The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-09-13

b. OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON.

Ill
about. Tongues and fingers we're ny
ing at the Ladies Missionary band
The big stove In the pzrlor at the
church was sending out great waves
Of welcome heat. for outside bliz-
zard was raging. Mrs. Milton, on the
noor with an immense pair Of scis-
sors in her hand. was cutting around
shirt pattern laid on red flannel
What ! want 10 know is." Mrs.
Milton paused and waved her scis-
sors with Patrick Henry gesture.
why she won't come. 1t looks
mighty queer 10 me. ! sometimes
think II must be guilty conscience. .
Rev. Mr. Washburn raised his head
from the sermon he was preparing
in his study. He frowned and pushed
back his chair impatiently. He had
an idea that he knew OF whom they
were talking. and it hurt. Mrs. Milton
went on.
"Of course, when g woman is liv-
ing all alone she can't be too care
full. Naturally when her uncle died
and left her the house and a little
money to hive on. she left her work
in the city and came here. All well
and good! But how do folks know
what kind Of a person she is. soming
here a perfect stranger. unless she
tries to prove she's respectable?
She's been asked TO join every So
ciety In this church and has refused.
And I've seen her with my own eyes.
through the parlcr window, playin'
cards by herself"
The young minister knew without
hearing that the ladies' OF the church
we're hostile TO the independent young
woman. A few weeks before when he
was in bed with serious illness Kat
rine Wharton had pitched in. She
went over every day TO the preachers
house and washed dishes. cooked.
baked, scrubbed porches and ironed.
Once she had washed the clothes.
The lowered voice In the ladies'
parlor caused him to shudder. He
knew perfectly well that all this was
being discussed. The propriety Of her
attention to the sick man had been
questioned by all the ladies' of the
congregation.
He could stand 1t no longer. He
put on his hat and went out. The wind
and snow that met him at the door
suddenly cooled his Indignation. What
had he done to be blessed with plenty
and comfort when fellow men. Just
as worthy. were. suffering? For in
stance, Mr.. Cassidy with his wife and
four children and likely another one,
had been sick for -four months. He
wondered now II they had food and
coal. He would go Immediately and
find out.
The wind fairly blew him into the
carpetless hallway OF the Cassidys.
He had to brace himself against the
wall to get the door shut. The sud
den lull from the beating elements
outside seemed queer-the house
usually noisy was hushed The door
way into the front room was open.
Four children were quietly playing a
game on the floor, big fire was
burning in the CRATE, and In a low,
broken chair near 1t sat Katrine Whar-
ten dozing. On her lap lay a newly
born baby.
Rev. Washburn went in as softly
as he could, but Katrine heard him
and sat up with a start, nearly
dropping the baby. She laughed as
she grabbed It,
Then she turned a lovely red II
was the first time he had even seen
her confused. Suddenly she remenn-
bered to hold out her hand. How
do you do. Mr.. Washburn? am
doing the honors today. Won't you
sit down.
You seem to be doing more than
honors, Miss Katrine. 1t makes me
ashamed of lay tardiness. How 10
Mrs. Cassidy, and how is Mikes
rheumatism? Is the baby a boy or
a girl?"
ITS GIRL piped Lizzie. aged ten.
AN pap's rheumatism's something
awful 1t was fierce when Miss Whar- |
ten came day fore yesterday. We /
WIZ all hungry too, an 1t was mighty |
cold. Ma was sick too. Miss Whar-
ten, She"
Hush, Lizzie, hush!"
Il was just goin' to tell the preach /
err She sent us coal, and stuff to
eat, and stayed here an did all the
work, an took care of the baby, an
brought jerry an me shoes, an an
oh everything"
An hour later, when a relative ar
rived to look after the family, Rev.
Samuel started home with Katrine
through the snow. His heart was sing
ing. There was nc doubt in his mind
now about this sweet. charitable girl
Why didn't you want Lizzie to tell
NE, Miss Katrine?y
Because / hate to do things and
have everybody know
But you won't do anything in the
societies and | thought
we all thought
Yes, | know what everybody
thinks, but it doesn't matter to ne.
am my own missionary society.
have ny own way Of doing things"
ITS pretty good way. Katrine."
It was the first time he had for
gotten the Miss. He was afraid
she would drop his arm. A dreadful
passed-then she snuggled a
fff1a elosar 90 10 owav fror,, a.