The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-04-28
MISS AMABEL' 'SDEsIRE
BY BRYANT |. ROGERS.

MY GREATEST desire. repeated MISE
Amabel Walton. I'm afraid all OF my
wishes have been gratiiied."
Miss Walton looked dreamily at
the gray old college buildings wear
ing their ivy green mantles with dig
nifed submission to the passing years.
and tender smile touched her soft
lips.
There is one unfulfilled wish that
haunts my hours" she admitted at
last
Il knew il" triumphed Stella.
DO YOU mind telling us about it?"
asked Marion.
1T is such a simple wish that you
will wonder why have not graft
fled It'll am dying to wear pink
soft rosy pink gown-there. am |
not perfectly idiotic ?"
The little teacher Of music at Fen
ton college looked appealingly at the
sympathetic girlish faces of her IA
yorite pupils.
why don't you wear it. then" mar
veled Stella Mayse
Miss Amabel Watson touched her
beautiful snowy hair because it
would be so absurd at my age. But
how | longed to wear it when | was
a child / lived with a maiden aunt
who looked upon pink as frivolous
color and so it was banned from my
wardrobe. I've worn black and white
and blue and brown and lavender, but
never bit of pink--and there is my
ungratified wish"
Miss WaIton's soft blue eyes were
very bright when she finished and
there were two pink spots in her un-
wrinkled cheeks With her snow
white hair she was beautiful and the
hair which might have added weight
to her years. also lent a freshness
and bloom of youth which was not
very distant.
"But that is no reason why you
should not wear pink now, dear Miss
Walton insisted Marion Reeves.
Do, pleased"
And you look very, very young in
deed. Won't you wear pink frock to
the October reception?"
Miss Walton hesitated. Il must
have new frock," she admitted
do let us go to town with you and
select it,"urged the girls, and at last
Amabel Walton consented.
The night OF the October reception
Amabel regarded her reflection in the
mirror with mingled distrust and de-
light.
In this delicate pink creation she
looked slender, girlish figure-like
one of those Dresden china bits on
her mantelpiece.
There was a murmur of surprise
in the room when Amabel entered
with Stella and Marion. Mademoiselle
Drouet, the French teacher, elevated
her sandy eyebrows and whispered
ironically to Professor Hanford.
Professor Hanford frowned, and his
eyes followed Amabels pink-clad
form with such mixture OF admira-
ton and wistfulness in their depths
that mademoiselle turned quite yellow
with jealousy. She swept away, and
Professor Hanford, glad of his release,
wandered aimlessly around until he
came upon Amabel sitting alone in the
deep bay window, a roll of music in
her hand and her brown eyes shining
with unshed tears.
The professor looked down at her
with infinite tenderness in his eyes.
"You-you are distressed" he asked,
shyly.
The tears fell. Il am foolish quiv-
cred Amabel. Il have worn this ridi
culous frock-"
"Ridiculous!" interrupted the pro-
fessor 1T is charming. I am won
dering why you do not wear it al
ways"
Il am too old to wear pink" sighed
Miss Walton, without coquetry.
"A woman Is never too old to wear
what is so infinitely becoming" pro-
tested the Greek Instructor eagerly.
1T is a pity that more women do not
understand the art Of dressing be-
comingly.. Now, pink-pink is my ia
vorite color.
Something in his tone made ANA
bel blush.
1t is mine, too" she said hurriedly,
and then she went on and told him
the pathetic little story of her drab-
colored childhood.
When she had finished he nodded
his head sagely. you are quite right
to wear 1t, and l predict that 1t will
always be charming upon you-it is
the color OF hope and youth, Miss Wal
ton, and even to dry old bachelor
like myself 1t seems to brighten a
rather dun future; 1t emboldens me to
tell you a secret-about myself-and
my love-for youl"
When Marion Reeves came to find
her accompanist there was no mis-
taking the situation. The quiet-eyed
girl read 1t in the faces Of Amabel
and the professor and a charming
smile broke the sweet gravity OF her
face.
Can you spare her to play for me,
Professor Hanford?" she asked.
"For only little while" admitted
n. 1. L. L.