The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-28

that girls were not married fr0m
their cradles nowadays, and the
habit held, even In her mental proc
esses.
She was sitting on the front porch
with Chad Burnes, and there had az
ways been three long silences. They
were peculiar siiences. quite out og
the ordinary. It was this that had
set Jane wondering.
IA clear night Of stars" she
quoted, looking up at the sky. Didn't
Stevenson know how to say it all In
few words?"
Chad murmured an unresponsive as-
sent and went on with the silence.
A man and woman--young- walk
ed by, hand in hand.
HIM sillyl' Jane commented.
Guess they're playing hunkydory,"
said Chad, coming to life
What do you mean2"
"You know that game. Course you
dol"
"Of course | don't"
I'll teach you, then. First ron
have to shake hands with me
Jane surveyed his outstretched
palm. 1t looked clumsy. Still Chad
was nice boy. even II he didn't have
pretty hands.
ITS some trick" she said, as she
slipped her white fingers into his.
Now" he exclaimed. tightening
his grasp, the one that lets 90 frst
owes the other fve-pound box OF
chocolate. That's playing hunky-
dory."
James fingers instantly wriggIed
free. Il never could endure that long
snovsh to win, an71'ay," she re-
marhed, calmly I'D rather pay you
the chocolates-as soCa as Bert or
Morris brings me some more"
There was crestfallen look on
chads face" but his manner denied
it.
"Pshawl You're SO confounded prac-
tical, fellow couldn't get sentimental
with you, no matter how hard he
tried"
"Confounded practical" she re-
peated, as if to herself. THAT would
seem to imply that he doesn't like my
style He peedn't stay"
You know mighty well do like
your style"
No matter how hard he tried.
Jane quoted again. How funnyg Is
that the way they do it? Deliberate
" try to get sentimentalg
Chad muttered something and sulk-
ed through another silence. Again two
persons strolled past, man and a
woman young IT and tie woman's
voice fioated up the steps.
That's nothing" she was protest
ing. 4 tell you I've known him three
years"
Long enough, I'm sure said Jane
Officially
Chad darted a glance at her out Of
his sulks.
Long enough for what?" he in
,, Quired
"Oh, most anything"
"How long have ! know you?"
4 don't know. About two years"
4it's three and half.
: sudden panic seized Jane. but
Chad never suspected this.
TITS not half long enough, she de-
clared icily aad he went into silence
again.
Chads chair was tipped back. lean
ing against the side of the house. His
hand was on the window ledge and
i his eyes we're on the stars. AS Jane
studied his lace she saw its sulky ex-
: preston gradually give place to one
o OF blissful dreaming. Slowly. as If
e BY accident, his hand slipped down
from the window ledge and rested
F.; against her arm.
u For a minute neither Of them stir.
e red As far as Jane could discover
+; Chad was totally unconscious Of the
8 fact that he was balancing himself
e By soft white arm instead Of : cold
{ gray ledge Yet something told her
that he was conscious -aeutely con.
scious. Again that awful panic seized
] her It had oome-the thing she had
dreamed and wondered about, and, to
o her surprise. she did not like it.
While she was hesitating lnspira-
= ton came Noting the fact that
chad's eyes were still on the stars.
n abe slipped her right hand under the
d arm that he was engaging. And
e picked from the window ledge a iai
June bug, which she deftly placed on
the back OF Chad's hand
ugh" he grunted. His chair came
down on four legs with a lhump, Is
: he shook on the surprised bug.
: Jane laughed in pure delight.
d You're tbs wo7st-" Chad began
1 Then ne gave up and laughed win
/ her. Il ike you better than the othes
\ kind, anyway. he said at last ia his
+ old. unsendmentai way.
5 Then Jane breathed lreelz.-cht
G cago Daily News.