The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-05-31

As she alighted from the bus shl
paralyzed Bill By dropping a dollar il
his grizzled paw and declining 10 take
the change he reluctantly counted out
for her
Then she tripped into the old tav-
ern and was assigned to her great
barn-Iike room from which she
emerged almost Immediately and took
a walk across the old fields flled with
so many beautiful memories. ana
away down BY the creek where her
happiest moments had been spent
where she had won the one true love
Of her life-and lost him. II was a
delightful and melancholy afternoon.
Somehow his presence had seemed TO
be actually beside her and all the ten
der moments OF the old c0urtship had
REQUIRED over and over again as she
passed the spots where they had
taken place. Once or twice she had
turned and spoken 10 him as though
he actually we're beside her.
Arriving al back at the tavern she
threw on her shawl and resolved to 90
into the old parlor from which there
was a perfect view Of the winding
river. re landlady was busy so she
went along by herself, knowing the
way full well-indeed how many
dances she had attended al the old
tavern and in that identical parlor.
She was surprised 10 find the door
closed-she never had seen il closed
before. Opening the door she stepped
in and nearly ran directly into
casket standing in the middle Of the
room. She recoiled with a cry-but
not before she had caught sight Of the
face beneath the glass.
Merciful Heaven. il was His face
the face OF Duncan Mitchell. the old
sweetheart she had won and lost. But.
Oh. how old and careworn and sad
and the locks on the temples. how
gray and thin. Involuntarily she went
down on he- xnees beside the casket.
She touched sle glass above the face.
It moved. She slid It to clear open
and leaning forward pressed her lips
upon those Of the lifeless clay.
Presently in came good Mrs. Bing-
ham. the hostess. and all full Of con-
triton that her aristocratic guest |
should have run into such a chamber
Of horrors. No, the guest was not at
all offended or alarmed-only curious. |
Who was the man in the coffin in a
public house? Had he no friends?
How came him here2
All. the story is short. He formerly /
had lived here but had gone away |
many years ago and his people had all |
died since. He had been a member
Of the Life Saving service on the
great lakes and had met his death in
a heroic effort to save the lives of
others. He had ample funds for burial
but left the request that he be buried
IN the old town where felt the only
Joy ! ever knew" as the paper found /
upon him said.
And there's a romance" whispered |
Mrs. Bingham. coming close to her
guest and purring. The paper reads:
And II there should be one who gave /
ne the one glimpse Of Heaven | ever
lad and then shut It from me-should
his one know Of my death, want her
o know that the girl she saw me with
n the old orchard on that terrible
Iune night, and whose presence and
whose kisses / could not explain, was
ny sister. Had | explained It would
nave ruined my sisters life and that
If her husband. AS it was it ruined
nine-and possibly Margarets. But
was bound in honor--and afterwards
Margaret would not let me explain.
want her to know. however, that no
,ther woman's lips have touched mine
md that / die with her name on my
Ups and in my heart Amt it just
Ike a story?"
Was 1t a moan the landlady heard?
She turned quickly, but the patrician
ace Of the guest made no sign.
When they buried him the coffin
vas literally swamped with roses
where they came from nobody knew
except that they came by express and
bore the mark Of a great florist.
did you enjoy yourself at the old
avern, my dear?" bantered Mr.. Man
ion a lew days later when his aristo-
ratio wife appeared at the breakfast
able
"Hilariously." replied Mrs. Manson.