The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-12-28
CHANGED HER MiND
BY CECILIA moRDAuNT.


'I'ge said No now. for 3he last time
Please don't bother me amy more
about it I'm never going 90 marry
anybody. My work absorbs my whols
life
\ Philip Jordan accepted her refusal
without comment II was the seventh
time he had asked Helen 70 be bis
wife He was quite used to hearing
her SAY NO but Philip had his own
ideas about her career"
"All right, my dear; but lunch with
me tomorrow, anyway, at the tea.
room"
II can't, she replied In a terse man.
ner. I'm going to meet Harriet West.
We were at school together. end I've
not seen her for five years Harriet
took up social service work and 1
newspaper work, then magazine writ.
Ing We promised to meet on the 5th
Of November Harriets birthday. at
the end OF iive years and tell each
other al about our progress
Harriet Is coming to New York.
and we are to lunch at sherry's"
DO You think she win be thefe"
inquired Philip.
"Of course she Will Harriet was as
keen about her work as ! am about
mine How we will enjoy talking over
schooldays and the fuldllment OF our
ambitions!"
well. will you dine with me? After
the intellectual afternoon. perhaps you
may need some recreation Wen 30
for a motor ride afterward"
Thank you. Phil can't promise.
Perhaps III call you up at the club II
decide to do So"
At o'clock tho next day Helen.
dressed in her prettlest afternoon
frock, wearing huge bunch Of vlolets,
waited in the reception room at sher.
ry's She looked with inqulring In.
ieyc-t into the eyes OF all the women
who entered. Seine OF them she bow
ed to, exchanging a few words Of
erecting with others, for a successful
8s,ter Of clever stories has many
frierds.
At lse0 Helen glanced at her little
ieweled watch with a frown Of impa-
tience Harriet had not arrived. Sure
" she could not have forgotten tho
engagement. although Helen had re-
ceiYed no reply from a note she had
sent to the Philadelphia address OF
her friend, reminding her OF their
pact
One.forty-five Helen began to grow
fidgety. Two o'clock. She had waited
an hour Well. there was no need to
wait longer She called up her apart
ment TO see If any message had come
from the absent Harriet. Nothing
there. so she ordered a salad and some
coffee and ate her lunch alone. won
dering what could have happened to
her friend She would walk home.
The cold air and bright sunshine
would do her good
AS she was passing a little toy shop
on Eighth avenue her atten, 10 was
attracted by small child clinging to
her motaer's hand and crying for a
beautifully dressed doll which stood
with ousstretched hands in the win
dow
mo, darling; mother cannot get 1t
for you. Just look at the dollie. dear,
and maybe Santa Claus will bring
Helen one
Attracted by the child's name. Helen
paused beside the little girl The
mother turned. "Helen Ayers-youl"
she exclaimed.
Harriet Vest Why. did you
forget your engagement to lunch with
me?'
Engagement" Harriet looked puz-
zled
Eyes, didn't you receive my note7 l
sent It to your home address And
what are you doing with that child?@
This is my little daughter, Helen,
named for you, dear. Come, darling,
speak nicely to the lady"
You married. What made you
change your mind and give up your
work? Oh, Harriet" There was dis
appointment in Helen's voice
"Yes, dear Imarried Ted Mitchell
nearly four years ago. We have lived
in New York two years.
"But why2"
Because he loved me-and I fell in
love with him. Oh, Helen. do come
home with me for tea. Ted will be SO
glad to meet you. He's so often heard
me speak Of you. He is the dearest
husband in the world
So Helen permitted kerself to be led
home with Harriet Mitchell and baby
Helen. Then she met Ted the wol-
derful Ted. who was really a very
commonplace person, but devoted to
his wife and little daughter.
They were such happy trio, so 10y
ing. SO CHEEKY Harriet beamed on
Ted and he beamed back at her. Their
love glorihed the tiny fiat, which
seemed to radiate happiness. Helen
caught herself wondering II after all.
a home with loved ones was not bet
ter than an apartment and the sefy-
Ices OF a maid she wondered II she
and Phil-hut all Of sudden she re
membered that she must call Phil;
she had a dinner engagement with
him
Making excuses and promising to