The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-10-02
WINIFRED'S LUCK
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

1T seems too bad" Mrs. Ramse,
stopped thoughtfully but the profes
s0r did not even glance up from hi,
writing. IL said. dear 1t does seen
too bad that we are somewhat bound
90 take the girl here"
"Not bound, nothing compulsory
about II, Betsy" the professor re-
sponded cheerfully. "liector merely
asked II we could take her with us. !
thought IL would relieve you"
"Well, II would. She could be lot
Of help II she's that kind-willlng, |
mean. II was on account OF Everltt
that spoke. Laura begged me TO keep
him out of--well, you know what
mean, dear. Not to let him fall in
love until he is through college,
Cant help falling in love at coed
place. They all do" The professors
eyes twinkled. "Write her to come,
anyway. Betsy, and don't worry"
Everitt came downstairs just as his
aunt sealed the letter. He was such a
clean. frank, splendid boy. And the
girl might beanything. She tried to
explain her coming.
She's the daughter of an old class
mate of your uncle. He is the head
Of a mission now In southern Oklaho-
ma and has large family. Winifred
Is the eldest. She wants to work her
way through college and we are going
to have her live with us"
"Gee, isn't that plucky of her"
After Winlfreds arrival that seemed
to be his attitude of mind to-
ward Decentralization for her pluck.
And the worst of it was, no matter
how the other girls tried to smooth
It over, she was left out of the smart
est frat dances and the best girls
clubs ON account of her position at
the professors house.
The event Of the early winter sea-
son was the A. G. rs dance at the
fraternity house. 1t was Everitt who
set Winlfreds name down as his
choice, and he told her of 1t the day
before the committee suggested that
he select another girl. He turned on
Ted Holland with steady eyes.
"pll bring Miss Gray or no girl"
News and gossip travel quickly in
small town college circles. Somehow
the rumor grew until it reached Mrs.
Ramsey's ears and troubled her. 1t
would never do for Everitt in his senior
year to be absent from the A. G. LIS
dance, while for Winifred it really
didn't matter, since she never aimed
for the social side. SO she told Wini-
fred just the way matters stood, and
the girl from Oklahoma listened with
little smile.
'Why, Of course, / understand, Mrs.
Ramsey" she said gently. "I'll tell you
what Wen do. l have promised one of
the girls in my chemistry class to run
out over Sunday with her. She lives
ut farm just outside town, and can
skate down the river to the place. You
can tell Everltt."
Mrs. Ramsey never quite forgot the
look of the man that came to the boys
face when she told him. He had come
home whistling the night of the dance.
Il thought it best to try and make
her understand how unpleasant the
other girls might make 1t for her If
she went" she concluded. "Now, don't
be foolish, Everitt--"
Foolish" he laughed shortly. "Aunt
Betsy, she's going to skate five miles
down the river to the Davises, and
every student has been warned against
skating on account of the danger. I'm
going after her. You'd better tell Un-
ale Felix and let him try and get some
help out after us. Wen need it."
He caught his skates and boots
from the hall seat box and was gone
before she realized it.
As he left the town far behind he
began to call her name, the pet name
Betsy gave her:
'Winl Oh, Winl"
And finally he saw her ahead, well |
out In midstream. He caught up with |
her, thanking heaven she was safe.
She turned her head and smiled back |
at him Just as die ice cracked under |
his feet and he saw the black water
surge up between.
The sting of the ice-cold water left
him numb with shock, but he felt bot
tom under his feet. The water only
came to his chest, and he knew Wini-
fred was at least six inches shorter
than himself. But she had kept her
going down and was standing,
too, lifting her chin high from the wa
ter.
The ice broke uHder his touch when
he tried TO rest any weight upon it.
And the strangest thing happened.
They were close now, side by side, not
how long they could stand the
strain, and Winifred's face was near.
one word of love or question:
ng. Everitt bent and kissed her.
Hello. hello, therer came a shout
rom the shore road and the hum of
motor. Two lights swung into view.
Are you inT' called the professor.
"Yes. sir, right over here" Eyeritt
allied back.
An hour afterward Winifred lay
wrapped in blankets on the couch be-
ore the open fire in the best bedroom,
guest of honor, and over her Leaned
sveritt.
I'VE were just planning. Aunt Bet