The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-06-27
BY ELSIE SEE

e~~~~~~s~~~~~~~~~~ ~~S~~~~~s~~~ss@~Ss
Something's wrong with Bessie
Moore, sure as anything said Mrs
Ferrell to herself as she removed the
breakfast dishes from the long board
ing-house table. she's eaten scarce
ly any breakfast for a week It can't
be money. for she gets fine salary
at the government offices, and pays
her board regular as the months come
around SO it must be worry"
Reckon she amt grieyin' over that
Mr. Bartles leayin'?' asked black Mar
tina. who mistook the soliloquy for a
remark addressed to her.
NO, guess not" opined Mrs. Fer
rell
A short time afterward, Mrs Fer
rell darkened the dining room for the
day and was about to sit down to tele-
phone her grocer when the door bell
rang She opened the door and was
surprised to be greeted by the very
Mr.. Bartle of whom she had been
thinking in connection with Bessie
MOOreS uespOnuency.
"pve only a moment, Mrs. Ferrell, +"
said the young man in pleasant
voice. I'm just in town for the day,
and I dropped in to leave your latch
key that / carried off with me. How's
everybody"
"AIl well, believe, though Miss
Moore does seem bit off color since
the warm weather set in" Mrs. Fer
rell's motherly solicitude was genuine.
4 think there's something on her
mind" Mrs. Ferrell ventured, She
never once mentioned her family to
me, but when Mrs Marmaduke brought
her to me- she told me to be good to
her, for she was true blue blood and
was carrying big load and making a
brave fight
You can't mean Mrs. Stanley Mar
maduke, the prominent clubwoman?
Yes, we come from the same little
town up state, and she has been a
mighty good friend to me more than
once in my life, Mr. Bartle."
why, she and my mother were
schoolgirl chums. and she has visited
our home often. I've still got lit
tie time on my hands today, though,
and think I'll run around to see her. "
That day at luncheon time, when
Bessie uoore came down the eleva-
tor and stepped into the dingy lobby
Of the subtreasury building and Hal-
ry Bartle stepped from the opposite
side OF the corridor and smilingly ad
vanced to greet her, the expression
that overspread her face was like
spring sunshine after rain.
Before she had time to frame any
excuses, Harry gained the acquiescence
in a prearranged plan Tor tete-artete
luncheon in one of the little sun-parlor
aicoves OF a popular restaurant. When
they were settled at the table and
their order had been given, he took
small pink rose from the cluster
that filed low bowl in the center Of
their table and tossed it to her.
IN public restaurant can't throw
myself at your feet" he began, and
you've forbidden me to do that any
how but I throw you rose as a
symbol, for I've something to say
which must be said here and now. !"
Really, Mr.. Bartle," protested Bes-
sic. please don't spoil this lovely
day Things that you do not dream
of make 1t impossible for me to listen
TO what YOU want 20 say"
Bessie, do not dream OF anything
except the happiness that will be ours
IL you will care for me as I've cared
for you for many months, but ! do
know about the things which have
caused you to Keep me from telling
YOU how much care. The question is.
dear, do you care, too?"
tits because / do care that It hurts
to mention what can never be Do
YOU mean that you've learned about
my-the debtsg
Yes. / called on my mothers old
friend. Mrs. Marmaduke, today, and
almost used force to drag your story
from her. You are a wonderful girl.
Not wonderful. at all, Harry |
should have been inhuman had | al.
lowed the knowledge OF those out
standing notes to reach my mother in
her depressed and broken condition
after fathers sudden death. She felt
secure with the snug little life insur
ance he left her; my brother had his
wife and babies to look after; my
sister was more capable than | to look
after mothers actual physical needs,
and SO my only real service to her
lay in paving off those notes without
ever letting her know of their ex
istence. That was possible because
old Mr. Parker presented them to me
when none of the others was present
and I secured his promise to let me
paw them OF personally without let.
ting the others know A thousand dol
lars Of the debt remains and until
ril is paid cannot consider my own
happiness
lie saw their waitress approach.