The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-09-10
VAS "a DARK HORSE
ByBELLE MANiATEs


Thornton. w0ns take no fer an
answer thla time You can stag over
eeania W weeks nuw iust as well AZ
nos. There IS good goli links 8oar-
ihg. and / AaYa three pretty dauga- +
ters and
q certainly cant retnse such 81 f
luring inducements" laughted Thorn
ton. and trust. Mr- Darnley.
won't be respassing too much ca
your hospitality and the good nature
q your houshold by accepting an i'm /
promptu invitation.
The household is an unconventional
one. and delights in opening doors
/ vide when a friend knocks replied
/ the elder man, taking down the tele-
phone.
Hellol This you, Madge9 Mr.
Thornton is IN toWn-y6u have often
\ heard ne speak Of him have per
suaded him to remain over and pay
us visit Yes. hen COME home with
ne tonight After the transaction
Of some business which had brought
Roger Thornton. the son Of an old
college friend Of Mr. Darnieg's. 70 the
city, they took a suburban train 70
the latter's country home.
"The house looks rather forbid.
ding. observed Mr. Darnley as they
came UP the graveled road 'hut the
girls detest lights ia summer pre-
sumo they are back in the garden.
ST. down here On tho porch and
win gather them up.
Rogers heard a light football be.
hind Elm. Then two soft arms en-
circled his neck. a yelyety cheek vas
laid against his own. and a beautiful
voice mnrmured tenderly:
"What made you SO late. dear2'
Roger sat like a man dazed
stunned by the touch Of lips and
cheek After a throbbing silence he
half whispered.
Il beg your pardon."
There was a horrlhed exclamation,
swift withdrawal 81 arms and the
aound Of vanishing skirts.
! III a distant part Of the house he
heard echoes Of mirshful laughter
Presently Darnley came out of che
J house.
, after prowling all over tie
grounds. found the girls IN the din
ins-room preparing a chafing dist
luncheon for US Come in and meef
them
II the dining-room Roger was pre-
sented to the three girls. In vain h'
looked into the roguish faces seekinl
some tell-tale token. But not a sigi
Of confusion or enlightenment did b
receive.
II must tell you a good joke, Thorn
ton. laughed Darnley THE girl
supposed It was your father wa
10 bring home with mel"
Indeed And was 7 also suppose
to be ny father when ! sat out On tn
porch just now?g he asked, meal
ingly
There was trio Of laughing voice
and knowing glances
"No. You we're thought TO be me
explained Darnley. 'see If you ca
guess which one made the emba
1 rassing error
l There is but one way in which
can decide that matter" replied Ro
er sravely.
Il How" demanded the trio.
II Il must close my eyes, and ea'
one Of you can in turn come up B
2 hind he and repeat the error! The
! might decide"
This was positively and laughin
" declined After a merry evenir
Roger retired. unable to decide viii
mr. Of these beautiful Young women
,is thought the most charming Tie ne
re dav and evening found him sfiil I
ng decided. and also in the dark as
to who had bestowed upon him the ae
his ing embrace.
slv On the third evening Of his Wis
lst Marie Loveridge, a niece Of
Darnleys, arrived to pay visit s
ne was tyne altogether different fr'
IN her lighthearted laughter.iovi
hi. cousins,
pe by one or two skillful NOV
Ine Roger drew her apart from the 8
ght crowd and sought secluded retr
hat in the rose garden.
he s'Do you know" he said, suddeF
for Il had very strange experience
Get aret night Of my arrival here
inc "That was before / came remi
the ed Marie
inc .AIr Darnley left me on the 20
cam while he went in search of his f
ily. and while 7 waited there alone
NAL the darkness. I felt two soft a.
ID about my neck. cheek laid agai
nah mine. and d light kiss, and the Il
M. beautiful voice I ever heard S
that What made you 50 late, dear2' "
,ost. spoke. she fed Marie from
how first moment I saw you knew
must have been you who came to
,ost- there in the darkness and taught
the what love might bel"
Itch "But." she said, her voice Il
bov bling, you know I did not come
sn IN two days later
he's II know. But still it was YOU
I'm dream. perhaps. but, Marie will
, he. not make the dream come trueg
s,o., MT iova np9"