The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-16

and telling war tales in the same good
cause with an unreal cheerfulness.
And the false light in his face turned
to a touchingly real one when poor
Jacques, all the lovelier for the tell
tale paleness in her face, came into the
room, where few were yet assembled,
saw him, as was inevitable, and after
a moment of inward selfrepression,
came over to him with an air Of as
sumed Indifference.
Have you any small articles, Cap
tain Danegarth," she said, smiling
after the first greeting was over, that
one Of little means but large sympathy
could buy?7
Really, ! hardly know what to offer
you," he replied, the ardent lover in
differently yelled behind the shop
walker Here are some shells, all
with their teeth drawn. That one
wrecked q field cannon and then killed
man; it would make a good paper
weight. And here are spent-cartridge
cases, any number Of them, mostly
blood-guilty, and ugly things at the
best for a dainty table" Then, glane-
ing round the stall, and not knowing
how close Fate was at hand, he eX-
claimed: stay! There are few
trophies | brought back myself, and
one Of them, this silver locket has
quite a history attached to it. A
pretty thing, isn't it? he said, TAX
ing from its tray and holding up be-
fore her silver ornament, heart
shaped, and about as big as Il silver
dollar, with an involved monogram
carved upon one side OF 1t. "Ihe poor
chap who owned this was ightinfl
against us with the natives. hC'
charged CALAMITY up hill we held,
and was mortally wounded by one of
our troopers went out to him when
the rush was over, gave him a drink
of water, and held his head upon my
knees, though he was an evil-looking
customer, while he died. We buried
him where he fell, and | took the
locket from his breast, and possessed
why know notify an idle fancy that
somewhere and somehow | might be
able to restore it to the sweetheart or
wife who gave ii. Good God. What
is the matter?"
All the time he was speaking that
much-tried woman had kept her eyes
fixed upon the locket; and, as he ended.
from out Of her heart and over her
trembling lips went forth a cry-a hui
man cry of irrepressible emotion-clear
and unequivocall She turned away as
though she might have tainted; and
in a moment the soldiers arm was
around her waist, supporting her. But
she struggled from him, and
"Open itr' she cried. "Oh, open it
and make sure! may be mistaken
open the locxetl 1t will not open,
have often fried"
"Yes-yes it VIII The little spring
at the top, press thatv'
There was a spring, though so cum
ningly concealed among the Ornamen-
tation that the captain had never be-
fore noticed it. But now he stepped
back, the locket in his hand, and
pressed it as he was bidden. AT the
touch the side flew back, and there
before his eyes was a miniature Of a
girl-a beautiful girl Who was it?
Why. was he dreaming, was it possible?
No; he was not dreaming. Another
look, and the fact leaped into GER
tainty-it was Jacques herselfl
surely this is your portrait?D said
the soldier in amazement.
Yes, and | gave it TO him when we
were first engaged"
"Then the man who fell on that hill-
side, from whose breast | took this
thing, which l have had through all
these weeks of uncertainty--the man
who died in my arms-was your hus-
bandy'
YES" answered the widow simply;
and forthwith, sitting down on con-
venient camp-stool, hid her face again
in her hands and wept without reserve
or shame.-The American Queen.