The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-06-15
Will You Marry Me?
By A. M. Perkerson
lcopyrLght. y DaIIy slory 20. 90

swathed in bandagess the girls hand
resting on his forehead. AS his eyes
opened, her hand stole away and she
uttered an exclamation Of pleasure,
you are not hurt?" he inquired,
anxiously.
mo, thanks to you"
"Were you in timer"
Eyes, got there just on the hour
the girl replied. Il couldn't leave until
I saw that you would be taken care Of,
but by running l reached the office
just at four"
He saw with pleasure how her ex-
preston had changed; how her cheeks
we're healthy red, and her eyes were
no longer frightened and appealing.
What happened?" he asked.
you were thrown some distance,
the girl replied, "and the shock made
you unconscious. All night you lay
in a stupor, talking deliriously at
times, and l." she looked at him with
a hesitating smile, Il was frightened"
To-day is?"
1T happened yesterday. It's Just
eight o'clock now"
But surely you haven't been sitting
up all night?" Pemberton inquired re
monstratively.
Eyes, Of course I have" she replied
They grew quiet and for several
moments neither spoke The girls
eyes sank to the floor and she began
to toy with the edge Of her sleeve.
Il was to give you an explanation OF
everything, yesterday" she said, at
last, "but that would excite you too
much now"
Pemberton moved his head slightly
on the pillow. you needn't explain
at all unless you want to" he said.
Il know your motive was good But
if you want to tell me, I'm quite strong
enough now to listen
The girl hesitated a moment. "A
will was at the bottom of it all" she
said "A rich uncle died year ago
in the west and beQueathed everything
to me; almost half million dollars.
But there was the stipulation in the
will that not one cent was to be turned
over to me until had married; and
unless ! married within a years time
from the day and hour of my uncle's
death, | was to be disinherited and the
fortune divided among three nephews
1t didn't matter whom / married-any-
one would do There was only one
stipulation: ! must marry someone
had never seen before, and to whom
had never spoken until after the
marriage. Ny uncle took this way oi
Furnishing me because years ago l re
fused to attend school he picked out
: Before that l was quite his favorite
but he was very. eccentric, and my re
fusal stirred up the liyeliest ill-feel
2 ing in him.
by leaving the kind Of will he did
he thought that would be unable t.
2 carry out its stipulations; and tha
through a whole year I would suffe
the torture Of having a fortune almos
I within my grasp, yet still just beyon,
: it. My years privilege Of remaining
single ended yesterday at four o'clock
Unless had been to the Office of Has
, kin & Morris, his executors, by tha
I time. with the word that had carrie
, out the requirements Of his will to tn
{ letter, all my claims to his fortun
we're to cease.
Il had no intention Of trying to wi
the horrible fortune until noon yestei
= day, when there were only four hour
left. Things suddenly changed, an
had to have money My brothe
he speculated. you see; and he los
and used his employers money. H
didn't mean to do anything wrong. b
. was carried away by his enthusiasm
! but unless the money was put bac
! yesterday he'd be found out and di
graced, sent to jail"
70 The girls sentences had begun /
Il grow jerky towards the last; and sh
" broke OF abruptly, tears gathering
- her eyes.
Pemberton looked at her his e
ID preston sympathetic and tender.
8 had watch in my vest pocket" l
Of said after pause. "Will you get
d for me?"
I Surprised. the girl did as he 7
ST Quested.
is Open the back. please" he sal
a when she returned.
h The girl pried of the thin go
covering and saw beneath it the ph
/" tOgraph. She looked with surprise
ly Pemberton. Why, it's Of me-"
4 happened on It two years al
he by an old lamp post at a corner"
m said p have tried ever since to fl
y YOU, but I never succeeded until ye
ed terday. The picture-I-you see
Is fell in love with it."
The girl looked at the floor, h
to cheeks flaming; Pemberton star
, straight ahead.
on You are very brave" he sal
up softly.
The girl looked up from the flo,
ey For moment her expression was u
a certain, then she leaned over a
ad kissed him.