The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-05-27
GOOD THINss IN LIFE
sy RossER ". cossE

and resting
Fred Hastings nodded 1T Is rest
ful IN here. Cav.
The little cafe vas bnt sparsely
flled The lights Eers low. and no
Ecreeching violin OF tiDkling piano dis
turbed the gentle silence Of the fern
decorated r00m.
4Fsnny ! never met T0ur wife.
Pred You and we're such chums
In the old days before ron went
across. Guess It wouldn't DO for me
to recall some Of The high jinks of
the long ago, hey1
Hastings glanced At bis friends
smiling rather dissipated face, and
frowned slightly.
@No," he said. decisively. st
wouldn't do, Cav. Tol know that's
all over with nov. I've got over my
foolish days Wait until you meet
Bertha: you'n know then why / set
tied down. You'll Ike her. I know"
be went on. enthusiastically, she's
miles and Iailes too good for me. I'm
the luckiest man IN the world today,
Caverly."
Caverly grinned
"CUt it out, Fred he laughed.
Young married people. you know"
well. ] guess It does sound rather
foolish TO you. but you must remem-
Der that | never knew what good
womans love meant until met
Bertha"
Caverly reached over to the wall
and pressed an electric button.
Two cocktails, waiter. Best thing
In the world. be added to his com
panion, when you're getting senti-
mental All you've been doing ever
since l met you is prattle about the
Joys and bliss Of the married state.
/ Now. I've a little experience to re-
late, and" glancIng al his watch 4Td
advise you to give me a chance now
II you want TO hear it before your
wife joins US"
eco ahead, old man. Hastings said.
smiling. you always did like to hear
Y yourself talk"
Il was over on the other side, win
ter before last, and intended looking
you up, but circumstances over which
: / had no control made It imp 5iAle.
4 However. that has nothing to dc With
the story"
Caverly slipped his cocktail medita,
lively, as though seeking a way in
which to begin his narrative.
."As you know, Fred. | am usually
fond Of the good things Of life. and
they're usually Hane. I'd kind Of
been going the pace a little too fast
and had decided I'D have to leave
Carlo and get rested up for time
when I got mixed up with young
French gentleman whose honor quite
unintentionally slurred. and who took
me on with the rapiers with the con
sequence that had rather nasty
hole put in my side. In the state
was in that meant the hospital.
"And ttere I'met her. Oh. know
Fred, that I've been all kinds Of q
fool, and that my shortcomings are
many and my virtues few, but know
now that loved that girl with all my
heart. God If I had only known Il
then. She was employed as nurse
at the hospital and It was she thai
brought me back TO life. And it wal
then that | committed the creates
folly OF a foolish life. I had monel
and she enjoyed the little luxurles O
life that my money could buy, bu
that she could not afford to get witt
her slender wages. We we're happ.
together-too happy. / know now
such happiness cannot last He
brother had suspicious. and confront
ing US one night n a small resort
whence we had gone to hear the OF
chestral concert, he openly accuses
u.s. She, frightened. would not lie
but confessed to him. trying to TAX
the blame on herself.
Cayerlys face was white and hi
eyes shone; the corners Of his moutl
twitched nervously. With a shakin
hand he reached for his glass AM
took the drink at gulp.
There was hell In the mans eyes,
he continued. twisting the glass in hi
fingers, "as with an awful oath b
drew razor from his pocket an
slashed me across the throat" Cav
erly's fingers earessed his neck mel
vously, ard Hastings shuddered a
his friends unconscious action An
Z theA," continued caverly, leaving m
where I had fallen. he turned on hi
sister, and although with a powerfu
effort I dragged myself to my feet,
was unable to prevent him from usin
his weapon on her She did not die
/ I learned that later was in stat
Of eemtconeciousness for nearly si
[ weeks, but when | returned she coul
not be found. The youth had she
himself later Ny only clew was I
! find woman whose face would bea
the awful triangular scar that I ha
= seen administered. and that | wi
never forget"
Hastings face had suddenly gon
as white as that Of his companion.
a 'Pshaw." caverly remarked. wit
d an attempt at earelessness, IN