The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-05-02
The Rivals
BY DOROTHEA HALE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

span young man with cameo features
clean shaven face, immaculate white
collar, buttoned, OF course, In the cler.
ical style-wrong side before--his only
ornament a gold cross dangling over
black waistcoat that covered up ey-
cry speck OF his shirt bosom.
Hes just too lovely for anything"
Had any one heard the voice he
would have looked about in vain for
the speaker 1t came from between
the Stats of a window blind and be-
longed to Diana Parker, young lady
member Of the church at which the
curate odiciated A dozen yards down
the street a sash was thrown up Just
as he passed and face appeared at
the window.
Good morning, Mr.. Meeks."
Good morning. Miss Dinsmore."
Pleasant morning"
"ve~y"
Are you on your way to the hos
pital?"
No; | am going 10 see old Mrs. Wa
ters. l have heard she's very poorly"
Dear me. and | haven't been TO see
her. Ii you don't mind waiting a few
minutes till | get on my hat IN 60
with you. am shamed at having
been so neglectful."
The curate waited, ana Miss Diana
Parker watched.
We'll. il that doesn't beat any
thing" she muttered Its the brazen-
est plan to make a catch | ever saw
What does she care for old Mrs Wa
lers?"
Mr. Meeks went regularly on week
day mornings on round OF char
table visits and returned about the
same hour in the afternoon. The
next morning Miss Parker left her
portal hated, gloyed and parasol
in one hand and ladys bag in the
other, just as Mr.. Meeks was passing
why, Mr.. Meeks." she exclaimed.
what are you doing out so earlyt"
"Oh, always begin my visits at
this hour"
'i'uI going visiting myself this morn
ing was so impressed with your
remarks last Sunday evening about
our duties to the sick that ! resolved
to turn over new leaf Are yon 60
ing to the hospital?"
Not at once. I'm first going 10 a
poor woman whose husband has been
sent to Jail She's left TO take care OF
the children while he rests from Ia
bor."
BY this time the speakers had pass
ed out OF the hearing of Miss Dins-
more. who. ready for n walk, had stood
behind a curtain at her window wait
ing for the curate to 60 by.
We'll. declaren' she exclaimed.
did any one ever see such effrontery?
wonder If lie thinks the meeting nc
cideutal"
The strategy developed during the
next few months on the part Of the
young ladies was all screened behind
Stats or curtains. so that the uncon-
sciOus clergyman never dreamed that
he was the point d'appui. as the gen
erals would cali it, or under an emf
lading fire. as the artillerists would
describe it. of two batteries. each bent
OH moving him down. Miss Dins-
more's position being commanded by
her enemy. she was constantly seeing |
the prize captured as he marched out [
upon his parochial duties Therefore.
having Il cousin living a block nenrer
the church properly. she frequently I
availed herself of the more advanta- (
geous position and carried off the Gu I
rate before he reached the home Of her /
rival.
One morning Mr.. Meeks failed TO /
pass down the street at the accustomed \
hour. and later an ambulance bearing
a trained nurse was seen going in the
direction Of his apartments. Each Of
the young ladies' who bad been trying
to outwit the other in order to catch
him was waiting at her window. and
each paled For q time he would be
from the Vaccinations Of
both Miss Dinsmore hurried ont 10
go the rounds OF the parishioners 70
learn the news. Miss Parker whose
tactics were bolder. went straight 10
the rectory and asked If ary one was
IN there Both young ladies learned
that Mr. Meeks was III at his rooms
and would be taken during the day 70
a hospital TO be operated on for ap
pendicitis.
AS soon as the curate was out OF
danger flowers poured in upon hlm,
mainly from the young ladies Of the
He was literally bonn
Darded with roses. carnations. pnnsies
aud violets Miss Dinsmore sent an
anchor OF lilies. Miss Parker. adher
ing to her aggressive tactics. offered
/ heart OK American Beauties.
Mr. Meeks recovered. Again Miss
Parker watched every morning for
him TO resume his walks past her
house on his way TO his parochial du-
les. Miss Dinsmore was thinking Of
itafioninr herself at her cousins win.
low in order to intercept him and offer
he FIRST congratulations upon his re-
'overy
At last the clergyman appeared, pale,
)ut even handsomer FROM his pallor.
But. alas for the rivals, he was protect
- ts. 81. 4It