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

Ilcu IoI the nTnt tl1Ac AHoActHJ IN
derstood that the house was not hers
She was to become a waif again, as
helpless as when she had FIRST gone
there
But later in the day another arrival
came in the shape OF prim maiden
lady. even more like Miss Milly. who
hammered violently upon the door
and. when MilIy opened 1t. burst in
unceremoniously and shook her fist
In the face of Brother Joel
Now amt that like you, Joel, Try
ing to forestalI me-" she screamed.
perhaps you don't recognize Sister
Bessie, do you? Thought you and
Eliza would get ahead OF me. smiling
around Sister Miles property, didn't
ycu? But there amt no will and !
defy ys@ IL iay finger on this house
till I've had my say. Now, young
woman, where's that old mahogany
furniture?"
Another relation appeared toward
nightfaIl In the shape OF cousin, who
groaned drearily to find the others in
possession.
III there amt no will" she shrilled,
Il say cousins has a right to share in
the property. II am only cousin,
at least. / stood by Milly when the rest
Of you cast her on"
They departed at nightfall TO seek
accommodation In the village inn.
They wrangled down the street and
the sound OF their rasping voices only
died away to leave the girls heart des-
olate. She had grown to love the trim
little place: she had made plans for
long life there. She was going TO
raise chickens, she hgd intended to
grow vegetables and flowers, to bright
en- her dreary existence with books
and music. She felt helpless under
this cataclysm.
Early next morning the four were
back again, wrangling over the prop
erty. Brother Joel wanted the house.
his wife wanted the furniture; Sister
Bessie insisted on the piano and the
dining-room set to begin with. They
argued angrily in the parlor, while
Cousin Jane wrung her hands and la
mented Milly's 'stuck-upedness."
WELL" said Brother Joel's wife
sneeringly, "at any rate we can all
agree on one thing. This young wom-
an here hain't no business here, so we
can begin by saying good-by to her"
Dorothy could bear it no longer She
ran out of the room and down the gar
den poth. sobbing desperately She
never wanted to enter the house again.
She did not see the tall man at the gate
until he caught her. Then she gasped
in dismay.
Fred" sho exclaimed
Dorothy, What ia the matters"
They're all in there" wept Dorothy,
fighting over Miss Milly's things, and
they've turned me out, and"
In broken words she managed to
give Fred Dane an outline of the stu
alton. Fred Dane laughed comforta-
bly,. There was the sound Of success
and self-confidence in that laugh.
Dorothy stole timid look at him.
How big and protecting he seemed.
He had become a man during those
FIVE years that he had been away.
Now you come right back with
me" he said. I've got something to-
say to that crowd" And he caught
her arm in his and took her back,
right into the parlor again, where the
fight was proceeding with such in
tensity that nobody saw him for quite
a minute. Sister Bessie and Brother
Joel's wife each had hold Of one side
OF the piano and they were trying to
drag II in two separate ways.
Ladies and gentlemen" began
Fred Dane, clearing his throat.
Brother Joel looked up with snarl.
What, another OF them?" he demand
ed.
"Oh, no. l am Just the lawyer who
was intrusted with Miss Millys will"
said Fred. You see. she had pre-
sentiment Of her approaching illness
and took the trouble TO have It wit
messed and signed and placed in my
care last week"
''Who gets the pianner?" shouted
Sister Bessie.
Miss Milly has left everything to
her daughter" answered Fred Dane.
There was a moment of Mortified 81
lence Then Sister Bessie shrilled:
''What? That brat still living and
come back TO trouble us after all these
years? ! thought 1t died! What right
did she have to have a child Of sim?
And now we're going to lose the house
and the pianner just because Milly-"
Poor Milly," wept Cousin Jane.
"Pd have stood by her II she'd only
let me. didn't cast her off when she
was young and beautiful because she
slipped ! wrote to her once year
for whole year, only she was too
stuck-up to answer"
so, let me invite you to leave" said
Fred. because. you see, the house and
property, as well as the piano, are al
ready disposed Of"
"Oh, I'll leave," shouted Brother
Joel "But ther amt no lawyer can
skin me out of my property. Ill have
the law on you !"
And I'm going to have my pian-
ner." shouted Sister Bessie, as she
moved toward the door; and they
went out clustering and threatening
Dorothy" said Fred. when they
were alone, now that I've come back