The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-09-25


tention. it demands saucily, Love me,
love me not7H
The girl in the lobby, who was
thro xing back her furs and coat, felt
suddsniy conscious OF her hair as she
had not done since the days she had
scratched her brother for calling her
~Bricktop." Her head wascrowned with
a mass Of that glorious. Furnished col
or. By which brown is lAeless. fiaxen
suggests weak tea, and golden, perox-
ide OF hydrogen.
A woman in the gallery whispered,
"Shs would be beautiful If it wasn't
for her red hair and a man on the
floor asked, Who is she?"
There were six pretty girls in the
party, but the reply came without hes
itation, That's the girl who is en-
gagged to Transome. Stunning, isn't
she2"
To challenge attention was the last
thing that Paula wished just then. She
felt uncomfortably conspicuous. So
many eyes were leyeled at her that she
half regretted that a young member OF
the legislature had brayed the door
keeper and gained for them seats in
the lobby OF the house.
The Democratic members OF the
legislature Of q certain southern state
were meeting In joint caucus to nomi-
nate a United States senator Tran
nome'z election was generally conceded
and 1t was believed that he would be
nominated on the first ballot. Seventy
three votes were necessary to a nom
ination. and his manager confidently
stated that the number had. been
pledged. II was particularly impor-
tant that there should be no deadlock
and no unnecessary delay about the
nomination.
There were three candidates for the
senatorshlp. Col. Gaspard. a popular
ex-confederate Officer. liberal and
kindly gentleman, and Blythe, a politi-
cian OF such low grade that the success
he had attained did not rebound 10 the
credit OF the state. and Oliver Tran
some, whose eloqnence In several cam
paigns had swept the state
The chairman announced that the
balloting was in order. and the clerk
began TO call the roll
To Paula. the long. slow fling OF the
men seemed endless. In little while
she would witness the hour OF Tran
some's supreme triumph. Was she
glad for him? Glad enough? Responsive
enough TO the great ambition land a
worthy and laudable ambition) that
was on the brink OF fulhllment? What
must she say to him tonight, after it
was hll overg She hardly understood
ahe whimsical. half-sentlmenial reason
that had made her delay her answer to
him: After the election is over,
Thursday evening. you may walk home
with me. and shall tell you then"
She knew that hundred demands
would be made upon him. and II
pleased her that he waived every pos
able claim Of others. and answered
eagerly. "Wait in your seat until l
come. or | might not find you in the
crowd. The best part Of victory would
be II ! might bring It to you"
The counting began: 'sTransome
one; Transome. two; Transome. three;
blythe. one; Gaspard. one Transome,
four: Transome. tally" until the last
ballot was read Surely she had count
cd wrong. she had counted but 72. She
saw the dismayed faces OF the men
around them. heard the burst OF ap-
PIanse from Blythe's supporters.
The gavel raped for silence The
chairman announced the first ballot.
''Transome. "; Blythe, AZ; Gaspard
%: Elerson, l. No election. The clerk
viii proceed to call the roll for another
ballot"
why. I thought Mr.. Transome was
TO be elected on the first ballot. father
said 50 at dinner" said Kathleen Ellis
the governors daughter what was
the matter, Mr.. Roberts?"
Zone Of his men must have backslid-
ed at the very last guess It will
come around all right this time, he
only Deeds one vote. you see"
Bur the next ballot, and the next
showed the same result Blythe,s and
Gaspard's men began to exchange. sc
that Grst one and then the other
would be in the lead. while Transome's
vote remained steady Y. w4til ten
ballots were taken. The leader Of Col
Gaspard's forces then arose and with.
drew Col. Gaspard's name. in the in
terest OF party harmony, and to pre-
vent a deadlock, which would be de.
ploranle.
"Snrely one Of Gaspard's men viii gc
over 70 Transome now" whispered
Roberts. "HeI be elected within a
quarter Of an hour"
Paula put her cold little hand
against her burning cheek "Oh. why
did / say that | would see him TO
nightg" she thought. "It would b
cruel to darken his glad hour. In the
first JOY OF success, ! wonder II will
matter much either way"
The counting of the ballots began:
Blythe, one; Blythe, two: Blythe
three" until Paula lost all count
Blythe. Blythe. seemed to reiterate
,snffl eha rnu1d havn ceraaruad af fhf