The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-06-02
UASELFISH COHpIRATOR :

out al nouT before. ana llht proilLl1.
sun was sinking behind the hill
Virginia set the milk bottles out o.
ths back porch with tickets for rAs
NEXT days supply Her cheeks xers
flushed with the heat. and little mois,
tsndrtls OF hair clung to her forehead
i don't care how ! look, she said
Is she turned toward the door.
In the double-seated swing, shs
leaned her head back wearlly and
closed her eyes. The breeze Was cool
and refreshing. Tired as she was shs
began 10 plan for the mornings work.
She had never admitted even TO her
self. that since John Marshall had
been coming to see Annabelle. the
work had been much harder
The big. old-fashioned house was
enough TO keep TWO OF them busy
most OF the time But OF late. Anna.
bellies time had hardly been her own.
When John was NOS there or taking
her out somewhere, there we're other
things for the favored sister to do.
Mrs. Virgins appeared around the
corner OF the house.
Good eyenin', Miss Ginnie. | didn't
see any lights In the front and sposed
you wasn't through with the dishes
yet. Hot. amt it7~
Virginia was relieved that It was
only her kind-hearted, garrulous old
neighbor. Come out here and SIT
with me, won't you, Mrs. Wigginsf
It's cooler here"
''What'll do with your daddys
eggs?'
~oh. did you bring some for his
breakfast? How kind! I'll get
pan"
Never mind. ri fix 'em. know
how tired you must be-
Mrs. Virgins put an egg. small end
down, In the top OF each milk bottle.
There. They'll be all right till you
come inS
She limped back to the swing. In
the twilight, she caught the weary
droop OF the girls shoulders Miss
Ginnie. ye amt sick. are ye?"
No. Mrs Virgins Why?"
Tit amt like you don't like
to see you so tired. Your poor moth. !
er, she used to say. yirginnie, she
can't stand what Annabelle does An
she always tried to keep you rested
What do ye do it for, Miss Ginnie?"
Why. Mrs Virgins, you know how
1t is with US now, since dad lost all his
money. It's too bad If two big,
healthy girls like US can't take care
OF him and the house"
But, Miss Anna don't help. / guess
I've got eyesl"
Well, perhaps not so much az she
did, but-she's very busy
Yes. | know why she's busy. But
no matter if she is g goin' to get mar
ried, she's no business imposin' on
you an I'm goin' to tell her"
Mrs, Wigginsl"
There, there, dearie! I'm an old
trouble-maker an | must be goin be.
fore | say anything more. I'm sorry,
Miss Ginny, if hurt you. hope
you'll feel better tomorrow"
Virginia watched the old lady dis
appear into the darkness So other
people were beginning to notice. She
whitened, The bare facts parAded
themselves before her now without
disguise
The moon, almost full, was rising
n the east, making fairyland OF the
old-fashioned garden Ii shone full
,n the face Of the girl In the swing
ying back with closed eyes, her face 5
low strangely white. A
She was saying over and over to Il
lerself, ! wonder II he really does i,
are for heri | wonder If 4
Virginia." whispered some one /,
oftly, SO softly that at first she did
lot open her eyes 1t seemed like "
ONE mysterious magic OF the old y
noonlit garden.
When she did look up. she saw y
lan standing close to the swing. She 81
at up with startled cry, then rec. W
gnizing John Marshall. she turned a,
way In pretty confusion. Had he !,
card her thoughts? Had she said
nything aloud? He had called her
Virginia for the first time =
She scrambled out OF the swing ol
Good evening, Mr.. Marshall | q
ldn't expect you and Annabelle back til
} soon.' IN
Il wonder, he said irrelevantly If II
1u have any idea how beautiful you "a
'e in the moonlight" t
Mr. Marshall!"
Cant you say 'John?"
why I-don't know. Why should lts
" She was Heryously plucking bu
aves from a lilac bush He reached in
IT and took both her hands in his sil
Because l want you to. This time Sc
n not going to let you get away with. in
i telling you what / want to. I've
led for days but you have always
d some excuse. Too tired. or too "
sy. or dishes. or something for ia. ~
er. Annabelle's a charming, clev- re-
little girl. but she isn't you. Vir. be
ala. | came alone. She's still at pc
e party having a fine time with Jack ies
lglish They're glad to get rid OF ha
- He laughed. Il have eyes, Wiz. IL,
lia. ~
And ] came back to hunt Up little r
ndaruIEa and ta1I ~. -