The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-12-30
LWDA,S RETURN
By FLORENCE HULL WRTERBURN


+ The horseman slowed up, and when
alongside stopped entirely, 20 eH
change greetings He was elderly
and distinguished. despite bis shabby
dusteoyered clothing and carelessl
cropped hair and heard His wofn
melancholy face frightened IS he
swept of bis hat and made careful
inquiries after the ladies' healtn.
Then he cantered On and The inmates
Of the carriage leaned back again.
Poor Colonel Thomasl" commented
Mrs. Gonrlay II recolleet when he
was the first young man In the county
He has gone ell to pieces in the last
year. He was rather high once, bak
Amanda was too much for HIN. Sam
calls her 'Pstruchio IN petticoais.
Her tones smote her listeners ears
as sounds coming from afaF PeoF
Colonel Thomas Had ne ever been iu
love with that sharp-yoiced womanT
How terrible for woman 10 have
upon her conscience the wreck o.
4 mans life II Robert should ever
come to wear that bowed look-if in
!. stead Of the proud conndence shae
! well became bis comely Saxon fea4
! lures, he should show In Bunken eyea
and ftful flush the marks oT that III
remedy that promises but neVen
4 brings "surcease OF s0rrOw,
I But he was too strong, too sane; mis-
[ cry could never drive him to dissipa-
ton, although It might drive him to
desperation Of another sort Her
= .ulck fancy began to picture Robert
estranged from the woman he loved.
y Mentally she saw him growing cold
y gloomy and reseryed-their intimacy
y gone as il It had never been, and they
N two. bound by unmistakable ties.
" aging in sight OF each other, theiF
w lives dragging on IN way that might
come to end in mutual aversion and
ne disgust. She knew that Robert would
NJ construe her going away to-day after
ie, their cold parting, into a determina
es ton to assert herself against him and
nd sim worse, to seek abroad sympathy
for that which she was bound as n
o. loving wife TO bear ii silence and tc
forget.
The proud Fitzhugh blood famed n
70 her cheeks and her head flung up un-
consciously. But at the same instant
ne there came into her mind as bugl0
lch note sounds amid the horrid disccrd
cir Of battle, d sentence Robert bad ut-
in tered to her once in the early lays 0f
md their love. when he had inadvertently
offended her by careless remark: 4
man is not judged by one word, but BY
, all the acts Of HIS lIfe."
i And as il In her mental struggle she
| had been seeking some maxim as .
! guide, she fastened upon this ans
| repeated 1t over and oyer TO her
SELF
All this time she had been meehan
ically giving outward attention to MRS
IAl Gouriay. although that shrewd WON
+, an, comprehending her absent glance
III made small exactions upon her for r
ply.
Louise" Mrs. Meeks finally sais
III in an imperative understone, "ta
John 10 come back end take me hOm'
must 20 back this minute. II 70
think anything Of me" she adde
~ hastily. interposing against remoi
STRANGE, do as I ask
Now, Linda, listen to reason.
you've made up your mind to {
back and eat humble pie-excuao z
truth-at least wait TIL after dinn'
e and John shall drive yo0 back.
- would be absurd 70 turn back n0n
Louise don't understand n
feelings ] wes wrong te come. Rc
a.. ert vas to come home early This eve
snso ing and bring an old friend just gro
4 hsr England with him TO stay q 4
days Think how mortifyins 70 fi
Cow me gone awayl"
bsvs 1T woald look badly. Hlill-Ber
Win him right
"a mo. ] was cross myself this mo-
n,gbt ing-prohahly. ] didn't mean 10
eoets you our quarrel-our hall quarrel, I
= =. never mind talking about Il %
,ok please take me back. Or else iel
walk7 can walk; its not far
IoyIv Linda F1tzhughl Wan. then-Iol
+ ~, Mrs. Meeks has forgotten "a inin
sband tant engagement end We must e
,soria her straight home again
ne a Mrs. GouFlay glanced al her va
ential and said reslgnedIy You aiHl
both have you own way with me- In
4 nan wish you were half e. ananhy
s Mat somebody else
!. she At the porch they parted viii
, fore. warmer kiss than usual
Mrs. Meekn stood On the vefa1
ian as her eyes q tfina brighter than ua
.zhueh her cheeks q tribe Warmorl her 4
endur. vas held unconacioualy q little 8
priva. but otherwise there was no critic
ngs In to Be made upon tho gracious au
. could ness with which she greeted her
named band and his guest
Sc one Il was in q measure prepared
10 out meet you, said the saave Hfi
e vir. aMeeks has been treating ma
q few certain rhapsodles Of description !
e sery- which now perfectly aympathlne
midst IN virginia We eay that an