The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-10-07
BlIfen
CoPYR,ChTED1sl1

She was 50 pretty and simple in white and
yct 50 uli-to-daie
rheodosia sat down. Timothy--ii was
quaint, cute name Timothy Alden
Well, Timothy mustn' think her livelihood
had depended upon dodgers.
Mommy would be ashamed Of me, )" she
whispered.
She planned to fluff her hair first OF all
and add TO it pink ribbon band She
would draw her interest money from the
bank and 60 TO the city and buy new
clothes. Buy new clothes clothes!
Her joy was SO great that she paused to
think ol the reason. Mr. Alden had asked
Ter TO marry him, and she meant to and she
lad said Ncs at cree
Wei, wanted to be married and not to
ike alone an old maid but, ii she Was
just taking Mr. Alden for that reason
The thought came quickly; twisting her
hands II her lap, she sat, with the horrible
vision Of herself as she must have been in
the early morning. ha
snapping him upl" She said feroely.
My first thance'"
Her suddenly tortured eyes turned out OF
window; she saw Miss Merton and young
nan come gally out Of the clubhouse yard
and 50 down the avenue to the boarding
house where they hnched
Look al hey'" Theodosia cried it out
She lives lor men, simply lives for them.
She dresses, smiles, talks, walks, lises to
please them. Am like that1"
She jumped up, walking about the room,
frantically
"Oh, ii he'd come back now SO l could
tell him lcouldn't, comdn't marry him. /
loathe myself now and I'd go on getting
worse. Why, ! suppose I'd have said
Yes to aRybodJ~--"
She dropped her face in her hands and
after moments sobbing drew up erect,
her eyes steeled again.
Well now I've come to my senses, III
get to work. She closed the piano with
bang. can simply explain needn'.
be unkind to him and drive him away. He
can still have his breakfast"
Theodosia flew to the kitchen. There
was fruit there to preserve.
Wasn't going to do it, she said, "for
fear Of staining my hands
She began building fire. Darling here
and there about the kitchen, handling the
frait feverishly, the hours slipped by and
she was conscious of nothing but riotous
thoughts until she heard Miss Merton
elanloring loudly upon the porch, talking
shrllly and breathlessly.
Looking up, Theodosia saw lowering
SKY and big drops Of rain, Miss Mertop
looked in to the kitchen.
Awful storm over the Soundl"
a lightning flash and a clap OF thunder,
Theodosia stood, suddenly very still, look
ing out at it,
Shall | run up and close all the win.
dows' questioned Miss Merton. "Your
hands are all berries
Yes, please" Theodosia just stood
duinbly, as with lightning fash the door
Diew open and rain beat in upon her face.
"ltssuch a little sail-boat, shemuttered.
She stepped into the doorway, into the
rain, her sef-fear OF squall forgotten.
There's something struck"
q nearby tree split and cracked and
groaned from the electric bolt
oh, Miss Carey, it was Miss Merton
calling they're getting out a life-boat
from the club. | saw EN- from nv win.
dow; there's lOt Of men out fishing in the
Sound, too
Theodosia clapped her hands to her face.
her frightened eyes looking out in agony
She did not go to the front OF the house. but
-rouched IN corner near the kitchen door.
The rain drove madly against it.
On, Miss Carey come and look
Fheodosia shrilled back.
Let me be, can. you? Oh, dear Lord
ave him, save him--I love himl'
he tears coursed hotiy between her FIN.
,ers.
Forgive me for what I've said ana
hqught about not loving him. do do
ohe covered her eyes as there came
lash and silence. Then suddenly footsteps
trong, hurried, came along the gravel wall
o~ard the kitchen door. A figure in oil.
klnS passed the window, stepped on 70 the
ow porch, and tapping quickly at the door
pened it and came in. s NSo''
started back ahead OF the small L.,x
linking OF you here why. what's r.
forried?" "'e you
| was so scared she breathed "ob
II, lt Alden I'm SO thankful oh Tim
. him close, safe. ssea 'er
:, knew | was to hurry back to vo,
neouosia; something, queer little inside
oice, seemed to say so-even when tbe s,,n
'as still shining. way" 'ne sun
Those st, little inside voices are alw.vs
sring arms. si us snei-
b.. but TheOdosia's inner voice was al.d,