The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-04-24
HIS TOWER MAIDEN
BY CONSTANCE MORTON.

Strange to relate Deane Barlow had
never been in love-not until that April
evening when he had returned to his
room at Mrs. Pilling's boarding house
and had discovered his Tower Lady.
The tower" was the narrow, tut
ting wing Of fashionable private
hotel around the corner. and at one
OF its lace-draped windows he had dis
covered girls lovely. wistful face,
sometimes looking out at the sunset
clouds piling in the west and just Wis
ible through a rift in the buildings:
sometimes, and more often, bent
thoughtfully downward as If she read
a book.
Deane grew to love her hair of pale
gold and her eyes Of some mysterious
color that distance would not reveal
He worshiped her from afar, for he
knew that there was a wide social bar.
rier raised between the occupant OF
that luxurious suite and poor young
law clerk.
At night the curtains OF the tower
were drawn and his lady had van
ished. Twenty-four hours must elapse
before he might glimpse her face
again. It was only in the afternoon
that he saw her; never at other times
or on Sundays.
At the dinner table that night there
was much animation among the board
ers. Miss Brown, who operated the
telephone switchboard In the hotel
around the corner, hau revealed the
fact that there was to be a wedding in
the Palisade the next day-at least one
Of the guests was to be married: had
they not all seen the beautiful Miss
Gladys Elmorton?
"A blonde, isn't she?" asked Ada
Wasson eagerly.
Miss Brown nodded her head.
Mr.. Pilllng, who carved the roast
looked up from under his shaggy eye
brows.
Who's she going to marry?" he
asked gruffly.
Bradbury Kohler-he's got oceans
Of money"
Deane Barlow WINGED.
Bradbury Kohler was one OF his en-
ployers-a big, joyial, red-faced young
man. So Bradbury was going to
marry Deane's Tower Lady, No won
der the tower window was darkened;
the prospective bride would have no
time now to look with dreamy eyes
into the sunset
So Deane banished his dreams and
plunged into his work with renewed
industry. There was much talk in
the Office about the wedding and some
chatting OF the bridegroom when he
returned from honeymoon spent
abroad.
Then came momentous day when
Deane. looking out OF his window to-
ward his lady's tower. again saw her
sweet, serious face turned toward the
sunset clouds A little wrench at his
heart told him that he had not sue
ceeded in dismissing her from his
dreams.
The next morning he happened to
be alone in the Office when the door
opened and young woman entered.
Delicately fair and very lovely in her
summery attire. she turned pair of
blue eyes on the clerk and smiled
is Mr.. Kohler in his ofiicei"
Il will inquire" Deane placed a
chair for her and was about to leave
the room when her voice detained
him.
Please. tell him Mrs. Kohler is
waiting for him." she smiled over her
shoulder.
Mrs. Kohlerl Deane's brain was
dizzy as he delivered the message to
and followed that happy
bridegroom down the corridor to the
outer office.
"Gladysl" Mr.. Kohler greeted her
and the two disappeared toward his
private Office.
IL this strange young woman was
The wife Of Bradbury Kohler, who,
then. was the lady Of his tower?
His first move was to inquire of
Miss Brown concerning the other in
mates of the Elmorton family. 1t ap-
peared that Gladys was an only child.
But there was another girl there,
100, Miss Brown acknowledged. Mrs.
social secretary was Miss
Avis Sandford. Miss Brown knew her
slightly. Miss Sandfords brother
worked in the same office with Deane.
He must know Jack Sandford!
Deane did know Jack Sandford as
we'll as he knew any of his fellow
clerks. They had attended baseball
games together. and always lunched.
side by side in the downtown restau-
'ant Jack was married and had fire.
luently invited Deane to his little
home In the suburbs. but Deane had
never been there The knowledge that
lis Tower Lady was sister to his
'riend convinced Deane that some
hing more than coincidence was at
work. 1t was a kindly fate-nothing
essi
When Jack Sandford repeated his
invitation Deane accepted with fat
ering haste.