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

courtesy for us to express our sym.
pathy. Suppose you -un down there, /
Charlie, and see how matters stand. |
You might also tell her we never put !
inscriptions on tombstones"
Here's my chance" thought
Charlie. Geraldine as a rich young
widow is even more to be sought than
was Geraldine, the daughter Father
took it to heart that we let her marry
out Of the ofice the first time, SO I'll
try not 10 let it happen again. 1t
wouldn't be bad to manage a farm
which must be testimonial to the
ingenuity of the nineteenth and TWEEN
tieth centuries"
Nine O'Clock the next morning
found the young business man at Pot
terville.
Can you direct me to Ne farm Of
the late Mr.. Van LANDER" he asked
one Of the loungers at the station.
That's a good one! How'd you
know he was late?"
Not understanding the allusion Of
this facetious creature, the inquirer
turned to a more likely looking man
at the door and asked the same ques-
ton.
Come now" answered this individ-
ual, don't give him bad name, he
amt always late"
what have struck?" wondered
young Thompson This can't be the
state insane asylum. Maybe l should
inquire for Mrs Van Lander"
The third time he asked the Ques-
ton he omitted the late" and substi-
tuted Mrs for Mr., and soon
found himself on the road to the mod
ell farm
Following the simple directions Civ
en- him. the stranger could not believe
that he had reached the right place,
when he stopped before the remains
OF what should have been "testi-
, monial to the ingenuity Of the nine
teenth and twentieth centuries" In
the center of a half-acre of ground
stod a neglected two-story house The
rusted reIcs OF labor-saving machin-
cry were scattered about the yard. and
] aerved as playthings for five ragged
]. children. An unkempt man and wom-
an sat in the doorway, poring over
! book, which, as he came closer, the
q visitor saw was a copy Of Mailer &
, Company's catalogue.
r II beg your pardon" said the repre-
9 sentative OF this firm, lifting his hat
/ but can you tell me how TO find the
h Van Lander farm?"
Il don't know no sech place" sait
the man. without looking up.
Il guess he means this place" ven
tured the woman.
Why, is this Geraldine?" came in
voluntarily from Charlie Thompson.
Now, how'd you know my name?
never laid eyes on you before"
; Il have always known you, Mrs. Val
g Lander. represent Mailer & Com
le pany, and your father was one Of th'
le first customers Of the house. Tit
L. cards announcing your birth wer'
u printed by us, and since then the firm
y sort Of adopted YOU"
Now, that's kind, amt it? / neve
4. knew you noticed me- You see Mr.
: what'd you say your name isc oh
e yes, Thompson Well, you see. Nj
ie Thompson we amt got no farm YET
but when we do get one, we've go
= everything to make work on it easy
~ You see, It takes so much to bu
s machinery. that we never have lai
= by enough to get the land BY tn
- way, YOU never answered my last le
- ter about the tombstone"
~ ~ That's the sad duty that la
- brought me to Potterville-to speak I
- you about the monument. Mr.. Nj
= Ter has a personal feeling for you
you are so old customer-and h
sent me down to represent him an
(: express the sympathy of the house"
. Now, that was real nice Of him
: answered the woman. with a slight
: surprised air. we thought, SO lor
. as We had little left, we'd better g
: that fixed up, because. even if =
: never have a farm, folks win kno
where we're put away That amour
70 something in a world where we Al
adj SO soon forgot Don't you think S
ar Mr. Thompson"
en- u do indeed Mrs Van Lander" Vi
ms. the reply. "When-er-did your hv
& band die?"
'ou The hstless man sitting beside q
woman suddenly straiehtened up, al
ay. she herself rose to her feet
"Die!" she exclaimed Why,
an isn't dead-this is Henry!"
on "Oh. beg your pardon. I'm sure
hat and his. TOO. You see we judged fro
inc your letter that you were now
the widow"
hey THE ideal" exclaimed Geraldh
ers, Why, Henrys too thoughtful to lea
hay all the worrying over a tombstone
uld me- He knows I'll have the childr
to look after when he is gone. T
ave reason ! wrote about the name is
ave amt got as much as we used TO ha
he All that father left me is nearly go
ask and did think at one time we'd ha
an to sell something to buy the stone,