The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-01-06

Judge Gray looked up 20 convince
himself that Hanscom was joking, but
there was nothing humorous in the
anxious expression Of the face turned
toward him.
Il plead guilty" he said, knocking
the ash from his cigar, but don't
see what that has to do with my
candidacy for the once OF gov"
We'll, you know what little things
decide big events as we'll as do" In.
terrupted Hanscom. almost apollo
getically. THE people. and It's the
people who have TO be humored, have
the idea that man who is afraid to
get married is too big a coward to be
governor, and, by George, they're
right A wife and family. will help
a man."
Hold on. Hanscom," the Judge
raised his hand, pleadingly. "One at
time, please. I've never denied my
constituents anything, and I've proved
TO them that red hair covers as good
brains as black. and that the bigger
a mans feet are the more room they
will take, and II they want me to have
wife | suppose | will have TO get
one. You make me a governor and
III marry inside Of a month or re-
sign. You haven't any one In view?"
suspiciously.
You can make your own choice"
Hanscom grinned. generously.
Hanscom Insisted that Il was the
judges promise which nominated him.
The judge never would admit II. but
ne also never had the courage 10 deny
II, and he was cartooned in every
Sunday paper in the northwest in a
circle OF women, each holding a heart
appealingly toward him. Mondays
mail brought an unusually large num-
Der OF letters. and the Office boy
grinned as he piled them on the desk.
Letters were a form vi persecution
which could be borne. but when the
applicants began TO call In person the
Judge snatched his suitcase and fed
to Balsam Heights. a tiny resort
perched high on the mountain side
on the shore OF a lake.
He met Miss Dunn the morning aft.
er his arrival. and as he looked into
n face and admired the fearless car
Hage OF her head he experienced
sensation which he had not felt since
he had first been elected to a political
once and secured a place on the
school board.
The Judge went to the Heights for
two days. and he stayed seven. He
nshed and golfed and danced. and
his adventures in these almost
forgotten fields would have fur.
nished copy for two reporters II they
had known where TO look for It. He
was a man who became absorbed in
one purpose until Il was accomplished.
and from the first moment he had
known that he would marry Miss
Dunn II she would let him. She was
almost frightened by the intensity OF
his wooing, but the mans strong per.
sonalisy fascinated her, and on the
yeranda where she had iouted him
she promised all that he asked and he
took possession Of her heart and mind
In a way which set her apart from the
world on a shrine at which he wor.
SHIPPED and from which she bent
graciously toward him.
Saturday brought the usual week
end visitors and at seven o'clock the
dining-room was filled. The women
wore their prettiest gowns and the ex.
citement Of the hour had deepened
the color Of their cheeks and bright
enec their eyes. Col and Mrs. Lewis
were Sunday guests OF the Dunns, and !
the judge. who usually sat with them,
gave up his place and joined the tran
sients at the long table which ran
down the center OF the room.
well, Judge" called a Jolly voice
from the other end OF the board. as the
maids were carrying away the soup
plates, did you come down here to
get the wife we have been hearing so
much aboutg"
The Judge colored He had forgot
ten about his promise and the motor.
iety Hanscom had given II. Keith's
voice carried well and the story was
one that interested everybody, and
conversation ceased through the room.
Were all waiting" went on Keith.
happily. III you're elected you can
thank the man for the Office who ad-
vised you to get married We haven't
any use for bachelors out here. The
family mans the one that counts. and
II man won't get married there's
something the matter with him. hope
you'll tell US soon who Mrs. Govern
or's going to be, Judge"
The Judge moved uneasily and
smiled wanly. There was something
vulgar in Keith's re-
marks and he was angry that he had
ever put himself in position to hear
ihem. He knew that Miss Dunn had
caught every word and he had not the
to look at her He had never
mentioned his absurd promise to her.
L had not struck him as absurd until
now, and he shivered as he imagined
how she would regard 1t. He knew
hat he was in for a bad half hour,
,,,f ho uroo oouA1out 49, n. -