The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-12-04
ACROSS The BROOK
BY cLARIssA MAckiE.


oh. wait a moment. Mr.. Winters.
Grace called. 4 want to tell you
sonething-a very special friend OF
ours is coming on this afternoon
train VIII you take me to meet him
please!"
Certainly. "A man, | suppose?'
She nodded. Mr.. CarYer-you will
like Horace immensely" she said en-
Enthusiastically.
Il don't suppose you'll have time
to take any more rides in the little
red car" he said glumly.
I'm afraid l won't have much
time, she admitted. "You have been
so kind-and given me so many de-
lightful excursions in the car I shall
always remember the dear little red
car" she smiled.
Long after you've forgotten the
owner?" he asked quizzically, as he
strode away.
Horace Carver was coming on the
4:10 train. He nodded grimly and
went on his way.
Grace watched him, fine. upstand-
ing young man. a successful farmer.
power in the village. a man with a
future ahead of him. people predicted.
IF he were only our sort" thought
Grace, remembering Horace Carver
and his social prestige. She had often
wondered why her plain, practical
parents criticized the indolent Horace
and his pleasure-seeking life. Only
last night Mr.. Pitt had declared that
the girl who married young Winters
would be mighty lucky
She amused herself with this
thought and then, finding that ii was
not unpleasant to consider, dismissed
it in panic OF fear.
Ferd's little red car was at the door.
But the little red car seemed reluctant
to meet Horace Carver and by the
time Ferd had coaxed it up to the rail-
road station the 4:10 train had come
and gone and the station agent report
ed that the solitary arrival had
crossed the road and taken the short
)1cut through the woods to Mapleshade
farm.
I'VE viii overtake him on the wood
road" said Ferd confidently.
The wood road wound through miles
of oak trees. Thunder rumbled omin-
ously. the sun darkened and was hid
den from view and warm drops Of rain
pattered on the leaves.
I'VE can reach the top Of the hill
and run home across the pasture"
called Ferd above the pattering rain.
What shall we do with the carp
shivered Grace. She was afraid OF
the sharp lightning flashes.
Leave it up at the top of the hill.
III spread rubber blanket over il"
"Poor Horace" sighed Grace. I'm
afraid he will get awfully wet
HE won't mind that" reassured
Ferd carelessly.
Grace wondered If Horace would
mind. She knew he would; he was
very particular about his clothes.
clothes, although Ferd wore his we'll
fitting garments with a careless un-
concern that was vastly becoming.
why am | always comparing these
two menu she asked herself indig
nantly. q expect to marry Horace
some day-oh, is it time to leave
the CARP she asked as Ferd stopped
the machine and got out.
"Yes. Let me help you put this
dust coat on There you are." He
covered the little car with a rubber
blanket, and together they hurried
down the hillside through the driving
rain.
When they reached the brook. Hor-
ace Carver stood there hesitating.
This is certainly long way from
civilization" he muttered. gripping
his suit case and hatbox with drip
ping fingers.
4Nhy didn't you waltz" asked
Grace. I'VE were on the way to
meet you when the car became"
Every balky," finished Ferd crisply
"And now. Mr.. Carver. we have to
cross the brook to get home-the
sooner we get there the more com
Portable we shall be-"
Gross the brook-how?" demanded
Horace, glancing across the fifteen
foot space.
''wade-or I'll carry you over" pro
posed Ferd.
You'd better carry me-I1l get
pretty wet the other way" agreed
Horace. and he permitted Ferd to take
him on his shoulders and convey him
across the stream.
Ferd made another trip with the
suit case and hatbox and then went
back to Grace, looking rosy and moist
with the rain.
Shall carry you oyer--or will You
wade?" he asked in a low tone.
With a fiuttering heart Grace made
her decision. Garry me, please" she
whispered knowing that she wanted
to feel his arms about her
Horace watched them coming. his
eyes narrowed jealously. How long
the rustic took to wade through the
shallow stream. Once his foot slipped /