The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-12-06

NMrHA the N0NEgaughle FlNaa-=a ur1al
masculine figure with a big Panama
hat swinging in one hand and d genial
smile Of greeting on his bronze face.
Hello. Aunt Gelial7 doomed out q
hearty voice. Don't you know me1"
"Wty--ee, IT'S Oliverl on Phemie,
lts my nephew This is Miss Hayena,
Oliver 6he--I'ye"
I've come to stay awhile with Miss
Bennett" interposed Phemie. quietly,
her cheeks deep-nushed and her eyes
downcast.
And I've come to stay for good, /"
said Oliver Bennett. decisively. yes
stree! Going to quit my rowing and
settle down now. Aunt Celia, aln't you
gladg"
Phemie sat alone in her room a few
minutes later. Her worst fears were
realized she had indeed made great
mistake. Not only was she not need
ed now in Miss BENEFITS home, but
her presence would be undesirable.
And, when the elder woman had told
her story, what would this stranger
think Of her acceptance Of his aunt's
bonnty2 How might he misconstrue
her motives? Well, she would have
10 stay awhile and see what happened.
What happened was that Oliver
Bennett took complete possession OF
the little cottage and its gentle occu-
pants. Never before had their lives
been 50 full, SO gay so interesting.
When they were not "Taring forth on
pleasure bent" he was telling them
VIVID tales Of the strange places and
people he had seen and the wonders
ot his travels.
Phemie thought It was the excite
ment of these stories OF adventure
that made her heart beat faster when
~ the presence Of this Fascinating
newcomer. AT no time however could
she overcome the feeling she had that
he secretly resented her coming to the
house.
Sometimes she caught him looking
az her IN way she could not under
stand, He seemed to be probing be-
meath the surface OF her social man
ners and questioning her inner helf.
AT such times she felt almost guilty.
The climax came on Saturday eve.
ming, just three weeks after Phemie's
arrival. She was coming in through
the rear doorway when a bass voice
dritted down the hall from the piazza
where Miss Bennett and her nephew
were sitting.
But, Aunt Celia, this talk Of adop-
tion Is nonsense You don't want her
to stay here with you after all I've
saidl I'll speak to her tonight, my
self"
Poor Phemie grasped the railing
with trembling fingers and the hot
tears gushed to her eyes. The blow
had fallen-this was the endl Oliver
Bennett himself had pronounced her
sentence Well, she would not wait
for him to speak to her she would
escape such humiliation.
Quickly her small trunk was packed
and preparations made for a hasty de-
parture She wrote brief note to
Miss Bennett, and. fastening on her
gray tufban and cape, stole down the
rear stairway again. out into the
shadows OF the summer night.
Tears blinded her so she could not
see the obstacle in the path against
which her flying feei carried her. A
pair Of stalwart arms caught her as
she staggered from the Impact.
"Gingerl Running me down, eh
cried masculine voice. whats your
hurry? Why, Miss Havens, what's the
matterg Wait wait, little woman, you
can't run away from me like this.
There's something in the wind and
I'm going to know about It,"
You cant" sohbed Phemie, wildly
struggling to escape ''Let me 60
I'm going away. I knew I'd be misun-
derstoodl You-you don't have to adj
wise her not to adopt me. oh, please,
please let me gol''
Oliver Benefits wits we're working
quickly. He drew the trembling fig.
ure he held to a nearby seat and
spoke soothingly. but firmly.
Miss Hayens-Phemle Hayens--
listen to me. You didn't hear all I
said. told my aunt she shouldn't
keep you here because I'll wanted to
adopt you myself There, the cats
out Of the bag. You're the finest lit
tie woman I've ever seen, to my no
ton, and I'm going TO marry you if
you'll have me. was waiting for
chance 70 tell you. but, of course, If
you want to run away--if you want
to go-now-Phemie, you go right
along and III live here with Aunt Ce-
liza and Pickwick."
He opened his arms wide. and Phe-
mie-wen. after an instant of dazed
silence, Phemie just gave a happy,
fiuttering, longdrawn sigh and set
tied back without a thought Of the
new pink rose on her turban.
I'll guess I'll stay-Oliyerm
Copyright. 1912, BY Associated Literary