The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-04-18
Delayed in
Transit

corson smiled TO himself as the
camp came in sight when be rounded
the point IN his frail canoe. Il VAS
the first time that Corson had smiled
IN some weeks. for be had passed g
doI0f0us summer In town. Al the
camp, he was sure 10 find rest from
the doubts that assalled him. for ia
me woods Charley corson forgot even
Lillian Blakslee.
i vas nor an easy matter to forget
Lillian, for Lillian had been the cause (
Of his wretched summer. he had let
the Blakslees have the camp for the
hot months. His business kept him in
town through what corson called the
"scorching season" but be had taken
pleasure ia the thought that Lillian
WaH in camp and learning to love Il
ae much al he did,
Next year he hoped that there would
be z June wedding, and a July honey
moon in the camp. There was moth
ing more than an understanding be-
tween them, but Lillian had made It
plain what her answer would be when
Cofson spoke, and as the weeks sped
BY, and her letters grew moTs and
more irregular, Corson first grew
puzzled, then worried.
Even when they broke camp corH0n
did not learn the fact untl after
they had left the woods. Mrs. Blaks-
lees note Of thanks hinted at an ear
Ter letter. but there vas none from
Lillian and Mrs. Blakslee did not
speak Of her. In spite Of the thanks,
there was a tinge or coldness and re-
serve in her note that made Corson
more dolefdi than ever. lie and Mrs.
blakslee were great chums. Now she
seemed TO share Lillians dislike.
He had welcomed the news that the
camp was again at his disposal, for
IN the woods he could forget bis
troubles fOr a time, and find the rest
that he sought. The camp might re-
mind him Of Lillian. but with rod or
gun he could coniure the vision away.
He padded to shore, and was de-
lighted to find that the camp had been
left IN perfect order. The Blakslees
had brought their servant with them,
and It was only necessary 10 remove
the board shutters from doors and
windows, give things a dusting and
set up housekeeping. Before long
pot Of coffee was perfuming the air.
and bacon was sizzling In the pan.
The supper things out Of the way,
Corson fired his pipe, and made the
round Of the camp. He had reached
the rough road that ran at the rear Of
the camp. when he encountered the
dead stump that two years before had
bgen used as the mail box for a pri-
Yate mail delivery. Teddy Grlscom
had been In camp with him that year,
and It was Teddy who induced one Of
the farmers to make tri-Heekly trips
with the mail. Ted had fixed up the
stump as their private box
There was a cunningly contrlyed
door in the opposite side Of the trunk,
and Corson glanced in TO see how
much the stump had decayed since
the year before
To his surprise he found that the
cavity was half filed with letters and
ia fash he realized that the Blaks-
lees servant d recently landed emil
grant, had mailed the letters here.
It was all clear enough now. He
carefully did Them up in bundle and
then he sat down TO write a letter Of
explanation.
Il never supposed that the letters
lad been delayed in transit he con.
eluded and / blame myself for not
/ understanding what the matter was.
should have removed the slot from
the tree, but ! didn't suppose that
even newly-arliyed 'greeny' would
suppose that Uncle Sam had mail
boxes scattered through the woods It
was delight to get SO many letters
from you all at once. but ! VIII swap
the lot for one little letter containing
the single word Yes"
He made a special trip to the village
to mail the package and then made
daily trips for the answer He had
not long to wait. Before the end Of
the week be found a bulky letter in
the box and he could not walt until
he got 10 camp TO read it. with the
canoe floating on the surface Of the
lake he ct It drift while he read over
the letter
IT was nol Norah7 wrote Lillian,
'but the rest Of US and Teddy Girls
com. When we left town Ted begged
US to use his private post office if we
wanted to. I suppose that be thought
we should see the joke, but we didn't
and unless we We're going TO town we
mailed The letters ia the box and Il
never occurred 60 us to wonder
whether they had been collected OF
not. You see we are not woodsmen
like yourself. Next year you can
show US, for ! accept your offer Of ex
change and viii send the Yes at
soon as ] receive the package. ] don't
want to let You keep the letters after
we are married to prove what bad
temper had"
Corson struck across the lake as be
had never padded before and he gol
the letters back ia time for the night
mail. Then he padded home more