The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-07-14
DOvE-PlE AND HONEY

They we're the words with which
old Henry P. had closed the interview
that had resulted In his giving his
daughter to the handsome young
westerner who had won her love
That was more than a year ago; now
the big, brown-faced ranehman sat N
the door Of his little shack, watching
duststorm drift over the face Of the
setting sun, and thinking OF what the
hsrd-headed old tinancier had said
back there in his luxurious home IN
various New York.
A slim figure IN blue dress came
slowly up the lane Of umbrella trees,
It was Iim's wife. There was a tired
stoop to her shoulder that was All
too plain III spite Of the poise Of her
chin. She had old Henry P's chin.
superb be ready in a minute,
jim, she said
What you goin' to have"
Il found some partridge eggs" she
said, holding out the blue sunbonnet;
I'm going to make an omelet. Then,
there's doye-pie and mesquite honey"
Jim burst out laughing
why Jim" cried the little woman,
terribly hurt. Il thought you liked
partridge eggs
"Come here, little girl" He held
out two great brown arms and she
pumped into them regardless OF eggs
and independence alike
what was IT, Jim?" she asked,
when he had kissed away the tear
"Oh, nothing, little linneti It was
the the dove-pie and the mesquite
honey"
"But we haven't had them for ever
so loAg, I thought you'd" She had
to bite hard on her lower lip to keep
her chin steady.
How would my Sallie 0 like to see
little old New York;"
20. jim. Jim, you dear old thing!"
Her arms were about his neck.
Really? Don't tell me it isn't so.
When?"
Tomorrow"
How perfectly de- Not tomorrow?
Whatll I-?"
"Wear what you've got till you get
to Chicago. and then get sometime
fit to steal into Broadway in after
dark. You couldn't get anything here
but a string of beads and a Navajo
ring, If yous to wait a year Tomor-
row you're off at daybreak."
"But you're coming, too?'
why little gray goose, | couldn't
get away on bet
They were rather silent as they
drove into the little railroad town the
next evening. There we're plenty Of
things to be thought Of.
The big fellow stood on the platform
and watched the train pull out, and
the little figure in the gray gown and
turban left its impress on his hear
rather than his mind.
After all, there's a feeling Of free
dom comes with this sort of thing
Jim walked up the street with ligh'
step There was hum Of congenial
ity about the open doors Of the sa
looms, billiard balls clicked in secre
merriment behind curtained windows
while from the subterranean depths o
some basement near by came the lonI
roll and cataclasmic clash Of th'
bowling alley.
'Hul-lo. JIM" He was greeted Oh
all sides. No one dared ask him t
have a drink, and he stood TALKING
with the proprietor A game of far
was on at one side of the room; th'
roulette wheel was thronged witt
players: Mexicans, Indians and whit
men mingled amid a perfect babel
above which rose the song Of rathe
corpulent half-breed girl and tn
stringy tones of an outworn piano.
"Hullo Jeem!" said the singer
making her way toward him. "Yo
no spin EN- any more. no? You us
play-you use spen' lot o da none
Heinl You membah dese?" She hel
up a finger, displaying a fashy rims
"Nita, said Jim, slowly III hu
that ring"
You geev eet to me; no sell"
Appealing to an instinct that h
knew to be strong in her he steppe
to the roulette table, where he place
a coin on one Of the large numbers
and continued to play until he ha
won. Then he turned to Nita:
Take It; give me the ring" Sh
slowly drew It off and laid It in hi
hand As he rode home under tn
stars. Jim took the bit Of jewelr
from his pocket and threw It of int
the sage brush.
The next morning things at L
Ranch Bonita had q desolate al
shes about to Albuquerque now
said Jim, and he drew a solitar
chair to the table A step sounde
on the threshold
I'm back!" said CHEEKY voice.
Your
"Jim. just couldn't do it, an
when the conductor told me I coul
redeem my ticket, tnrned around :"
Now, look here, young lady"
NO. Jim, It wasn't on account I
you You know how tired ! was {
everything when left New York
Well. haven't been away Ion
enough yet. I thought was hom
sick, but when the waiter brought ]