The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-09-18

ttitt WY hi tlihiNI lHhnA AiA"th ""N
said his last good.by
She and Edgar had grown mp TO.
gether. Living on adjacent farms, II
had only been natural that Edgar
should drop over Of an evening to sit
on the broad porch Of the Smith resi-.
dence
The Gillian farm was one Of the
most prosperous in that section Of the
state; the Gillams themselves were
all tbat could be desired socially, and
Edgar. as the only son and heir, was
much sought after 10y The girls Of The
village. He WIS o tan, outstanding
young man with light, curly hair which
invited stray fingers, and blue eyes
which looked at one with a fearless
frankness which was almost dlscon-
certlng
But there had hccn dccp hart in
those eyes when he had said good.
by TO Anna. The day had started or
much as other days bur at noon Ned
Howell had phoncl over from the ,ll-
lago and had asked ANNA if She would
20 auto riding vita linn that after
noon And Anna, rather haucrel hy
the invitation. had accepted Ned had
been East 10 college for three ycurs
ana was spending his first vacation in
his home town.
Anna had first met him after prayer
meeting He had come IN The ear cyi-
dently In search or amusement. and
had asked If he might see her home.
Edgar. she knew. was waiting at The
door as he had done for the past two
years. but she had roddcd happy ae-
ccpf9ncc TO Ncds invitation, and
passed Edgar with The harcst smile.
Ned had tnken her hoac in the car,
but they hadn't gone directly TO her
home.
"Well fake a little spin" he had
said "Ifs much too carly to 80 home
yet"
And SO thcy had rolled around the
country roads while Ned told her of
the life al college Of dances, football
genes and Weekend house parties.
Perhaps you might be nhlc to come
East to one OF the dances. he had re-
marked Just before lie left her Il
would be pleased TO have you come,
you know"
She had been 1attercd, immensely
fattered, at the implied invitation, and
when he suggested that they take an
other ride the next evening, she had
neadlly consented In the afternoon
she had gone to the orchard to think
about it all And then Edgar had
come. He stood before her as she
sat on the bench
"What time did YOU get in last
night?" he had asked
Before twelve" she answered.
"why7r
"Were You out riding with Ned How
ell all that timer
'Yes.'
"Dont you know" he said, calmly
''that Ned has changed lot since he
went away?"
"Of course, he has; he's n college
man now. and he talks Of different
things, and acts more like an Eastern
err"
81 didn't mean that" /
"What did you meanT
Il meant that he fell IN with the
wrong kind Of men at college; that
he's used 10 girls who drink cocktails
and stay out all hours of the night
Anna had idly plucSed an apple
blossom which hung near.
I'm sorry you don't Ike him" She
had answered I'm going riding with
him again tonight"
"Whatr Edgar's face had grown
suddenly white.
"And he's asked me to 90 to a COT
legc dance this winter, and I'm going
Anna had continued.
'Tin sorry" he said IT don't want
YOU to have anything to do with Ned.
But what want doesn't make any diff
ference, hut I'm going to tell you some
thing. Just the same. Tn not much at
saying things. but ever since was a
little kid. I've thought all the world of
you. And ! had hoped that In anoth-
er year maybe you would promise to
marry me, and-and that we could live
on my place, and be together all the
time"
She had looked Mt him wonderingly.
'Why. Edgar" she said finally. u
never cared for you like that"
He had searched her eyes for q brief
and then dropped his head.
mo" he had said softly Il don't
think that you do"
That was three years ago Ned
Howell had not come to take her auto
riding; instead, he had gone away
to visit a friend without so much as
word to her. And Edgar had left two
days later for California TO take
charge of a farm his father had
lought.
suddenly a footstep sounded near
" and a figure stood before her,
"Anna i' someone said
She eausht her breath sharply.
lartlly daring to look up. But when
inally she gained the courage. Edgar.
lightly older. but with the same frank
,lue eyes smiled happily at her and
leld out his arms.
II still care as l aid when / was 3
title kid, he said softly.
Copyright 1917. BY the Mcclure Newspa-