The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-09-11
BGsSiG'S Mystery

sldIlus Dy Ine sla1r. never nad Ne
seen her sweeter than when now anent
me room she shot glances barbed with
poison. feather-shaited deep with
gloom. Hide and seek her dimplcs
dancing, peek-a-boo her darting eyes.
shook the spirit OF her lover. like
cyclone made Of sighs
What's the matter. Bessie Owens?"
he demanded, daft with pain. What's
the matter, Bessie 0Teus." had worn
70 a weird refrain. She had answered
with a fiutter OF her handkerchief OF
silk, diving into IL her features. like
swan dives into milk. Mattered never.
never, never what he did OF thought
OF said, II he ever came a-near her.
promptly she turned away her head.
All the sweet road through the wood
land on the way to Host Maroon's,
she'd her white face turned TO heaven,
as II seeking stray balloons. Or she'd
stare DER her left shoulder at the
1refiies In the musk, or at blunder-
headed beetles humping daftly through
the dusk. She who once had laved her
spirit in his spirits inner deeps.
turned her gaze from his souls win
dows. taking not the smallest peeps.
~Oh. my cousin. shallow hearted"
quoted he from Locksley Hail. 'ris
a poem Bessie worships; but sne shud-
dered. that was all. 'Tell me, tell me,
Bessie Owens, look at me and tell me
true, has some fatal word been uttered
that has poisoned me for you?"
Shrugged her shoulders like a French
man; but she uttered not q word; and
no sign or token told him what the
shoulder shrug inferred. Then he
tried to be faeetious: told the driving
horse that Bess was a riddle he would
give bag OF oats TO guess. Can you
guess herr" then the pony whinnied
high carol gay. do you notice."
poor Jack murmured, ''he has prompt
ly answered "Neigh!" But the maiden
never Uttered; like Egyptian sphynx
sat she. while roor Jack in falling ca
dence whispered: That's a horse on
me-"
Then he thought his sudden sum-
mons for her company that night.
needed explanation, and he sought to
set the matter right. This Maroon
surprise was got up very late this
afternoon. Twas remembered they
were welded on the 2lst OF June Was
NO Time for preparation; 80 /
found twas up TO me, TO either 90
without you, or to drive round after
tea. Talk to me; for women talk
more On this day than any other 'Tis
the longest. Bessie Owen. ask your IA
ther, ask your mother"
But she got her from the buggy at
the dor OF the Maroons. silent as the
spectral burglar when he "burgles"
after spoons. Twas the same when
driving homeWard; sat she with her
back askew, while the dark abyss be-
tween them yawned the deeper, wider
grew. Poor Jack made some futile e.
fort 10 perk up and prattle gay; twas
like laughter in a graveyard, twas
like grinning when we pray. Sc at
last, in feebler spasms, as we've seen
green-appled kids succumb to pare
goric. straighten out and close their
lids, so Jack reached spasmodic ST.
lence, and, with eyes suffused with
tears, sat and stared at startled Night
time, and his horses wobbling ears.
"Oh. my heart is breaking, Bessie!"
said he as he helped hsr light, to her
coiled back hair he said it. coiled SO
silent, dark and tight. Look out, Bes-
sic, baolng backwards you've undone
your tresses' pins, and miscue on
the fender made you scrape your shape
ly shins." Haughtily she lowered
and heightened. like an empress o'er
slave; ''shins are plebeian. they are
something no true ladies ever have"
Then a shrek hysteric, haunting,
scared the owls and bats; she fell.
laughing, crying like a spirit half in
half in hell. "Jackl" she cried, "avant,
don't aid me. keep your distance; tell
must, or my heart will burst and
slay me. knowing of your love and
trust. Jack Adair, come not anigh me,
I'm unfit for your true arms!"
Another! / will slay him." said
Adalr, with vague alarms. Tell me.
Bessie. tell me truly, has another won
your heart? Though it kills lae, then
forever. here beneath the trees we
part. Trees whose leaves have whis-
pered Ger us. million voiced, about our
love. while like echoes OF our passion,
sobbed the FURNISHED turtle dove"
Nay. By my soul swear 1t, none
usurps your image therel" and. with
hand on heart she stood there, in the
attihde Of prayer.
Then by the great horned spoon
that fed Mahomet," said poor Jack,
you've the switchkeys. please to shunt
me on the right and proper track.
Link the sylIables explaining from the
tank to the caboose!" and the railroad
man stood waiting. staring at the iit-
tie goose.
Well, you came Just after supper.
unexpected, dearest Jack. Keep away,
now, or I'll have TO switch you on an
other track. And-and-Td bean eat-
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