The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-02-19


touched the bric-a-brac and furniture
with warm. caressing fingers. In the
fireplace. a bed of mellow Goals
glowed sleeplly, filing the room with
coy warmth A clock licked drowsily.
Beside the reading-table sat a beau
tifui woman. One elbow rested on
the table,. with the other hand, she
was idly turning the leaves Of a book.
Her full, creamy lids dropped over the
eyes fastened upon the pages. Her
lips, scarlet, tremulous, were curved
In little halfsmile that enhanced
their exquisite mold Two delicate
pink roses had slipped into her cheeks.
and her glistening gold hair tumbIed
ravishingly over her white forehead.
After awhile, she rose and crossed
the room to window; parting the
rich, velvet curtains, she stared curl
ously out into the traffic-stirred street.
A fine sleet had set in and was
pelting the window-panes sharply.
Cars and cabs and carriages flew back
and forth in constantly-shifting pano-
rama. The street was alive with
motorcars. All at once. one Of the
great, palpitating monsters slid up to
the sidewalk in front Of the gate and a
man stepped out He wore heavy
storm-coat, buttoned from chin to
knee, and his alpine was drawn down
over his eyes. It was impossible to
recognize him In the uncertain, arti-
iicial light Of the street, but there was
something subtly familiar about the
swing of his gait, the conspicuous
breadth Of his shoulders, that made
her heart start queerly.
She turned and went back to her
chair, waiting with stirring pulses for
the door-bell to ring. It sounded i'm
peratively. almost on the instant, and
Rogers came in. moment later. and
handed her card.
Mr. J. Hardiman Pierce"
She read the name with crimsoning
cheeks. Jackl After four years.
She rose and went forward with out
stretched hand as the footman ush-
cred him into the drawing-room.
Pierce clasped her fingers eagerly,
open admiration stamped on every
feature
"Patty!g he exclaimed, how you've
changed And yet-you haven't !"
The last was added thoughtfully. as
his eyes still fingered on her match
less face.
Four years ago he had said good
by to Patricia Wellington in this very
room and gone forth to win fame and
wealth that he might lay them at the
foot Of his lady-love. Then, she was
an uniformed girl OF 1S--pretty in a
fresh. schoolgirl way-but giving
scant promise Of this exquisite crea-
ture before him.
There was something new. some
thing different-so something delightful
about it all; this homecoming he had
anticipated with such shrinking
spirits.
Poor little Patty" he had mused
on his Journey across the sea. you
must never know that 1t is but the
remnant Of a heart am bringing back
to you. In your trust and love, you
must never suspect what cad I've
beenl" His words came back to him
now, mochlngly He laughed to him
self as he sat talking to beautiful
Patricia Wellington.
When did you reach port?" she was
asking. ~and whom have you seen?
Not a soul. he replied. answering
her last question first. I arrived this
afternoon at three; j came on here as
fast as electricity could bring me-.
His look finished the impression he
wished to convey.
Patricia laughed softly Jack was
still the same old Jack when It came
to saying pretty things. She told him
Pierce stared at her curiously. Her
manner puzzled him a trifIe. 1t
seemed so-impersonal.
4 thought l would give you sort
Of surprise" he remarked, presently,
"or / should have telegraphed.
"a very pleasant surprise, she said
with bright smile.
I'm glad you call it pleasant. II
He broke off. for the first time in his
life at loss for words.
Did you like it-abroad?' she
fiiied Ia tactfully.
The blood flow to Pierce's face in a
scarlet tide. He wondered vaguely il
she we're not probing his secret with
those keen eyes or hers
4 found everything interesting and,
oftentlmes. delightful he replied,
but it can't quite come up to-the
Stars and Stripes, anywhere
The girls-did you Ike them over
there?" she asked next. Jealousy! she
did care then, still! She had been
faithful throughout and he-I His
thoughts flashed over the sea to the
dainty ,dimpled face Of Katrina; her
teardimmed eyes and trembling lips
he had kissed good-by that day down
on the pier, promising to be true!
Il did not have much time for cul-
tivating the aesthetic side OF life, he
answered her after bit, although
there were lots Of nice ones, / sup.