The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-02-10

AAo AVu ing way 70 the toilet room.
then returned to his desk.
Dear Miss Grant. he wrote. 1--WE shah
stu be friends, but I cannot meet YOU on
the OLD footing just yet, and 80 do not
wonder II you do not see me for a little
while IT IS hard to bear-harder even
than I thought 1t would be- II you never
marry until you find someone nobler than
yourself, I shall certainly not be obliged
70 bear the added burden Of jealousy.
Yours, etc
RUSSELL J. MAYNARD"
TT isn't at all satisfactory" said
Russell, as he folded the note and put
it into an envelope, "but / could do no
better If racked my brains for a
week"
Russells life was made a burden to
him for the next few weeks. He was
obliged to take an unlimited amouns
Of chatting from his friends, to answer
many questions, asked by the curious,
which he considered none Of their
business, to be made aware Of the dis
proyal Of his relatives, and the cold
ness Of his young lady friends. Even
the most energetic Of the match-mak-
ing mammas received him with less
cordiality since his strange whim had
became public.
Nearly three montAs had passed and
he had not yet summoned courage to
visit Miriam Grant She had spent
part Of the time with an old friend in
neighboring state, and since her re-
turn he had planned several times to
call on her, but never felt himself
quite strong enough to do so.
Il don't want to make a fool Of my.
self, he thought. 1T has never been
my ambition to marry wife who did
not love me. If she can't, she can't,
and shall not beg for what is not
given freely; but, oh Miriam, If
you--"
He stopped suddenly and began a
romp with Dick.
Il found lovely lady to-day, uncle"
said Dick, finally
Where did you find herr"
"She rang the bell, and Mrs. Wilson
was busy so I opened the door. She
said you must bring me to see her
some day and | said thank you; uncle
will be pleased to- Did do 1t right?"
Quite right" answered Russell.
laughing. You are learning very
fast"
Il told her perhaps we would come
tonight, and she said she should ex-
pect us; then she went home without
seeing Mrs. Wilson at all"
Il don't know about allowing you
to make engagements for me, young
man" answered Russell, carelessly, as
he took up the evening paper and set.
tied himself comfortably.
Cant we go just few minutes?''
pleaded Die. She was so pretty and
50 good, and love her just awful"
Mercy on me Has It come to that
SO soon? What is the lady's name.
may ask?"
Miss Grant She said you knew
where she lived.
'Miss-ahem-yes | knowl What
did she say about my-your going to
see herr"
Dick repeated the conversation, and
was rewarded by being told that he
might 90 to call on the pretty lady,
and soon he was seated In a chair very
close to her side, busily engaged with
a picture book.
How did you happen to do it?"
asked Miriam of Russell with a glance
at the boy
Il don't know, I'm sure" he an
swered, with a smile. Il had to make
fool Of myself in some way, | think.
MY friends tell me that | couldn't have
succeeded better"
"You haven't added to your reputa-
tion as a man Of common sense and
good judgment" answered Miriam,
with a laugh.
u am kept well posted in that d.
rection; but reaily-I suppose you'd
laugh at me for saying so-but the lit
tie chap makes such things quite easy
to bear"
Russell, why haven't you been to
see me before? I felt hurt to think
that should be the last Of all your
friends to learn Of your new acquisi.
ton"
Il haven't treated you fairly, but
well, to tell the truth, haven't yet
arrived at the stage where I am Will
ling to meet You simply as a friend"
n am glad Of It"
What do you mean2 Miriam"
Russell hesitated, and his face BE-
came shade paler. He did not want
to make a fool OF himself a second
time. he thought. and he had been
very sure that Miriam Grant returned
his love.
4 do not mean 10 propose, answer.
ed Miriam, with blushing cheeks and
laughing eyes, but have no objec-
tion to confesslng that"
"Confessing what7e Russell had her
IA bis arms, and Dick was staring
wideeyed on such 3 scene as he had
never before Witnessed
That ! was mistaken In YOU.
thought you an easg-golng individual f
without much purpose. one who would
d. scr