The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-08-01

'em-is there, Jim?"
The girl looked up into the mans
face. She stood leaning on the fence,
both elbows resting on the top rail,
the moonlight showing full on her up
turned face, softening the heavy lines
Of mouth and chin.
The September moon was waning,
bvt the night was warm and pallid
The mists hung low, pierced with
moonlight A light wind, coming down
the valley, blew strands Of the girls
dark hair and wrapped her skirts
about her, bringing out the strong.
bold lines OF her figure. She was
heavily -built--large OF bone, deep OF
bosom-an over-deveiopment. the re-
suit Of heavy work, OF toll in the heids
from sunrise to sunset. Environment
had played a great part In this girls
life, yet with the red blood that
flowed through ner veins there was
health great, bounding Joyous
health. Her face showed the touches
: Of mountain winds and Of summer
suns, and in her eyes lay shadow;
something Of the mystery, perhaps, Of
the mountains themselves.
: The mountains, the mists, and the
moonlight" The girls eyes wandered
from the face Of the man at her side
to the far, dim lines OF hills; then
! they came slowly back again.
: Il amt never had much else, Jim,
only night after night, just like this
one, when i've stood here In this same
spot and seen the moon come out and
E the hills begin to shadow Seem'd
. Ike II was the only time OF the day
when there want nothing to do; the
] supper done and the dishes washed
Y and put away; pa smokln' his pipe
: and the children In bed. Seem'd like
the hills was a callin' me and ! had
: to answer It's ali l sver had. Jim
I, TIL you come"
i She paused, and her face showed
pale.
Il guess | must have always liked
t you, ever since could remember. An
we've been happy together. you an
me-'til-'til the last few months
! That's why Ast you to come to
J, night"
d Her hands pressed hard on th'
rail in front Of her.
Don't you think I'm blamin' YOU
y Jim. It's just one Of those things that
r got to be. I've watched 1t q comm
: and couldn't see no other way ou
Of 1t. Why, the children was Away
u a talkin' bout the new teacher, ar
1. last spring when she was so good
Her eyes went suddenly across tn
fields to where she could see in th
4 moonlight rough board that marke
e a long grave.
"seemd e though there never wa
no time for me to go to school, whs
y with the children comm so fas
ID an all the mendin' and cookin, to ga
a. nothin OF the work in the fields. Bt
knew you loved me. Jim. and SOM
how I didn't care so much bout other
y only for your sake, when seen 20
goln with the others You've alway
had a longin' for books. and I notice
how you took right hold an stai
home a studyin night after night, TT
- mountains has been all the teach'
@ I've ever known, an they amt nev'
X failed me yet. There's somethin'
or their blgness an their stiffness TIL
- sometimes seems TO Just draw n
heart rightout Itklnder seem s thoul
III the Lord had made EN- for me"
IL She stretched out both arms with
IN wide, sweeping gesture.
:. Il love their awful silence, Som
- times 1t seems to answer somethln
C. side Of me-a kind Of longin' car
H. just tell You've been awful good
- me, Jim, an know you loved r
y. once. But I could see that you W
OF a gettin' restless, seem'd like y
he wanted more'n Just this. You u
- to talk bout goin away, even befo
- the new teacher come. An when s
let you take all them books-wl
of they wasn't nothln' to me. but pril
- ed page. But could see they W
"o more to you. You amt never be
te the same since You've tried hard
,at love me an TO keep your promise,
N It amt no use. I've always loved "
al Jim. an I'd have worked for you
lly been good wife But won't ne1
be any more'n l am now-while she
i she's more like you"
She paused and caught her brea
al Besides I've been thinkin' late
ces perhaps 1t wouldn't be Just right
me to leave pa an the children.
don't want you to feel bad Jim--tal
me no fault o yours Seems like ther
sed some things in this world that's
u, got to be"
Her voice died away suddenly. !
OF man at her side shifted his feet
ain easily. Her face showed white in
moonlight. Her full lips looked ii
and drawn.
roe IL guess you'd better be g,
nor now, Jim"
lis. She held out her hand. He tooh
and It felt hard and cold
"Good-by" she said, slowly. II
Il -