The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-04-08
HIS UNSELFISH LOVE
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE.


We've are engaged"
Leila sprang up with wild shrek
of Joy. She clasped her arms about
Cynthia, her eyes dancing with sin
cere appreciation of the announce
ment.
ooh, my dear. | am so delighted"
she said. 81 was afraid you we're 60
ing to fade away into settled old
widow
Il have been one for two years, you
know" intimated Cynthia, and there
was a species of anxious entreaty in
her voice, "and, Leila-I was starving
for lovel love! love!" /.
Her very inmost soul burst the
leaden trammels Of years at this wild
outburst Cynthia fell to weeping in
the arms of her plying and loyal
friend
mo woman was ever a truer wife"
said Leila earnestly, your new hap
piness is your reward"
1t seemed true. Four years pre-.
vious. through the arts of maneuver-'
ing mother Cynthia had given up her
girlhood's fondest dreams and had
married Professor Russell, wealthy
old scientist. There was no love in,
the union. The professor was abb
sorbed in his work and was away
travelling most of the time, but he was
very proud of his beautiful wife. Gym
thia was a faithful helpmeet and duty
made up for the lack of affection.
Two years passed by when Cynthia
| found herself wealthy widow. Pro-
fessor Russell had been making some
scientific explorations in Nicaragua
when rebellion broke out. He and
his valet, one Dorkins. were reported
killed in an ambush.
Cynthia felt that the freshness and
Joy of life were past until she met
Richard Graydon. 1t had been a case
of love at first sight. 1t seemed as If
the subdued affection of her repressed
nature budded all at once. There was
to be a quiet wedding and Cynthia and
Richard felt that the fullness of life
had come to them at last.
Never were two persons more fifty
D1dlcQ. OyAllld Mtlo III lIO plllAC Va
young womanhood, Orchard was a
model of perfect manhood. Blissful
happiness and peace seemed insured
for those two ingenious beings when
the unexpected came with the sudden
ness of thunder crash.
A hasty agitated call came over the
telephone to Richard one day
1T is Miss Lane" was spoken in
futtering accents. Please come to
my home at once"
Richard found the friend of his
fiancee in a distracted state. She was
pale and trembling. She simply
handed him telegram. 1t was from
Tehalca, Nicaragua. 1t was signed
James Russell and 1t ran:
Escaped after dreadful peril. Wire
me five hundred dollars to return"
"Then-then he is alive" hoarselS
uttered Richard, white to the lips.
"Yes," replied Leila, and she pitied
the strong man battling to show com
posure. "Oh, Mr.. Graydon! | have
( just come from Cynthia. She Is
crushed, she says she must see you
: 81 DO not dare!" spoke Richard, hi;
hands clenched to emphasize his
strong resolution. Tell her, the true
: faithful wife, the good woman tina
/. she is, that it is duty now-clear ant
/ sufficient. Tell her have gone ava!
not to forget, but to cherish"
! Then Richard Graydon became I
wanderer. He wondered if it was ;
trick of fate that his journeyings
year later brought him to the city o
Tehalca. He stood near its prisol
{ fields gloomily regarding a file o
shackled convicts pass by. One onl
of the number was not native.
''Who is that mani" Richard casual
ly asked the guard.
"Ah, that?" volunteered the volatil
official 1T is Dorkins-he of the Rus
sell case. Both he and his maste
we're supposed killed in the revoll
ton, but this one escaped after rol
| bing his dead employer. Later h
sent false telegram to the wife c
| Professor Russell to secure money an
| was unmasked."
| "Then Cynthia is free!" breathe
/ Richard, and that night telegraI
flew North bearing the simple words
/ "Shall come to you?"
One day, two days-no reply. Ha
/ Cynthia forgotten him? All, sh
j might write A week passed b.
i Richard gave up hope.
/ One afternoon servant appsare
i at his room, where he sat lost in
i subdued reverie.
4 "a caller, below, sir" the menial a
i v,sed him.
/ AS he entered the parlor of the II
Il lie hotel lady, yelled, arose to gre'
l him. He advanced with inquiry in h
4 face.
Il Richard"
4 The veil was thrust aside. With g
Il tended arms and beaming eyes Cy
4 thia Russell confronted him.
A "Youl You!" he gasped, ar
4 grasped at the arm of chair
Il IA "a