The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-10-16
The EYES OF pERsIs
BY IzoLA FORESTER.
sssssssssssssssssssssss

10 you MlAu very mucn III cOme
in?"
Holt sat up. He had been sound
asleep on the couch ever since din
ner. 1t had been good dinner, too
fresh caught rainbow trout from the
mountain brook that rambled just be-
low the cabin.
The cabin itself was most untIdy
Walt had been gone four days 1t was
no time for callers. and yet the shadow
Of one lay on the threshold Of this
sanctum OF bachelor hermits, and the
shadow was feminine.
Il do hope we're not disturbing
your" This time the tone seemed
tinged with regret.
"Oh. not at all. not at ALL" called
Holt. bIindIy. Come right in"
We've climbed all the way up from
the hotel just to see your pictures. Mr.
Meredith she smiled at him frankly.
holding out her hand. Il suppose you
are bothered terribly with climbers.
but had to come. am Persis owen,
and | love your wonderful pictures OF
the mountains"
Holt took the hand and bowed over
II. Walt was on his way to Chicago
for an exhibition.
He showed all the canvases, and
discoursed on them. He found the
weary little old aunt out under the big
pine and chatted with her until she
ha, 4 nv. a II. Iss~x fe.ea
and Persls helped make it. Lastly he
walked down to the hotel with them
in the cool of the late afternoon and
made several appointments. No, he
was not so busy then. he assured them.
In fact, he had finished nearly all of
his paintings for the time being.
So. for Two weeks he was the her.
nit artist of Speartooth mountain.
Pefsis and her aunt came often, some.
times in the car sometimes on foot
Then came a day when she brought
up her father to see him and his paint
ings--old Hobart Owen, who had made
his money out of new kink in break.
fast foods.
4 want to have talk with you,
the old man said later as they strolled
up the trail together. I'm blunt
man and find the shortest way around
is straight through the middle. You
are in love with my girl, aren't your"
Yes, sir" Holt's face was bit
white under the tan.
Il know you haven't told her so yet
and like you for it. Now, the fact
is this. don't want her tied up to
any artist ! know the game Some
win out. Most of them fall down. She
will have plenty of money herself, but
| want her married to a sensible young
business chap that knows his way
around in the world and can look after
her, I'm mighty sorry to have to tell
you this, er-I didn't catch your name,
lad
MY names Holt Chambers" said
Holt, huskily, backing up against a
big pine. i've been several kinds of
an idiot, but | think | can see light
| Anyhow, here goes. I'm Walt Mere
dith's friend and closest chum. He
asked me up here to share his cabin
while he got out some special studies.
He's in Chicago now, arranging for
his fall exhibition. And he's about
forty years old. I'm attorney for the
Illinois Southern Railway, and
never handled paint brush in my
life"
Slowly smile dawned on Owens
face. He shifted his cigar to the left
corner of his mouth and put out his
hand
If you can clear 1t up with Persis
as easily as you have with me you
can go and talk to her. I'll keep on
up the trail a ways
Holt turned and went back to the
cabin. Persis was sitting before the
oil study of spsartooth, her hands
clasped behind hey head dreamily.
How soon you came back! Where
is dad?"
He won't be back for few min
utes. He sent me to you. Do you
like that stuff" Almost plaintively he
asked the question.
Its wonderful" she said in almost
a whisper. Il could sit here and look
| at it for hours"
Look at me, instead, Persis. Oh,
] mean it," he plunged ahead now
recklessly. II never painted a stroke
ON canvas in my life. I'm not Walt
Meredith. Can you stand any more?'
She nodded her head, her brown
eyes filling with tears, but smile on
her lips.
MY names"
Il know it." she said. Its Holt
Chambers. The little boy who sells
papers down at the hotel told me long
ago. I'm awfully glad you told dad
the truth. He likes the truth"
did you care more for old Spear
tooth than for me?" he asked. I'll
buy it for you from Walt for we'd
ding gift"
She turned her back on the canvas
and held out her hands to him. art
was vanquished.
His Incentive.