The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-10-05
LOVE IN A FOG
By FRANK M. slcKNELL.

O'Keefe, that husky, CHEEKY beggar.:
always wished his honor good and
plenty, and then power more of it
ator of that. Maxwell was lucky in
being we'll born. in having his share
OF good looks, and in being able to
spare frolri his prosperous business
enough leisure to follow Prudence
Hale across the Atlantic. But he had
not yet been lucky enough to per-
suade her to be his wife.
In the person of Albert Pierce, Max
we'll had formidable rival. AS a
fair-minded man Maxwell would have
freely admitted that Pierce was quite
as desirable match for Prudence as
he himself was; but as the young
lady had steadily refrained from
showing preference for either suitor
the two were now in London for the
purpose of further urging their re-
spective suits. All efforts at viva
voce declaration having been adroitly
baffied by the still noncommittal fair
one, they had finally come to the fol-
lowing gentleman's agreement:
Each was to lay his heart, hand and
fortune at Prudence's feet by letter
and the two sealed proposals we're to
be mailed In the same box at the same
time, namely, nine o'clock p. m, Mon
day, November 25.
Now as a matter OF fact Miss Pru-
dence was honestly in doubt as to
whether she cared more for Maxwell
than she did for Pierce She rather
thought indeed, she felt reasonably
sure-she would eventually find her
life's happiness In becoming the wife
Of one of them, but which? Twice,
thrice, she re-read each letter and
strove heroically with her indecison-
quite in vain. BY and by. however,
as the fog without thickoned, there
came to her. curiously enough-ths
glimmering of an idea.
The Hales had taken apartments in
Sackville street. Maxwell was stay
ing at big new hostelry in Northum-
berland avenue and Pierce at fa-
nous old one in Brook street II thus
happened that the routes the two
young men would have to traverse in
reaching her from their hotels we're
about equally long and also about
equally devious. In pursuance of her
idea--an idea which might or might
not lead to satisfactory results-she
called up Maxwell on the telephone.
Il have your letter, Jud." she told
him, yours and Bert's. Listen care
fully. You will please leave your
hotel this afternoon at three o'clock
precisely, and start for this house on
foot. Walk the, entire distance.
shall telephone similar instructions to
Bert. You are to find your way to me
the fog, and the one who ar
rives first-well I won't promise any
thing now, but leave that for this
asternoon-if you don't both get lost
in the fog" fs.
The fog had thickened to a pea
soup" consistency, and vehicular traf-
ic was practically at standstill when
at 1927 p. m, the Hale's parlor maid
brought Prudence a card, and an
A gentleman to see you, miss"
Prudence drew long breath and |
her heart began 10 beat with rather |
more than normal rapidity as she took |
he card and glanced at it's inscrip-
ton. Was she glad or sorry to read |
he name of Judson Maxwell? Strange |
.hough it may seem, she was not yet |
sure OF herself She was conscious.
however. of wondering that he had
been able to get to her so soon,
through a fog of almost midnight |
and also of dimly fancying |
hat his greater love had served him
Ia a guide.
"Prudencei" He appeared at the |
loor evidently in fever of suspense. |
hen, seeing her alone. he came for
ward eagerly and took her hands in
lis Prudence he repeated. Il am
irst2"
Yes she replied. you are first;"
md now her unruly heart certainly |
vas humping at scandalous rate.
)ut of the dark fog light seemed sud.
lenly to have broken.
"Are you-arent you-glad?" he |
slSed breathlessly
"I-I-think-perhaps--I--am," she
rather haltingly.
Aren't you sure?" he demanded re-
Gently she withdrew her hands from
lis clasp. and raising them, put them
bout his neck, then shyly drew his
ace down toward her own, now Grim
oning with a color that appeared to
i'm of divine loveliness. She didn't
ay she was sure, but-she didn't need
D.
Pierce came about two hours later
Q had gone badly astray in the fog
ut he arrived in time to offer his
congratulations and to add handsome
Y, that as the best man had won the
ride he hoped to be best man" at
he wedding. p
well Barney, you brought me the
nest kind of luck; you were friend
y need that time IL ever there was
me-" W qsla EH