The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-01-06
A Political Promise
BY Frances r. Sterrett


ashamed. He had nothing to say in
his defense and at the same time he
was not sure why he needed defend
Ing. She told him.
And that was why you asked me
to marry you! | was to be the pay
ment Of debt. the sign that you had
kept your promise oh, thought you
were man and loved you" her
voice broke pitifully and the Judge
caught her cold clenched hand.
Come here" he said. leading her
to the shelter from the wind that the
side OF the boulder offered Il don't
think you understand"
1T seems a simple story" she said.
bitterly. her eyes on the lake where
the wind lashed the water into rip
pies. She must not look at him. she
told herself. the strength OF his will
would break d wn the pride behind
which she had entrenched herself
How many applicants we're therei
Your friend said 500 Am l the FIVE
hundred and frst?" Her scorn stung
him, but he put curb on his temper
Sweetheart" pleadingly.
DON'T" she raised her hand as
though TO shield herself from a blow
THAT is all past"
1T shan't be-" he cried. hotly you
belong TO me, as belong to you. Can't
you see. dear. how / love you?" His
voice had all OF It's old power and
charm and she struggled against its
influence.
Go away" she said. and there was
sound in the voice which chilled the
hope which had filled the judges heart
for a moment. 1t would never be the
same. I've lost what can never find.
my confidence in you. ! couldn't mar
~ now. A woman wants to stand be.
fore the world as the one who Is loved
and honored by the man who has mar
ried her You don't know what II
means 10 her to be chosen from
among other women 10 carry that love
In her heart. Il Is as though she wore
crown on her head And then TO find
that the crown was placed there that
he might win political honors and not
from love-oh, couldn't" and she
shivered and shrank farther from him.
And the Judge. as he went back to
the city on the night train. stared saw
agely into the blackness and cursed
the Republican party and Hanscom
and Keith. and Keith most of all. And
down at the club a girl .olbed herself
to sleep and next day played golf
with an empty-headed yourl who had
millions In the bank and very few
brains in his head. and who told Of
the score he had made every day dur
ing the summer and required no at
tention beyond an occasional smile.
and a girl smiles easily when her
heart is breaking.
The Judge did not hesitate. but
threw himself into the fight that pre-
ceded the election with an absorption
which gave him his office, even though
Il deepened the lines on his face Even
before his Inauguration his party be-
came aware Of the fact that he would
WELD his power with a sternness
which would be just II not generous to
its members. In vain the leaders ex-
postulated and spoke OF family rela-
tions and party claims. He refused to
be Influenced by any power but the
good OF the state.
An effort was made to secure a par
don for a man sentenced to be hanged
The predecessor In the gubernatorial
chair had lodged the issue until the
new governor had been inaugurated.
The governor went into the case
with mis- usual thoroughness, he visited
the prison and talked to the criminal
and examined the report of the trial
and then, even though he had been
warned that his refusal would cost
him his life, he refused. The man
had deserved his punishment; the
crime had been a revolving one, and
the sentence must stand. The day
after his decision was made public
the governor was shot as he was leav-
ing the capitol.
A wave of horror and sorrow swept
over the city. The governor was dear
ly loved, and though men might not
approve his action, they could not fail
TO admire his courage. He begged |
that the assassin should be saved |
from violence as he swayed weakly
and then lost consciousness as he
'ell
When he opened his eyes he was on
his bed in the dreary gubernatorial
and Miss Dunn was bending
,ver him. His face showed no sur
Prise. but his eyes held hers with
hungry look which had been there
iince he left Balsam Heights.
Il had to come" she whispered.
They said you were hurt.
couldn't stay away"
you won't leave me?" His fingers
lung to hers.
For answer she stopped and kissed
lin. He seemed so weak and help
ess, her woman's heart went out to
lin in a great love which swept away
II pride but in him.
And you don't mind paying the
ebt," he said, family.
ar4 -hoIf - -, .~i.~.. 81 rgtt ..-- |