The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-02-10
GoIHG BACK TO CLARA
BY JAMES suEroN.

=
At his once at a leisurely hour on
Monday morning he found her sitting
there. For an instant be didn't recog
nize her: he saw only demure
pretty figure in brown. dressed with
q neatness and trimness that had
nothing to do with the prevailing
mode IN woman's attire.
@Of course you know me-" she said.
Offering him her bare hand pulled
from rss nun. and then with surprise
he reco. .nized Jane Putnam. clara's
sister
He stzmmered something about his
surprise and pleasure, and she went
on. Isn't there a private once? ]
don't like to make explanations here. !"
She inclined her head toward the ste
nographer and the Office boy. and
Tom led her into his small inner
ONCE.
Here Tom seated her in his large
armchair al his desk and drew a
small chair up for himself you
were mighty good TO come 10 see
me-" he said. fumbling for her rea-
son.
-Of course II is quite secret" said
Jane Clara would have a fit If she
knew. and probably never viii know !"
Tom bowed his head at the mention
Of Clara's name.
know that ! know that you asked
Clara 10 marry her. and I have found
out that you haven't married or be-
come engaged since. made sure or
that You told her you wouldn't
saw II in a letter. And Clara hasn't
married--not because she wouldn't.
but because there isn't anybody out
IN Greensyille 10 marry. and we never
go anywhere else. There are just two
Of us and grandmother. and you can
imagine IL isn't exactly exciting, and
Clara is getting getting"
Thomas was amused. To him Jane
had always seemed an amusing child
and Blk years hadn't seemed to
change her But what would be the
user" he asked her. with assumed
gravity "Clara's answ,' was final"
"A girls answer is never final, ="
said Jane eagerly. THAT was the
whole trouble. Oh. didn't ] want to
tell you them Why, you could have
got her TO say yes so easily then IL
you had only known how &c manage.
That letter you wrote 70 ask her
wasn't half imperative enough. and
why did you write, anyway? Why
didn't you come and tell herr
Then you saw the letter." said
Thomas. feeling a touch OF indigna-
tion at the old love.
Yes, OF course | did. and ! helped
Clara answer It. didn't think you
would take 1t as final"
Then did Clara--did She Do you
think she would have married me?"
"She didn't love you II that is what
you are trying 10 ask" said Jane.
But a girl like Clara doesn't ever
fall in love till she has been married
a few years. She wouldn't think II
was dignified But she would have
married you If you had clustered a
little. l could show you how"
Il see" said Thomas. leaning over
James chair and toying with her muff
Then"
There. why didn't you ever do
anything like that? But you were so
solemn. There wasn't a grain of fiirt
I'm you"
In a few more minutes conversa-
ton Jane and Thomas had laid their
plans for the capture OF Clara. Tom
was to come out to Greensville on
the pretense OF having business to at
tend TO there He was to call at the
Putnams, say nothing about having
seen Jane. and in the meantime Jane
was to give him all the help and ad-
vice she could.
When Tom presented himself at the
Putnam home in Greensville Clara
greeted him with restrained cordial
ity. with touch of forgiveness and
pity in her voice that Tom didn't
think he deserved.
Jane hasn't changed much" he
said to Clara one day. by the way,
is she engagedg
Il am sure / don't know" said
Clara.
Tom made his business detain him
for several days. and every evening
and several afternoons he took occa-
sion to come over to the Putnam
house. and as usual Jane would dis
appear when he entered the door,
and he would flounder with Clara.
One day when he had made up his
mind he would insist on seeing Jane,
he had the good fortune to meet her
at the door
I have something dreadful to tell
you" said Jane.
And / have disappointing news for
you" said Tom, mocking her serious
tone. 4 am going to back down on
my end Of the bargain. I can't press
my suit with Clara. even If knew
how. because this time I'm not in love
with her. l am in love with some
one else"
Jane drew back ever so slightly.
You ought to have told me before, -
she said slowly, but suppose it is
well, for then the news / have for you
won't be such blow. Clara's en-
gagged"
And are you engaged. too. Jane2