The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-10-23
LEsDIA's PIANO
BY ROBERT WADE BURTON.

| stand III the llst, tdnsoH
Il fancy | don't count Mr.. Bain-
bridge replied Ransom Deane IN
his serious practical way, and started
OFF. hoe in hand, for the potato held.
His employer and friend stood look
ing speculatiyely after him. There
was tender glow in the grim, hard
eyes
What are you thinking OF, Silas?,
inquired his wife and she looked
keenly into his own.
THAT lad was the reply. Hes
a good one, too. You know how we
joke about Lesbias four lovers? You
know. too. how everybody says that
on her birthday. day after tomorrow,
she is going to take her pick. sort
OF joked Ransom for being In the
group. He won't have it--says he
don't count"
"Silas," exclaimed Mrs. cambridge,
her face earnest and working, Il wish
he did
Mary" replied Silas. quite as in
tensely. 81 wish So too Those three
CITY fellows are clean. decent fellows.
but I'd rather have him round, kind,
helpful, accommodating day in and day
out, than see Lesbia marry. man who
will take her away from this sweet
dear life to the folly and shallow ex-
citement of the city
The trio referred to we're summer
boarders at the lake hotel mile
away They were all in love with
Lesbia. and 1t was no wonder
Life had gone like some fair dream
with Ransom until the three rivals in
yaded the field. He did not resent
their appearance. He had little to Of
fer her. His father had left him
small farm so poor indeed, that he
rented it out for what it cost him for
taxes and interest on its value.
Wednesday was Lesbia's nineteenth
birthday. The week before she had
declared she would marshal her brave
knights errant at her birthday party,
to give a definite answer to their re-
spective pleas.
II was the next morning that Lesb'a
came hurrying TO the field where her
father and Ransom were working. in
a great state OF anxiety and excite
ment.
''Oh. father" she said futteringly.
"the piano has not come. have just
telephoned over to Lloydville, and the
station agent reports no trace of it.
/ have so set my heart on having 1T
for my birthday Why. half our pro-
gram depends on the piano.
Ransom was at once interested.
IF you can spare me for the day.
spoke Ransom, after a thoughtful
glance at Lesbia's troubled face, Il
might drive down to Lloydyille and
see If / can't learn something more
definite
"Oh. il you would, Ransom cried
Lesbia eagerly, and Ransom thrilled
as her pretty hand clasped his arm
gratefully.
It was afternoon when Ransom
reached the little station. He knew
the man in charge and soon had the
wires busy.
We'll, declare,' suddenly ex-
claimed the station man, as he took
final message Il might have thought
OF that before"
What's that?" inquired Ransom.
why, by some error the piano was
shipped TO the Lloydville across coun-
try. in another county, and on another
line. Been there in storage for two
days"
How long would it take to get it
here7" asked Ransom.
Several days, for the two roads
have no connection this side of the
transfer belt line, hundred miles
away"
Ransom reached the other Lloyd
vile" shortly before midnight. A
rain had set in and Ransom was
soaked through A chill wind had
come up. He felt repaid for all his
arduous efforts, however. in fact, fair
ly exultant. as he started back home
wards. with the piano well braced and
covered with all the old blankets and
tarpaulins he could bribe the sleepy
station agent to secure.
They told great story OF the en-
suing FIVE hours, the Cambridge neigh
bors. for many a day after that: How
Ransoms s horse had fallen into a rut.
was famed. turned loose, and, for the
last five miles OF his weary journey.
Ransom. between the shafts tugged,
strained and strove to pull that heavy
load directly into the Bainbridge
barnyard-and then tainted dead
away,
1t was two weeks later that a first
CLEAN OF normal consciousness re-
turned to him. Mrs. cambridge his
anxious nurse, told him OF the vast
ing fever that had made life dead
blank to him through fourteen long
days and nights. Twenty-four hours
later they allowed him TO ask few
questions.
The piano?-yes he had delivered
It in time. but Lesbia, in tears at the
distressing results OF his selfsacrihc-
ing nardihood. had refused TO have the
party
And the favored suitor? Oh, Les
hia had nlaced his Dhotoeranh on ron