The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-08-10
She Ate It
By sl4EEL.A ESTHER DUNN
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.


known as the Virgins month and con
secrated to the Virgin Mary. In tn,
province Of Liege during May young
girls have pretty way Of learning
whom they shall marry. group oi
maidens arrange to meet at sunrise
walk through the fields until they come
to hedge. and. selecting a spot IN
exposed 70 the highway. they choose
honeysuckIe bush beneath which to
perform their mystic rites. Each girl
selects three blades Of grass, cuts the
tops to equal lengths and to each ties
colefed thread OF silk. Black rep
resents bachelor. red an unknown
lover and green the person the girl III
her heart wishes to mans. Ten days
nfterward they return to the spot
where they left she blades growing.
and that blade Of the three which bas
grown highest represents the lover
that is destined for the maiden's hus-
band.
There lived In this province poor
girl named Anna DeWindt She was
an adopted daughter Of an old couple
who worked a small farm. Anna was
a fair complexioned, fair haired, blue
eyed maiden her pure neart being
plainly manifest ia her countenance
The adjoining farm on the east was q
much larger one and owned BY farm
er named DeRoade, with one son,
Heileger. Heileger DeRoade was at
the university when Anna DeWindt
came to live at the adjoining farm.
When be returned for his spring vaca-
ton he saw her busy about the adj
joining premises, but she was SO far
from him that he could not tell wheth-
er she was comely or ugly. Taking q
glass. be brought the image nearer and
discovered what be was pleased to
call his Madonna"
From that time when he would sec
Anna on the porch OF the house or
back IN the kitchen garden he would
watch her through bis glass and long
ed to 60 out and chat with her.
His vacation came to an end, and he
experienced a pang at leaving his Ma
donna. whom lie had been used to
bringing SO near to him by means Of
bis glass, On the morning Of his de-
parture be was obliged to rise early.
Going out on TO the porch, he shifted
the delicious spring air. The sun was
just rising. He walked about. present
" going under d tree with overhang-
Ing branches A door opened In the
next house. and Anna and another girl
came out and walked directly toward
him. They advanced to the hedge
chat separated the two places and
were screened from him by its twigs
and leaves.
Stealing out Of his retreat, STOPPING
that he might not be seen. he went
treading on the soft grass to the hedge.
On, reaching 1t he heard coming from
few yards distant on the other side
their soft voices. Anua's companion
was speaking.
'sThis Is the bachelor" she said, IT,
Ing a thread on a spear Of grass
"This Is the unknown" tying another,
~and this" tying third, lis my dear
love-
"And who is your dear love?" asked
Anna. who was herself tying threads
on blades Of grass.
aJohn Ten Eyck. Who Is yours" 7"
Il can't tell you; It is SO foolish of
me"
sYou needn't. ! know already. II
is the handsome student in the De-
Roade place."
Anna made no reply, but Heileger,
having found an opening just big
enough to give him a view Of her face,
saw q blush overspread her features,
He was astonished. A gil whom
he had not suspected Of having been
aware or his existence bad indicated
with the green thread that she had
taken him into her innocent heart
Having tied the blades OF grass and
cut them TO uniform length the two
girls went back to the house and the
student departed for che university.
At Amsterdam several years later
n .xst..~..s. ~ r,d ME Mad0una rnnf Hpr