The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-10-16

! Slut Ol MS Cnln
why, yes, he did. Didn't l men
tior that before? lt was where
cut him with my scissors once when
we were playing. oh, you must
have seen him, Mr.. May-Clay.
Where is he? Why hasn't he writ.
ten 80 me?"
I'm sorry to tell you, Miss Red.
field said Clay, nervously finger
ing mis- mat OF red whiskers, that
Hen Martin is dead. He died about
a year ago. l knew him pretty
/ well. I've often heard him say he
was going back to Green Valley as
soon as he got prosperous enough.
About a year ago he went to drink
ing, and he didn't amount TO much.
/ He knew he was a failure, and
guess that's why he stopped writ
ing"
Again Miss Rosa turned to Niobe.
/ She bowed her head and besprinkled
her taffy with the overflow OF grief.
| sat, superfluous, wishing thai | had
not come, that Miss Rosa vas not
| so pretty, and that | had never
met Clay, who still stood by the
table, sQualid and melancholy pick
ing at the ragged binding of his
coat He began to speak again:
} nj of AIar in fol
| dissipation he never forgot Green
Valley. That's where his heart was
always But be went down so low
that at last he gave up hope But
he never forgot, and he asked to
have that half of silyed dime that
he always carried, buried with him.
Miss Rosa's sobs neared the hys
:erical, and ] felt some heat at Clay
for persisting in his theme And
then. suddenly, the belief seized me
that the fellow was acting. In or
der TO earn his five dollars and
give me run for my money he
was working this cheap meodrama
Perhaps he was even lying about
having known the recreant Mr.. Mar
tin, and had created the story Of
his affecting but, to me, uninterest.
ing demise | thought it base and
contemplate to thus turn to his prof.
it the harmless escapade of the lit
tie country maiden. | resolved to
discontinue all relations with tha
disreputable member OF the art de
partment.
May ] ask" said Clay. IF you
l-l-llke this gentleman YOU say YOU
are engaged 'o9'
"George?' said Miss Rosa, rising
from her tears like another charming
lady from a larger body Of salt wa
ter--"of course | ike George. He's
awful good to me, and his father is
going to give him a farm. He's a
little poky, hut-Oh. guess | like
George but | got 10 thinking of
i-H---'
Come now, Miss Redfield," said
Clay, rather authoritdtiveIv. success
fully heading off another outburst
of weeping. lets talk about some
thing else. The thins for you 20 do
is TO go bacl; home as quick as you
can, forget this trip and marry
George. You tell her So Mr.. Win.
slow"
At last ! was to be of use Clay
sat down with the air of an attor-
ney resting his case. Miss Redfield
locked at me eNpectantly. coughed
impressively and spake. as the oracle.
Miss Redfeld," | said, 1T is an
old saying that we seldom wed those
whom we first love Perhaps it is
best So Our youthful affections are
often bestowed unworthily. This Mr..
-er-Marlin seems To have been one
not likely to have made you happy.
In time you VIII forget him Mr..
Clay advises You we'll can but
endorse his recommendation that you
return home as soon as possible
Marry Mr.-er-George if your heart
so prompts YOU. He is, no doubt,
worthy young mainland the farm
| will be of use. As said, time will
| lessen all griefs and soften all re-
g.ets, and the memory Of Mr.. Martin
will gradually fade away. as it
seems il should"
| With the exception of the las'
| phrase, which ! felt was badly ar
ranged. / thought my little speech
quite neat ard appropriate; and Miss
Rosa appeared TO be really calmed
and restored by it But it fell, vast
ed. upon the gloomy and disconsolate