The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-03
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BY MT CALDOR.
BY MT. CALDOR.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS AssoclATIoMa
CHArTER XIv.-fCoNTrNuED.l

CHAPTER xiv. V.-fCoSTINUED.l
"When my grandfather died his will
provided that his two orphan nieces,
Flora and myself, should be brought up
alike on the family estate and receive
the same education. He also arranged
that my Aunt Marcia should remain
with me. He never loved me, but he was
a just man. Had he known the tortur-
ing life before me, doubt not he would
have made better provision for the
child Of his eldest son. My Aunt Pa
melia-but, no. | will not describe her.
The bitterness Of childish feelings
come back through all these years.
Let her actions tell you how hard and
pitiless she could be. She disliked me
thoroughly. She hated my mother for
coming into the family without for
tune to add to its grandeur, and daily
and hourly ! was made to feel the in
feriority of my position to that of her
darling Flora, whose comfortable in
come lay accumulating in the
banks. Childhood is light-hearted and
elastic, so did not feel this persecu-
tion as my helpless Aunt Marlca did.
Often have / wondered to see her with
flashing eyes tearing around our hum
BILE little room In the upper story, like a
wild beast in its fury, vowing ven
geance with a terrible earnestness that
frightened me even then. She loves me
so much that every slight to me was
4 thousand-fold worse than open insult
20 herself 1t was hard life, and grew
worse as | advanced toward maiden
lood. II was very injudicious, but ma
tural, that Aunt Marica should teach
me to look forward to some time In the
future. when should triumph over my
prosecutors. How ! remember her
gloating over my fair face as means
of lifting us away from our woeful lifel
And how she encouraged my efforts in
my studies, glorying in my proficiency
above Flora, whose abundant pleasures
diverted her attention.
At length a, drawing master came to
teach us. 1t was your father. Walter,
and with his coming dawned new ex-
Istence for me. He penetrated the thin
veil Of affectation that hid Flora's sell
fish, frivolous heart, and turned away
the moment his duties were over. 1t
was not so with me: he fingered by my
side after our pencils had been laid
away He Joined me in my rambles.
He shared every pleasant hour | knew.
He was so kind thought / could never
repay him. Perhaps out OF gratitude
love was born; but / loved him as a
true warm-hearted woman loves but
once In a lifetime No wonder what is
left OF me Is called cold and icy
thought earth held no brighter joy
when he whispered his declaration OF
love. Ny aunt had watched us with
lynx-eyed vigilance. She said only that
/ must keep It secret when l went to
her with my new-found happiness.
"At that time the house was throng-
ed with company. among whom was
the Hon. Mr. Conmore. then the pre-
sumptive Lord Col'lnwood. and his
brother Arthur. Regard for appear
ances prevented my Aunt Pamela
from following her wishes and exclud-
ing me from the drawing-rooms. and
so II happened Arthur Conmore be-
came interested In me, and showed a
fiattering preference for my society.
told It to my Aunt Marcia, with a
girls foolish pride OF conquest. but
said lightly my duty to Paul required
/ should repnlse him. My aunt's eyes
sparkled. viii not stay to tell how she
worked upon my vanity and pride. my
evil, revengeful feelings, till | had
promised to bring Arthur Conmore to
my feet, and keep him there until she
gave me leave 10 dismiss him. All /
thought about was to show Flora I was
not so Insignificant as she thought.
Poor. giddy moth, was flutterlng
around the candle of my destruction.
The first / knew | was literally engag-
ed to two persons. My aunt hushed my
alarm and promised TO bring me safely
out OF the difficulty. Meanwhile my ire
was kept aflame by the supercilious
speeches OF Flora. who sneeringly told
me one day that IL Arthur Conmore
would condescend TO marry me she
would persuade his brother. to whom
she was engaged. to allow us. when he
became Lord Collinwood. enough in
come to keep us from starvation. Need
I explain how such talk operated on
the mind Of a sensitive, high-spirited
girl, brought up as l had been? Alas
/ was ready to join with my aunt, AMI
long for some misfortune to come e
place her beneath my feet. / still con
tinued to soc Paul, and loved him even
more passionately than at first. HC
thought my excuses for my frequent
rides with Mr.. Conmore natural
enough, well knowing how little I wa.
my own mistress, and indeed was otter
kept away from me himself b. The
Hon. Mr.. Conmore, who had taken {
great fancy to him after seeing wha
an excellent sportsman he was. ant
they were often away after game. Ny
Aunt Marcia watched everything wiz
the alert eye Of love and the unceasinl
vigilance of hate. She came TO me on'
day repeating a conversation she haI
overheard between my Aunt PANEL;
and Flora. 1t nearly maddened me-
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