The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-09-13
HOW THINGS CAN HAPPEN:
BY CATHERINE cRANMER.


heaten path of her feminine ancestors
hy adopting career the effect was
much the same as II the rusty old
Revolutionary cannon on the court
house square had opened fire upon her
native town of Mooresvile.
"Now daughter, no drGmatcs," said
her father.
~ don't want to be dramatic, fa-
| ther, but / can't face the thought VI
doing for all the rest of my days the
aimless things I've been doing ever
since -,eft Joardin- achool."
alberta, said her mother, with
hardly enough breath left to gasp,
you would deliberately throw away a
splendid matrimonial opportunity, for
you know you could marry Lashley
Graves tomorrow If you'd say the
word Why, the whole town knows
that !"
"Yes, mother, the whole town knows
everything that any one person In it
knows but if / ever marry I'll marry
man who is making things happen
and not one who sits and talks OF
what some of his ancestors did"
The weeks passed until Alberta had
been in New York six months. After
considering various fields in which she
might realize her ambition to "make
things happen" she had decided upon
| interior decoration.
After years hard study, she began
TO plan a vacation at home before tak-
ing up headquarters in studio build
ing, but just then her services were
sought by a firm Of decorators whose
appreciation meant much to beginner
in the profession. They employed Al
| berta to furnish and decorate a mod
ernizcd colonial country house from
the spacious porches of which the Hud-
son was visible through the big trees
in the park in front. OF the owner of
the place she knew only what the head
of the decorating firm had told her
that he was "a cranky bachelor with
too many hobbies to bother with what
he considered woman's job
When Alberta completed her work
and started for visit to her parents
she could not restrain a sigh of regret
Mt leaving the lovely house to its &C.
centric owner, who might not even APP
preciate it's beauty.
$50 you fooled your dad by making
good in the melting pot, did your Her
father was plainly proud of her, which
made Alberta very happy.
After dinner the family went out
upon the front veranda, and from
where Alberta gsat she could see
through the trees low, white stucco
building surrounded by smooth lawn
with its gravel walks bordered with
| petunias.
"Who had the ingenuity to make
snch a beauty spot Of that old vacant
lot opposite Wellington's?" Her in
Qulry brought a twinkle into her fa-
theirs eyes.
1T Is one Of many gifts to our city
from an enterprising young citizen. 1t
is resting place and general rendez-
vous for tired women shoppers from
the country, or for visitors in town
between trains. Since the old public
square is being converted into a civic
center, this town is sought by the tour
lists"
but who had the get-up to do such
things in Mooresville, dad?"
"Nobody but your old friend, Lash
ley Graves" said her father quietly.
And here he comes now to pay his re-
! sneptS ia fha rrn1i 0aI v
Following her fathers glance, Al
herta saw lashIy Graves alight from a
shining roadster at the curb. AS lie
came up the walk she saw that he
had changed greatly. A tirmness Of
step and a steadiness of carriage had
transferred his lazy nonchalance into
commanding dignity. She began to
think he was altogether different, but
when she looked into his eyes as lie
! took her hand in greeting she knew
4 taat his feelings for her had not
I chAnged, aud it was not an unpleasant
1 discovery. Half an hour later, she
I cOaXed him TO take her in his car To
see the new civic center and other
Improvements which were coming into
being as a result of his generosity.
You've really accomplished Won
ders Lashley," exclaimed Alberta.
Then thank yourself. Alberta; I've
merely taken your tip to make things
tappen.' said Lashley, with smile.
"Oh how did you know had said
sach unlsind thlngs?" A crimson blush
accompanied this contrite question
Luckily for me, ! overheard your
remarks to your parents about me one
eveGng and Withdrew NY hand from
your uoorhcl and went out into the
night 10 face myself and see why you
felt contempt for me. When reached
home found special delivery letter
telling me my great aunt had left me
all her wealth. | told no one, but went
to see her lawyers. The day returned
you left for New York and | went to
work to make something happen that
you would think worth whilen
but you, too, have accomplished
wonders, Alberta" l.ashley's voice be-
came tender and ardent and pleading.
''That place on the Hudson is dream.
kept the identity Of its owner from