The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-06-02

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the pane and now and then sharp
gusts Of wind shook the naked limbs
Of the trees and sent dying the few
withered leaves that sui cIung TO the
branches.
II seemed to Elizabeth, sitting at
the window, that the day was typical
OF her own life. for the rain OF dis
content beat IN upon her soul and the
gnsty winds Of adversely shook her
faith In mankind and sent scurrylng
through the void the dead leaves Of
her withered ideals.
Tomorrow she would 90 back home
home 20 the dingy little farmhouse
where she had toiled and shaved
through sll her young life; back to
the drudgery Of baking. sewing. and
the thousand and one tasks OF domes-
tic life. yet In her hand she held
letter which offered her an avenue OF
escape and assured her cessation OF
the drudgery that had borne In upon
her soul ever since she could remem-
Der.
Until recently she had been content
for she knew no other lot Then had
come an invitation from her sister 10
visit at the latter's home through the
summer Margaret. her elder sister,
sd married for money through the
kinfly Offices OF a summer bOarder
Wiz had taken an interest In the
clever girl Her husband. Mr. Tobin,
was compelled to remain in town this
summer that he might be under the
care Of a famous specialist and. de-
prived OF her accustomed visit back
home" Margaret had asked that
Elizabeth might come 70 her.
For four months Elizabeth had
moved through a dream life in the
expensive ely furnished home Of the To
rims.
There were always guests in the
evening, for Richard Tobin enter
tanned layishly. though he was for
bldden the rich foods that he loved
10 set before those who enjoyed his
hospitality Dicky Beldlng had called
Il eating Tobins dinner for him"
And now she was to leave It all, to
90 back to the duh routine u the farm
until. ia the spring. Guy Rawlings
should claim her al his wife. Mar
riage to Guy would mean only work In
a new home; perhaps even more work,
for his farm was small and heavy
mortgage had been left upon 1t BY his
father
Cyrus Hartzell. too. had written her
an offer n marriage, and the letter
lay ia her lap as she looked out Of the
window across the park. Hartzell was
an intimate friend OF Tobin's; a dry.
wfthered. money-making machine,
whose first wife had died-so It was
said because Of the priyations she
had endured In Hartzells early days
Of money-making. when every penny
was put back into the business to be
turned over and over again, multiply
ing itself until at last Hartzell was
at once widower and a millionaire
And now he honored Elizabeth BY
offering her his hand and fortune. He
wanted someone to preside over his
home as gracefully as Margaret played
the hostess for his friend 1t was a
business commUnicauon rather than
love letter. bul Elizabeth preferred
II SO. She could not have endured
ii had he spoken Of love. As ii was,
she rose at length, and crossed the
room to the tiny writing desk. There
was no real engagement with Guy,
and in a few short words she ex-
pressed her appreciation Of the honor
Hartzell had done her and accepted
his offer.
She stfll sat at her desk, the letter,
sealed and stamped lying before her
when Margaret entered Something In
the tenseness Of her attitude alarmed
the younger girl and she sprang 10
her sisters side.
what Is It. Meg?" she cried, as
she threw her arms about her What
has happened?"
Margaret bent and kissed the girls
white lips "Richard is dead, thank
Cod" she said simply He was seized
: with an attack and died before we
could get the doctor"
Elizabeth recoiled at the harshness
of the tones and softly murmured
Thank God?" Margaret turned to her
passionately-
Yves, thank Cod" she cried -Bess,
you don't know what have gone
through with No one will ever know
what have suffered unless they. too,
have sold their lives for comfort aud
wealth. For six years have been tied
to man | did not love, VINO did not
love me, denied even one word OF
love. Now have my reward. | am
rich and widow, but--God help me-
no longer have heart. 1t is dead
within me, killed BY my loveless life.
Gently Elizabeth led the hyeterical
woman to a sofa and while the house
hold. upset by the occurrence hurried
about to see that needful things we're
done. Elizabeth sat with her sister.
vainly trying to comfort the stunned
woman.
At last with an effort Margaret
reused herself 4 must go and see
that flowers are ordered. | must keep
,.,, annaarances q to the bitter end she