The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-06-03


ne meant to act with his eyes open.
The night be asked her TO marry him
they sat in MISS Merrlam's little ~.
brary, where the 1ickering light OF the
crate fell full upon her face. No man
worthy OF the name is voluble when
he lays his heart and life in the hol-
low OF woman's hand Holllster
stammered through his lovemaklng
like a boy. AS he went on Miss Mer-
riam turned away her face so that the
profile was toward him The light
Of the fire flashed on the scar. and It
stood ont in liyid relief AS rule.
Hollister was not fanciful, but for an
instant the cash seemed the moeking
mouth Of demon.
Hollister waited long time for an
answer 10 his question. Miss Mer-
RAMS face was averted, and he could
see that she was stirred by some strong
emotion. When he made a movement
TO take her hand she turned toward
him suddenly, and he saw that her
eyes were brimming with tears.
"You are brave man. MIR Hollis
ter" she said in voice not quite
steqdy. Have you thought OF thisY
Her fingers touched the scar with a
strange, half caressing gesture. Have
you thought what 1t win mean TO have
every passerby look at your wife pity
ngly and whisper as you pass?"
Il love you" was HOLSTERS answer
"If there IS hard thing in your life
It Is my right to share it." Then his
head whirled at the look of sudden
alteration that leaped from her eyes
"Oh. wanted ,oc fnd man like
YOU" Miss Merriam whispered u
was sure there must be such a one in
the world And then she was in his
arms, with the poor, scared cheek
pressed to him, sobbing out her heart
in a burst Of exultant triumph that
enraptured him without his under
standing 1t in the least
When they said good night Miss
Merriam clung TO her lover as II re.
uctant to let him out Of her sight
II must see you in the morning, dear.
est, she said. "You must spare me a
few moments" And Holllster who
was looking forward to the separation
of a few hours as If it had been as
many weeks, agreed with a sudden
lightness Of heart
He wondered little when he came
next morning that she should keep
him waiting. His heart leaped at ev-
cry footstep In the hall for the first
half hour and when at last she stole
into the room closing the door behind
her, she took him by surprise Hol
lister sprang to his feet, then stood
staring bankly
An enchanting face smiled up at him,
face rosy with bushes. He saw the
play of the dimples and the curve Of
the cheek as il he were looking on il
for the first time. The scar was gone
"Myw said Hollister helplessly, and
he dropped into chair, mis- own face
dead pale. Miss Merriam ran TO him
and dropped on her knees beside his
chair, looking into his eyes with fas-
cinating mixture of timidity and con
fdence
Forgive me, dearest Don't be an
CRY with me for. deceiving you. II you
only knew how tired | grew Of men
who couldn't see anything in me to
love but my pretty face That little
accident with my automobile was too
good an opportunity 70 miss, and the
scar was easily put on. An actress
showed me how 20 do it. but fiatter
myself that after a little ! improved
upon my teacher
She smiled at Hollister shyly and did
not seem to find dis silence discourag
ing. Please don't say you like me
better the other way. almost grew
to hate my beauty when it blinded
people to all the rest in me, but now
7 I'm glad to have it TO give to the man
who loved me for myself
I Several complexion specialists clairq-
4 ed the credit for removing the scar
+ that had ruined Miss Merriam's beau
! ty and reaped golden harvests thereby
But the beautiful Miss Merriam never
regained her title for the reason that
her identity was soon merged in that
Of the beautiful Mrs Hollister