The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-30
FOR DAMS DEAR SAKE
BY ELlNoa GATES.

had taken the Farms under rather a
long lease-Green Farms, to be exact.
the show place of the colony Who
ever lived in it must have money,
also social sponsors; also, beyond all,
personality.
You see, Olney. who owned the
Farms, although tired Of the place,
yet held it in a certain petulant re-
gard, which made him exacting as tc
possible tenants.
The which is illuminating-bo as
to owner and new tenant. 0lney had |
never seen her, but what he had |
heard from a mutual acquaintance SO
prepossessed him in her favor that
his inquiries had not gone beyond her
bank account.
The colony. OF course, swarmed In
welcome to her. That she was dis
tinctly new was all in her favor. A
vague haze OF romance enshrouded
her past.
No armor Is SO impenetrable as q
casual frankness that scouts the
name OF secrets. Mrs Latran was
amazingly frank-even about her age.
Twenty-Five she gave herself out to
be. signing that 1t was SO near to
thirty and waving away consolins
speech that she hardly looked twenty
five. Further she spoke Of her col
lege, OF her native country, touching
very lightly on the fact that she was
the last OF her race. Oddly she did
not think ever to mention the family
name, but there was no tripping her.
even II anybody had tried 1t, over
country sights and sounds, and habits
OF mind,
1t was even odder-women took to
her amazingly. AS Teeny Ware put
it, she was the best sort Of good fel.
low.
Olney, who came down in August,
laughed over the saying His com
ing was q surprise or course, he did
not 20 to the Farms, but he did meet
the mistress of it many times. Also,
he studied her intently-a thing he
had rarely done for any woman.
Notwithstanding, they got on ad-
admirably. She apparently ignored
the challenge of his scrutiny and was
gay and cordial as with all the rest.
So there was really scant warrant for
his saying to her at the end OF fort
! night, Madam, whatever the game Is
henceforth you must count me in"
mot yet 1t would spoil-every.
thing" she answered, and it was
amazing what mirth and mockery
danced over her eyes and mouth. Il
dare not even let my whole self in
she ran on. The experiment is as
gorgeous as a soap bubble-and as
easily broken"
Il won't break it, Olney answered
kindly. Tell me by little. As, for
instance, isn't Dan Langton the orig
Inal first cause Of it,"
"You are his best friend?' she'par
ricd 8E
Olney nodded. but said quickly: q
come next to you, No-he hasn't
said so outright--but when he talked
of you the very first time-I knew
$50 that's why you let me come
here" she said. smiling and nodding
And have believed 1t was all my
wonderful man OF business. Say
What did he tell you?"
!, Nothing no chance Olne,
answered TRANQUILITY Then dropping
to plaintive key: Please remembel
I've weak heart-can't stand thii
strain of curiosity Tell me and III
never tell anybody-but Dan"
you mean-about the expert
ment?" she asked.
Olney smiled yes She wen
On quickly. as though fearing to los
courage: THE experiment is-to Sc
IL bookmade woman can hold he
own with-the other sort"
Explain! This is all Sanskrit t
me-" Olney exploded.
She drew a deep breath and hui
rfed on: "My mother was cook, m
father day laborer. He died whe
? was FIVE, and when | was fifteen m
; mother followed him. Then old Rue
Latran, Tor whom she had worked a
my life. cripple and blind, marie
. me-to save me. He made WI!
giving me everything. For seve
years | was eyes. hands. feet to hin
4 never stirring from the house excer
e for walks while he slept. don
: know how he got the notion, but h
4 himself proposed correspondent
courses to me Also he let me hay
books and ssisure. getting in stol
nurse so might have more time. A
most his last words before the strck
were Make yourself lady so you
do credit to the money. l did N
best-am doing it still.
After I was free there was p
riod OF travel, In course OF it m'
Dan. You know what he is-ho
high-strung. how almost finicky-y'
in a week he was begging me
marry him. l would have done
gladly only for one thing love
him just as crafty, just@as unreaso
ably as he loved me. Icuuldnt tai
: the chance of making him ashams
: OF me--that is to say. of making hi
u hate me. So I've come here amor
y his own sort to try myself out Ts
5 me-what chance kave | Of winning
r. No chance about tits a del