The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-04-17

words would have fain concealed, and
! whispered. 'Please don't forsake me.
III came here to look for you"
"Why?" she asked. A most awk-
ward question!
Why" repeated slowly, to gain
time. "Oh. because those people in
there bore me. And you-you never
do that. Miss Kerrison."
"Well, 1t is something to be har-
Dor Of refuge" she remarked. Thank
you. Then, by the way, is it really
true, this time. that | am to con-
gratulate your
ION my good fortune in finding you
here. do you mean? why, certainly" /"
l said.
Il did not mean that" she replied. IL
meant that-that-well. the usual ru-
NOR is out concerning you"
"Indeedw exclaimed. But which
Of the usual rumors do you refer tor
"There is only one-isn't there-that
is commonly linked with the name Of
an eligible bachelor. But is 1t trueY
Believe me-" l assured her. ut is
not true"
II am so gladr' she breathed softly.
"Poor grill AT least-that is" She
would have covered up her indiscre-
tion, but. perceiving that it was now
too late, she paused abruptly and
lapsed into silence.
why are you glad?" l asked had
not intended to proceed on exactly
these lines. but l found 1t difficult
to be sufficiently brutal now that the
necessity confronted me.
"Oh," she drawled. with woeful
affectation OF Indifference, Il think,
as the song says, You are owre young
TO marry yet you know"
Il wonder what your wife will be
like" she went on presently. II
do hope she will be nice, helpful sort
Of girl. and not mere society butter
fiy-Iike me-
"If she were like you" I began,
and stopped.
"she won't be-" said Miss Kerrison
quickly.
Il mean." she explained, "that the
object OF our first fancy is so sell
dom the person to make US truly hap
py. II we but knew It,"
remembered then that some one
had told me this was Miss Kerrison's
third season.
First love is the only love-" said
firmly. 1t was no time for mawkish
scruples. had temporized with my
conscience too long already. She must
now be made to realize the sad truth
in all its ghastliness.
That is not so." she said. Believe
me, Mr.. Craven. when tell you that
you are as yet far too young TO know
what is best for your welfare"
Anyway" said /. when my fate
does come along"
And there made an abrupt end. for
she had suddenly begun to laugh.
There could be no doubt about 1t.
She was laughing-not Historically. ell
ther, but with unmistakable enjoy
ment. as at an irresistible jest.
'Afr. Craven" she said at last. more
seriously. II think I'll be frank with
you. My honest dealing may concely-
ably cost me your good opinion. but
only for n time. You'll like me all the
better afterward. And l am sure you
have enough common sense. really, not
to think me unwomanly or immodest in
saying what am about to say to you
now"
Miss Kerrison." cried In sore dis
tress, "forbear. reflect, consider. Don't
speak yet. You may save US both
much pain II you keep silent"
Nonsense" she exclaimed sharply.
This was an affront. go on. then,
IL you Will" said sternly.
"I'ye an idea." she said. that we are
at cross-purposes. and that 1t is all
the fault of those dear. foolish Fris-
bys. Mrs. Frisby has said
something to you about-well. about
me, hasn't she? Please be straightfor-
ward, Mr. Craven"
''No. she hasn't" answered.
"Mr.. Frlsby, then:"
'Yes."
"What did he say?"
turned on her In desperation. "How
can repeat what he saidT cried.
Miss Kerrison. let me implore you to
say no more. Let me entreat-"
NO" she replied. II will tell you
what they said. They told you'll
wel-had a penchant for you"
"They were wrong" l exclaimed,
still eager to spare her.
"0f course they were" she rejoined.
"As wrong as they were when they
told me-well--that you were-in love
with my unworthy self. But"
And she began to laugh again. This
woman, | tell you, had no sense of
humor, or of decency. either. should
think. But they meant well. sup
pose. And there's no harm done
except to our vanity, perhaps. Any
way, the path they would have had us
tread hardly leads to the Wicked Place.
does it:''
And she smiled at me inscrutably,
and l think she would have added
some pleasant. salving words. But
just then a man poked his head round
the bead curtain and she darted up
fo-..-...1 l.t...