The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-02-18
THY NElGHBOR
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

tons was her habit Of jumping al
conclusions.
so now, as she was mounting the
stairs TO her studio suite and heard
decided moaning behind the doors
OF No. 8. she went straight up the
hallway and tapped on the door.
Please, please go away" came a
Smothered. fearful sort OF voice from
within, Whereupon Elizabeth felt
capable and protecting, and she spread
her wings at once In brooding fashion
over the unknown neighbor in evident
distress.
But Elizabeth was gently, firmly in
sistent, and finally the door opened.
On the couch, face down in its pillows.
was her girl neighbor. Beside her on
the table lay many parcels, and stand
ing by the door which he had just
opened was young man, gloomy and
thoroughly resentful of the intrusion.
Why, I'm sorry-I thought you
were alone" faltered Elizabeth.
NO, I'm with her" returned the
young man grimly. But she does not
approve OF men. She has lived alone
in this Internal little dumping ground
of art-and starved"
Elizabeth looked at him fxedly, as
she would have at any strange new
specimen. The young man went on
to Elizabe,h:
i knew there was something wrong,
and came up to see how she was get
ting along. found out she hadn't
eaten in two days. And she refused
to let me take her out and feed her
up or lend her any money. So went
out and bought up things and brought
them back, and now she's insulted."
1t was brutal of you" The girl
sat up, and pushed back her hair
Really, she was awfully pretty at
short range. She fairly glared at the
young man. did ever give you the
least reason even to imagine you
could buy me groceries,
Well, that's all right, too," re.
turned the young man. But what
want to know is this-where do |
stand?"
"On your own feet, just I intend to
stand on mine," came back his answer
swiftly you told me you would never
allow a wife of yours to peddle pic
lures around magazine Offices"
''Neither would l." came back the
decided answer. why should you?
have plenty for us both. more than
plenty You may paint and exhibit if
you like. You don't have to peddle."
Il prefer independence in matri- |
mony. So long as l have a special
gift"
But you haven't. / appeal to this |
lady, your neighbor Look at her pic
-ures!" he pointed around the studio. |
Look at them. Seventeen thousand
other girls all over the civilized world
could paint just as well as she can.
That may be ggerated-slightly-
out it is partly true. She is not a
genius. Is she?"
Elizabeth felt delightfully."- inclined
o laugh and agree with him. The
and sketches around the
tudio were lacking in everything that
vent for success. And the girl was so
'retty and so fearfully sure of herself.
Cant you COMPROMISED" she asked
'agerly. THAT is, if you care for him
It all.
"Oh, / care for him. retorted the
,irl scornfully. That is why he knows
Ie can come here and worry me. I'm
to be married TO him. can't
scape him."
why not break the engagement"
She looked at the young man
houghtfully. He stood with both
ands in his pockets, hopeful, but ag-
Tessive
She's tried that" he answered
riefy. Il won't let her. / am abso-
ltely certain that she loves me and
ill be happy with me ultimately. But,
leantime, refuse to let her starve."
Then I'll tell you way out. Marry
er. Let her keep up her work here.
'on't interfere with her Fix up some
ttractiye home elsewhere if you like,
take a hotel suite And gradually
in her"
Elizabeth paused, fairly glowing
yer her plan. Romance had not come
, her. She was rather plain and too
ever, but it was delightful to help
hers. "Ill go upstairs and start
aking tea and ! want you both to
)me up in fteon minutes. Then you
IN let me know. But don't haggle
Id worry each other Either settle
one way or the other. Compromise
you cam
She went out softly. ran upstairs
Id started making tea. And in Just
teen minutes they came up, her
sighbor and the masterful young
an, and both looked oddly contented.
Were going to try it," he said.
m going to let her paint pictures OF
e. In fact, I've promised to live
,wn here for a while, not here ex-
'tly, but in this quarter, you know.
lie likes to call it the quarter. We've
'th given up points"
Il shall still peddle little" said
o girl She bent over the tea table