of these endear-
ments. THE indications are | can do
you a favor"
Il have heard that great minds are
sometimes very suspicious. But pa
pa, dear, do let me stay two weeks
longer There are the charades, the
chestnut party, the ball and the
"And what would Don and | do all
this time? interposed her father.
Such little time, papa relin-
Iuishing the badge to his evident re-
lief and making little caressing oahs
at his thick gray hair. rAs for Don,
he treats me with superb indifference
when you are near. And you? Why,
the moment you alight at the home
station, you will be figuratively swal-
lowed. Mrs. O'Flahrity will recount in
detail the exploits OF her six young
hopefuls, and the widow Higgins will
persuade you for the nineteenth time
to receipt her coal bill The clubs
will banquet you and the church dea-
cons will inquire cautiously but dill
gently into your spiritual wanderings.
With all this and more, | suspect, /
should be dreadfully neglected were
| to return with you" finished Ino
plaintiyeIy.
"You are, spoiled child" said her
father. with quiet smile, "and as
such must have you own yay"
/ She watched him walk away. Who
was there like her father? So replete
with truth and geGtleness, yet SO cap
able in strong activity. A great wave
of tenderness filled her heart. She
was tempted to run after him at this
very moment and declare again her
admiration and love.
They had come from the far West
yome weeks before, she and her faith
cr, to this little mountain resort, to
spend the summer with her sister
Now, unexpected business affairs call
ed him home; hence her urgent re-
quest to remain till the close Of the
season.
The next day she stood with him in
the gray light of early morn at the lit
tile station in Marsdale, saying those
senseless things we all say at mo-
ments of parting with dear ones, try
Ing to remember what she would wish
said after he was gone. Trivial mat
ters impressed themselves indelibly on
her mind She attended to the care
full arrangement of his necktie, from
one loop of which tiny thread was
hanging. She pulled sthe thread off
and tiny twisting it nervously in her
fingers. She watched him fold his
ticket, turning the little green and red
cclorings inside. and put it into his
pocketbook. Then came the moment
Of departure.
AS he held her close in silence, low
lngly pressing down the rumpled
nrown hair. she said brokenly; Pa
pa. don't care for the BALL think
I'll just wait for the charades."
Nonsense laughingly kissing her,
have a good time; come home and
tell me all about it. Mind, am to
have full particulars Of every con-
quest"
The next moment, waving her a
smiling adieu from the rear platform
Of the swiftly-moying pullman, he van.
lshed in the rushing charge of steam
and shrill whistle.
A week of gaiety followed. Ino was
this morning deep in the considera-
tion of her ball costume. After the
hall-the final event of the season
she was going home. She had writ.
ten her father the exact minute to
expect her. and was now impatiently
turning over ribbons and laces when
the door opened.
Recognizing her sisters step. she
cried: I'm so glad you've comel Is
1t not pity to bother ones head crazy
with all this fuss and feathers for a
ball? Think Of the acknowledgements
In the woods, the lovely violets and
land those interesting scarlet things
that wiggle through the ferns-liz-
ardsl You remember the day papa
brought one home in his handkerchief?
Dost thou know, sister mine, wnat is
a ball? 'Tis a jumble of music.
costumes. glitter and Gas light
lntersperse6 with conventional re-
marks which were long ago frayed
at the elbows and bagged at the
knees. Why. one little hour out
there, fourishing a gauze bow IN the
q lIdirection of the woods, knee deep in
those daisies with sturdy old naples
towering overhead, and someone you
Hove, is better than a whole season OF
balls. wish our lives were more sim
pie | wish Dame Fashion didn't own
us body and soul Then we might
wear a few breadths of drapery and
a girdle. as our remote ancestors
why, dear, what is it? Are you illg
tranping recklessly over silks in her
haste to reach her sisters side, for on
glancing up she was startled to see
her face white and troubled.
ut is probably not so serious as il
says" holding forth a bit of yellow
paper, "but it calls us home. Papa
Iis-very i'll. Now, dear, be brave. "
added her sister hastily. noting the
deadly pallor which crept from lip