The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-08-09
his LUCKY FOURTH
BY ELLA N. BANGS.

fAA thhA MfuA Rhl ~ lllh HtNH iuk
the Fourth-of-July dinner Of his moth
er and himself, he paused. and HIS
dark eyes swept over the scene before
him with sense Of pleasure, familiar
as 1t was, for the small farm stood on
high ground, with green fields and
woods stretching to where, a mile
away, the clustered roofs and white
church spires pricked out among the
green, stood where the village lay
Going on, the young man sollloauized,
II declare ! feel like a kid I'd like
to jump up and down and holler. I've
put out the flag, and dunno what else
TO do. but I'd like to have a real glori-
Gus FOURTH
AS he went on he bethOught him OF
a circus that was to take place IN the
nelghboring town Of Berrydale and
when q little later he returned to the
house, he looked up the handbill re-
gardng It, Yes, here it was. "Won-
derful High-Class Performance. Aero
bats. Trained Dogs, Chariot Races and
Mile. Rosalie, the Queen of Equestrl-
ans"
Accordingly, in due time, John, in
his runabout, set out for Berrydale.
passed the booths outside the tent, i'm
l0une TO the temptations Of pink lem
onade, peanuts and popcorn, and. en-
terlng the circus tent, found a seat
in the front row nearest the arena.
There was nothing so wonderfully
high class about the performance as
the advertisements might lead one to
expect. John was not overcrltlcal, how
ever, and sat contentedly enough
through the scene till a burst from the
band announced the appearance Of
Mile. Rosaie. Then the young man
Strengthened with a new interest not
only in the feats Of this equestrian
queen, but there wak something appeal
ing about the dainty figure in her fluffy
skirts as. poised on the back Of the
nhIgh-spirited Nero" she came on. and
Johns gaze never left her for a mo-
ment till--what was the trouble? What
had happened? A Shrek from the
spectators, the horse trotted out rider
less, and a crumpled heap Ia Z e aAw-
dust of the arena.
John could never really recall the
next few minutes, but with a bound
he was within the inclosure, the faint
ing girl in his arms. Presently just
outside the tent he was one Of the lit
tie group standing about the still fig
ure Of Mile. Rosalie.
A physician was Gated and arrived
just as the girl regained consciousness.
eNo bones broken,n was his announce
ment. ''but a badly sprained ankle,
and shaking up generally. She viii
need long rest" And he added
something about shock to the nerv-
Gus system.
"Well, what's to be done?" ques-
toned the proprietor. "She's no good
to us like this, and we can't take care
O. her"
Upon this John stepped forward, II
there's nobody else, I'll see that she's
taken care Of" he volunteered.
And so the girl consented. And only
too glad to get her off his hands, the
man gave her over to John, without
question, and John took her straight
home to his mother.
Here John briefly explained the sit
uation. whereupon the motherly heart
Of Mrs. Holway was stirred with sym
pathv for this forlorn bit Of woman
hood Rosalie was placed Ia a cool,
airy chamber, where the honeysuckle's
sweet breath was brought to her, and
as she sank back in her white bed she
looked up into Mrs. Holway's face with
the words:
~ didn't know anybody In the world
could be SO good When | left the
circus folks IL didn't care what be-
come of me! Oh, i never want to ride
again!" she said with a shudder.
"Black Nero has an ugly temper. and
/ was afraid of him, and he knew It.,
Of course, and /, am sure he threw me
on purpose"
4 reckon we'll have to keep her
awhile" said John, but he did not meet
his mothers eye just then.
A week oil two later as the two
women were sitting on the piazza, one
afternoon, John Joined them, taking
seat on the step and tanning him
self with his hat.
"What a beautiful place this isN
Rosalie exclaimed, looking off over the
stretch Of green-clad country.
"Do you like it?" smiled Mrs. Hol-
way.
The girl drew a long breath Of CON
tentment. st is like heaven she an
swered.
And John. looking up into her blue
eyes, found an echo Of her words In
his heart
Three months later Mr.. and Mrs.
John Holway we're returning from
their wedding trip and, passing through
Berrydale John turned the runabout
toward the circus grounds. Slowing.
up he observed Here is the spot
whore I first saw YOU"
Rosalie shuddered, and them 1T is
the spot Of my misfortune. and my
greatest good fortuRe," she said smil-
ing up at him. snd John returned
gravely. "lt was a glorious Fourth for
me- all right"
Copyright 1917. BY the Mcclure Newspa-
.|t.h