The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-04-20

She folded the note, and addressed
It to her husband.
Three months OF the only real hap
piness she had ever known, and her
stronger self said 1nis must be the
end. 1t would be Hard to leave item
all, and the white, clean little house;
but the futility of staying had come
to her quite suddenly that morning.
LiIa--ten dark eyed, and reserved
had prefaced a request with moth
er" To Mrs. Carson mamma had
somehow always seemed a sweeter,
more intimate term.
Don't you think the word mother
a bit formal, dear2" she had ventured.
with fast-beating heart.
Lila looked us quickly.
I'm call you Mrs. Carson, then,
she announced briefly.
ITS no 1se--no usen a voice in
her mind kept crying. They may
even come to dislike you"
There we're two others-Fred, sew
en-. and Alice. the baby.
She kissed the baby. but shyness
withheld her from caressing the two
impregnabie little strangers who very
plainly did not wish to be caressed.
All her patient life she had longed
for domesticity and little ones, but for
years perverse necessity had kept her
in the schoolhouse OF middle West
town
Some time after the sisters we'd
ding she met Jim Carson. widower,
and after a brief but sincere wooing
he brought her East as his bride-a
girl no longer but full Of the inno-
cence and illusions OF youth.
The train she must take left at two.
She placed the note in the center Of
the round table, and entered the bed
room-her bedroom and Jim's.
Carefully she took her clothes from
the closet and piled them on the bed.
They were new, neat things that we're
her trousseau.
In opening the top bureau drawer.
a small package and sealed envelope
met her gaEe Roth were addressed
IN very round, precise letters to Mrs.
Margaret Carson"
The writing was vaguely familiar.
She tore openthe letter first. 1t read.
Dear Mrs Carson:
lake my pen IN hand 10 tell you that
/ am going 80 Pan away today IL my
brother Frederick Carson. VIII 20. will
take him TOO. iou can keep the h9by
because YOU love her. know you %; be-
cause you kiss her and call her my little
darling. Hero s your berthday presunt.
! sowed on II every day after school 50
but i s not done yet n you. VIII kindly
Embroidery the hig green laef Ii VIII be
done am SORRY you did not Ike for me
RespeckfuiIy,
p. ST. know +on won't care because
yon don't love ma. You never Kissed me
good-Rght in Your liie
Mrs. Margaret Carson drew long
breath. than almost reyerently united
tho package
A large eushiontop, embroidered in
bright rcd ard green, unrolled TO view.
There must have been hundreds and
hundreds Of the crude little stitches
ard the goods had puckered woefully:
but 10 the recipient 1t was glorious
thing.
And then, because she was a woman,
she cried.
soon small feet came pattering
through the house. and in minute
Fred stood Ia the doorway
Kin j have doughnat?" he asked
Yes, dear. yes. Did your sister
come home with you?" she queried
eagerly.
Yes m. She's out in the wood
shed. She wants me to run away
with her. but | won't said Fred viT>
tnonsIy. Don't tell her told.
In the woodshed she found her hid
Ing behind box. Al bit OF the blue
checked dress had betrayed her. Si-
lently the little mother raised and
folded her iL her arms.
She kissed the flushed face several
times.
my dear. dear little girl, you will
not run away from mother now Won't
you believe | love your The tone
carried conviction.
Lila glanced up shyly.
Il thought sure you didn't And
then you said you you thought | was
too familiar, or something. because l
called you mother
The mother gave wabbly little
laugh
Il said formal, dear; 0ut that only
meant ! would rather Nc called mann
ma. I like it better Now am going
to give my babies their lunch, !" she
paused. after have torn up very
foolish letter wrote today"
lcepyrght)