The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-25
THE HOLE
IN THE
WALL.

~ Giles Travis a misanthrop
" RI " and miser. Not that the,
%x x1 knew him, for he never lef
Ask*A0kEx the high walls which sur
rounded his estate, and OF
no account was any one allowed to en-
ter his domain, save the necessary ser
wants and tradesmen.
One warm summers afternoon Sill
Giles was being drawn in his batl
chair across the lawn, thence along q
narrow pathway until the wall was
reached Under the tree there was O
comfortable lounge chair, in which
with the help Of his footman Sir Giles
took his seat.
Push me little nearer the wall" he
cried, irritably. "Now you can go.
Come back at o'clock"
The baronet gazed after the footman
until he disappeared among the trees.
He then proceeded to displace a stone
near the bottom Of the wall His fin
gers groped around, aud he gave sigh
of deep satisfaction.
no letter. They will come, then"
A quarter of an hour passed, and he
tapped his fingers impatiently on the
magazine which lay in his lap.
That's the boy" he mustered, as
there came soft rustling Of dried
leaves.
"She is late''
The voice was impatient.
Sir Giles chuckled softly.
THE impatience of youth"
A glad cry was heard, the sound of a
kiss then another kiss.
"The girl now" the old man said
softly.
Twenty years of solitude had left
their marks on his face. AS he listened
to the love chatter Of the young couple
on the other side of the wall his face
gradually softened.
Not always had he been the recIuse
and misanthrope. There was no proud
er and happier man than Sir Giles had
been some twenty years ago. His life
and hopes were centered in his son
Jack, a fine, manly young fellow, such
as would gladden. any fathers heart.
The quarrel was sudden one. The
reason-a woman. Hard words were
exchanged, for they were both pos
sessed of the Travis temper. A part
ing in anger and two months after
ward news came of Jacks death. Not
line or message had been left for his
father.
The blow was a terrible one to Sir
Giles. He closed his heart to all hui
man sympathy and retired to the seclu-
sion of Travis Towers.
A few months afterward he was
stricken with paralysis, and the long
years had been wearisome with suffer
ing and ennui.
For the last two or three months n
new interest had come into his life.
The whole pretty love comedy seemed
to have been played within earshot.
When first they met there was the
difference of youth. Their voices at
first were louder, but as their love in
creased their seats on the fallen tree
without the wall grew closer 5gether.
and their voices were lowered when
they began to exchange sweet loving
nothings.
A week ago the bog had declared his
passion. The old mans heart seemed
to unfreeze and grow human again as
he listened to the passionate pleading
of the lover, the shy, timid answer
and the frenzied kisses that were ex-
changed.
Only twice since that day had they
met, and a cloud had appeared on loves |
horizon.
what did he sayr she asked.
eagerly.
He refused absolutely he an
swered, mournfully.
What reason did he give, Jack?"
she demanded, Indignantly.
you: guardian told me that was
a penndess adventurer. and that it was
your money l was after" he replied.
moodily.
The wretch, But it doesn't matter.
We can marry without him.
Il did not know you had SO much
money, dear one. You are rich ard
nave nOtnlng.
But we have love"
1--WE can't live on that 1t IS true /
have my prof fession, but I have only
just become a coctor, and it is an uphill
game unless ole has money to buy a
practice. / have none"
Did he not hold out any hope? she
asked, tremulousiy.