The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-12-16
AUNT PATS PROPOSAL
By IULIA oRgsNg.

Hdlu tue Fed-neaded man. STILL
known one woman who took matters
neglected by a bashful suitor into her
own hands and wound Up the bust.
ness 50 neatly and in SO novel man
ner that she won plaudita from every,
body who ever heard the story.
This woman was known the coun.
" over as Aunt Patsy Mitchell. Aunt
Patsy lived alone IN big red brick
house that was set down in the mid.
die Of an immense yard The yard
at one time was we'll shaded, but the
trees had been felled one by one until
nothing remained standing but few
cedar trees and one monstrous oak.
This oak stood In a corner not far
from the front fence. 1t was the
most perfect specimen Of fine, sym
metrical forest tree 10 be found In that
part OF the county. and Aunt Patsy
had always been very proud OF It. It's
grand type Of endurance, she had
often been heard to say. Why, per
feet as that tree Is, It ought to be
standing 500 years from now Know
ing those to be her sentiments, the
surprise Of the neighbors was un-
bounded when II was learned that
Aunt Patsy had sent for two wood
cutters and had ordered them to
chop down the oak tree three feet
from the ground
"A few days after the tree had been
felled and dragged away I was walk
Ing past Aunt Patsy's house with
Walter Craig Craig was a man WHO
had managed my fathers farm for
several years. From the top Of his
head to the sole Of his foot Craig
presented a very peculiar appearance,
but his most striking single feature
was hls mouth That organ was
kept wide open day and night, sleep
Ing or waking As we neared the
house we saw Aunt Patsy standing
at the front gate We went up and
stopped on the other side.
Aant Patsy. said Craig, 7 don't
want to be pryin', but I'd like to know
what you had that tree whacked over
forg
"I reckon she said. there's a
whole raft OF people hereabouts d
like to know that very same thing
ri reckon, said Craig. there is'
Well, returned Aunt Patsy, I
don't wish any of EN- any harm. so
do hope they won't hold their
breath till they find out. Not but
what they're goin' to some day. for
they are, but they'll have to bide my
time"
Craig nodded respectfully. And
what you goin' to do with the stump.
Aunt Patsyg he asked. You ought to
have that drug up BY the roots
81 oughtn't do anything OF the
kind, retorted Aunt Patsy. I've made
all my cal'lations regardlE that
stump. and certainly don't cal'late to
have It drug out
That was in the fall. All winter
the oak stump stood IN Aunt Patsy's
front yard bleak and drear. but
early IN the spring two men who we're
used to clearing on we're called in
s for consultation. and Aunt Patsy gave
ithem Instructions to burn out the
heart Of the stump A week later the
only thing remaining Of the prize oak
was an outer shell about four inches
thick
I'm goin' to get some bees said
Aunt Patsy. when Craig and stopped
at her gate soon afterward ard asked
her about the skeleton. I've always
wanted swarm. and callate to
turn this stump into a hive for EN-.
I'll have the top rooted over. It
seems TO me itil be a real handy place
for en-.
"The following day Aunt Patsy went
into town. She was gone a week. and
when she returned she was provided
with box full OF chlsels and other
tools. OF whose use eyen the village
carpenter was ignorant When the
first warm spring days came Aunt
Patsy began her work on the unique
beehive For two weeks she iabored,
cutting and chiseling the hard wood
with rare skill and patience. BY and
by It became apparent that the side
Of the hive facing the turnpike was
taking on the semblance Of human
face. Aunt Patsy smiled grimly when
Craig leaned over the fence one night
and asked her whose portrait she was
carving
It's the face Of the man I'm goln'
to marry, she said.
"That report spread rapidly and
thereafter Aunt Pstsys open.air
studio as thronged with people anx-
Ious u discover through the Inca
ments Of the sculptured face some
clue to the identity Of the intended
husband. don't know anything about
the work Of professional sculptors,
but we saw before US. ag II in life.
the aQnlnting eyes. the fariug ears,
the high forehead and the gaping
mouth Of Craig My bare feet scarce
" touched the turnpike as ran
home to tell the news | found Craig
out back Of the orchard plowing.
Craig. | gasped, its you. Aunt
Patsy has been carving your face. It's
you she's gelRg to marry
Craig dropped the lines and bis
mouth few wider opon than ever.