The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-03
A Little Spread
By LOUISE HARDENBERsH ADAMS.

cns $500
out each bright piece and looked up at
Miss Dorcas. her witless face strangely
changed by an adoring smile.
she knows most o 'em wells | do"
cried Miss Dorcas, "an' some folks says
she amt over smart. Jes' see her now;
she's glad rs be over my cape"
Seems TO be-" shrilly cried Mrs.
Steely. eyeing the cape. scornfully; IF
/ was 'bliged to wear slch rack O
rags Id feel like I'd rolled in the mer-
lasses. an some fool he'd shook the
pieeebag out On me-
''Ial honey softly interposed old
Nanny Gray. there's no 'casion to
talk so. an Mis- Dorcas, She serves
lot O. pralsin' fur the way she's worked
on her cape
That's very true" said Mrs. Cold
burg emphatically. An 10 my no.
ton it's very suitable fur Miss Doreas
She'll set II off,
well, most guess she'll be set or
when she wears II" murmured Mrs
Basye. a white-faced. emaciated wOm-
an. dressed In deep black. She claimed
the right 10 wear her rusty Grape
widows veil '.The hull endurin' time
as Mrs. Purr was apt to whisper. Now
she sat with it partly drawn over her
face and gazed dismally at Miss Dor
cas-. while she restlessly slipped her old
wedding ring. her one link to the few
golden years her varied life held. back
and forth on her finger. pushing the
heavy band up to the enlarged knuckle
it could never pass. then working It
back with a sigh.
AIlss Dorcas watched nervously. as
one after another Of the ladies' tried on
her treasure until she reached the end
OF her endurance. Taking il from Mrs.
Purrs unwilling hands she cried
"Now. you've all seen II. must go
an flnd Mis- Alllholdin. fur she prom
Ised me a pilIer bier TO keep it In when
twas done. Come Lizzie, an help me
put our new cape all nice away"
Before they eould reach the door it
was thrown open with quick jerk and
Milly Sherby rushed into the room.
''Oh. you none o you ken ever guess
what know she shouted As Milly
was famous for her ways Of oyerhear-
ing much that passed between Mrs.
Milholdin. the matron. and tile lady
visitors. her news was always eagerly
welcomed and 10 time ever lost in
guessing "lIa, ha. Oh. oh III jest
die o it, she giggled. "Hei he. Oh.
gracious, don't you all wisht you
knowed what do? Te! he.7
"why mercy to me child you must
found a Hal Has nes. full O Te.
He's eggs" Mrs. Goldburg cried.
stop your laughln', Miliy, that's
good girl an tell Us iustanter what's
struck you"
"Oh. oh. oh, you can't eny o you
guess. 50 I'll tell Uttered Alilly. "But
say. don't eny o. you tell Mis- Mil
holdin. Why. MIS- Upfolds here. an
she's goin' to heve little spreadr
that's jest what she's called it--fur all
o us ladies-at the park" Mllly -four
ished her strangely bent arms before
her. "We're all goln',r she shrleked,
'an'--an' -we--we're to heve cakes.
1el he. an oh. goody! ice cream. Ny,
III die. fur we're to cit all we ken
stuff Mis- Uphold. she said So
At first Milly's story was received
with much doubt. No one could believe
such wonderful thing was the truth,
until Mrs. MiIholdin stepped into the
room for moment and told them Of
Mrs. Upfold's invitation.
"Now." she cried, her kindly face
beaming at the thought Of their happi-
ness. Now. every one Of us must go
tomorrow for wen have a lovely
time Mrs. Upfold says. The park is
beautiful now. so many of She flowers
are in bloomrn
"Than goodness exclaimed Miss
Dorcas. my cape's all ready. I'll jes'
love to pear ont in It first At real
style party. Dear me. must see il 1
ken fix up Lizzie Il bit" She hurriedly
left the room with Lizzie, anxious to
see what she could do with dirty.
white silk shawl. Lizzie's one article
OF finery.
Mrs Basys furtively fingered her
veil. and Wondered II she could steal a
chance to steam It over the teakettle in
the Kitchen
Mrs Goldburg hurried to her corner
of the room She shared with Mrs. Purr
60 look over the poor contents Of her
trunk. an article that raised her to a
position Of wealth in the opinion of The
other ladies'.
In short time Aunt Ann Fairmam
was tile only one lefy in the big room.
she had been burned out and was
brought TO the almshouse in her FIRE
scorched garments, after losing in