The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-12-09
FROM OUT THE PAST

The delicate perfume waited hy !
hundred fans was Christening the
heaFy air Of the ballroom. and the
swish of the dancers feet over ths
smooth parquet vas keeping dreamy
TINE to the whispering tinkle OF the
mandolins. With curious smile on
hef cameo face Mrs. santelIe stood
watching the throng OF those eager
pursuers Of fieetfooted happiness
There was crowd of admirers abcat
her. and she was sparkling all over
In jewels and vita cold satirica
wit.
presently there came into the room
girl and her ehaperone. The former
was Mrs. Santelle's daughter. and the
mother. nodding to the crowd around
her' passed over 70 where she stood.
You are looking exquisite tonight
dear, said the elder woman. And.
yet, there is something unusual about
you. What has happened? Is it pos
sibieg You say that the heir to the
Vangreft millions has asked for your
hand! or course you acceptedg No?
child, you have made an awful mis-.
take, 1t must be that there is some
one else. All. young Howard, the ar
tist who paints those pretty pastelIe
heads? But, my dear. he has next to
no money. Forget him. you must for
get him"
As the woman moved away she
looked back once and she saw that the
girls face was oyershadowed with
gloom. The night no longer held any
happiness for her.
Mr. santelle shuddered slightly. but
In the swing Of the next waltz she /
speedily forgot all but her own proad
position as leader OF society, the
wife OF a prominent statesman ana
a reigning beauty. But suddenly. while
the mandolins dripped their sweet mu-
sic most tenderly. she started. paled
quickly. and trembled on her partners
arm Therein the misty corner Of
the room-she seemed 70 see a face
she had known 10 The long ago-a face
ghastly aud wan-touehed with orim-
son and stamped With the mark of
death. She closed her eyes-openod
them again, bat il wes stil there
menacing-accusing -ho4riblel
There was a sudden commotion; for
Mrs. Santelle had tainted. Quickly
the was carried 10 another room. and
Ter husband came to her. She awoke
o find him leaning over the d.van
where she lay.
~ Is yoa,s she said. with a forced
mile There IS nothing serious the
faintcd--that was all. It
eas the heat Of the room.
Please leave mel require moth
ng"
Alone with her own thoughts she
reamed the old dream over again. So
ong she had tried 10 forget. 70 put
he worldly mask Of pride over al
hose tender, sad days. and yet, here
little iadisposliion had brought the
aunting terror back 20 her again. I
Yell. II Il must be. she would review
be dream. the dream OF those davs
hen she was young poor and am :
ltious. Her beauty bad then seemed +
) her power beyond price. aud she
ad determined 70 aim for nothing
,wer than the highest And then that {
andsome young West Pointer had Q
ONE into her life. She-yes. she Il
wed him. though she told herself 4
le must stias her iers. And yet she
I'D smiled upon him. One day he
I'D
Il can bear Il no longer You know
iat ! love you DO you love meg :
ust know that. Can you give up G
our ambition for me--for ioge7 ! cam y
d eat Of the fruit Of hope and de- a
iair In Ibis maddealHg alienation. A
eli me--ycs or no. And she had shut i
sr teeth and said NO" firmly, al
Iough she knew she loved him well.
When she learned that he had shot !
mEelf, she remained calm for few 4
conds Al then ffll % the door in q 2
,ry delirium Of pentup terror "
In the morning. wearing a heavy e
~ she went 10 look upon his dead
ce All. the sight OF that white face \
ith tho majesty Of death upon IL !,
he would never forget that awful
cture. why did thai phantom come =
il OF the past tonight TO reproach y
'r7 Had she not made a new life for q
srself. buried those old-time mem
les. gratided All her ambitions. ev- p
ything save love- Why had she
canned tonightg Was It the look on
n daughters face that had brought
out the coming OF the dream? Would
ella. too. live to repents y
She went out into the ballroom n
ain. radiant and beautiful as be- Il
re. She waved her questioners Al
ide with her fan n,
Thank you. It was nothing. Only h,
tigue, faintness, due to the heat"
But when Stella said softly: How i
I'D | am that you are better. moth =
!" she bent over her and whispered: 4
Il have been thinking things over, 4
ar. aud have changed my mind. You 81
d tell Mr. Howard my child that II