The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-08-04
ENGLISH UNDEHLED
y AoFE nARLINe.

You know. she's a widow woman.
and lives"
"oh. Jasper
-Eh, What is Il Jasper Dunning
asked looking into the face OF the
girl who shared the road wagon seat
with him.
Margaret caught her breath II
might hurt him. but what he had just
said hurt her Would il do any good ,
she looked refectiyeiy along the coun-
Try road that stretched away in front
Of them.
Did you ever hear Of a widow who
was not 3 woman
What an idea. / don't git YOU
Oh. please do not say git And
the other is such collOquialism. II
you say woman is a widow. that's
enough
Jasper drew up on the lines until
his spirited bays reared.
See here. Margaret. Before you
went away 10 college I talked good
'nough for yOu,' he blurted
The girls eyes met his: she was
conscientiously honest. even with her
self IT always annoyed me a little,
but had heard people talk in that
way all my life. Not until ] went TO
Girton did come to see just what
such things mean. she said
n wish you'd never gone. You see.
I didn't so much mind waitin. cause /
planned to fix up the farm so it'd be a
good 'nnugh home FOR you. But them
TWO years spilled you.g
The silence endured SO long that las
per thought the victory was his. With
= superior smile he said: 1t don't
matter"
Why could he not have said
Doesn't" Margaret's brown eyes
dashed. 1t does matter to me and
% all who care for really good things,
she declared. And If you cared for
me. Jasper. you'd try to please me,
especially when I'm wholly in the
light. Why ! would be ashamed 10
laye Professor Larna1 hear you talk
sometimes"
That last word was added almost
desperately when she saw the colo-
lade from Jasper's face Before he
could reply, they were at the gate OF
he village home where Margaret
boarded. A bali dozen young men aid
girls who were sitting on the yeranda
,ame trooping down the walk TO meet
hem, laughing, talking, making plans
lor the evening.
Those plans were SO we'll carried out
hat Jasper had no opportunity for
,urther words with his betrothed.
Shamed to have that professor
iear me talk Jasper said to him.
self as he rode home under the calm
stars. 4 s'pose could do a little bet
.er, but I hain't agoin TO stand it to
% nagged ail the time.
AT that same hour Margaret was cry
ng softly. her head on the window sill.
10 90 through life, bIushing for nus
lands mistakes, ashamed to have peo-
)le hear him talk-could she do itg
Gould she hold fast to her own ideals
she were Iaspers wife?
Tor three days, she pondered these
fuestions. Then she did two things
she promised the school board that
The would teach another year and she
wrote note which ran:
Dear Jasper.
There has been no change IN my
ceilings. l love you. but cannot be
happy with a man who disregards the
hings | hold essential Therefore /
must take back my promise TO be your
gife. Sincerely yours,
MARGARET"
Jasper made no reply to the note.
10 effort TO see Margaret. A month
vent By. He began to hear rumors
II the many letters she was receiy-
ng from ole OF the Girton college pro-
lessons. When on oyertaking Jane
iarris. plodding along IN the rain, Jas
Der took her home. the story was re-
ported to Margaret so many times that
she became convinced that it was a
natter OF daily occurrence.
The Grange picnic came early in
luly. For wears Jasper had taken
Margaret
Eli not 60 this time he decided.
Everybody would look and smile.
sven il they did not say anything. III
work in the harvest field
lie found his task a wearisome one.
Reco-ections os past joys crowded on
him. Seddenly he strobe on. resolv-
ing to 90 to the farm wood-lot. II
was there. in the shadow OF a grove
Of birches that grew on the bank OF
a stream. thai he had told Margaret
OF his love
"She never loved me. though he
thought. as. entering the dim. cool
woods. he aackened his pace II
she'd really loved me. how ! talked
wouldn't a made any difference
Just then he came in sight Of the /
hirches and Margaret seated on the
ground. her dark head leaning against
a trees silvers-brown trunk. A breeze
stirred the branches. and tie waving
mosaic OF light and shade thar fell
across her face showed that she had
been crying. As II. in some vague
way. aware OF his presence, she lifted
her eyes. and their gaze met
IL was but a moment that each I
looked into the others face. Yet the