The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-08-23
By OLIVE CRAY.

Miss Martha CollnwOOd saf sewinl
and when Miss Martha sewed-or. In
fact, when Miss Martha did snytning-
the ceremony was worthy oi deaulp
tiop,a
ltiWas only q doll she vas dressing
But such doll The finest that had
been purchasable after three trips ID
the city Ia her big limousine For
when Miss Martha shopped the oeca.
sion was as much u a ceremony as her
sewing. Nothing bat the best would
I do.
The bits ~ lingerie that Miss Moz.
tha's sklllful fingers were carefully
contriylng were as fine rs Thumbellnei
bridal dress lr the fairy tale-sheer,
beautiful, dainty. white. with unseen
stitches of gossamer.
"Why shouldn't she sew wellT' de-
manded the good ladies Of Falrmont,
"She's nothing else 10 do. with all her
money and servants and that biz
house with nobody but herself to live
INT It's as little as she could DO for
the Red Cross {"
But they did not consider that Miss
Martha would more than likely buy
back her handiwork at a most extrava.
giant figure and give the doll TO some
little friend.
A bell rang IN the back Of the house
and Michaels. Miss Martha's butler,
dropped his brass polish, slipped out Of
his blue crash Jacket into a white one
and answered the snmmOns.
In q few minutes he appesred at the
door Of the sun parlOr where his mis-
tress was sewing. Ig F1
ITS the Hicks boy for the package
he announced. m
"Little Carlo Hieksl He's 80 cute
Just tell him TO sit down on the porch
and III have II ready Ia twenty minu
utes. Tell Minnie to cut him a piece
of cake"
AT last the little dress was finished
and Miss Martha dressed my lady 10
her snowy trousseau.
Then came tissue paper and a boz
and ribbon. Finally her highness was
packed and ready for the tender mer
cies Of Carlo Hicks.
And Carlo, having finished his cake
went on his way whistllng and plan /
ming how he could spend the two dimes
which jingled so delightfully."- % his
pocket.
Miss Martha suddenly felt very lone (
IT, II had been busy spring, and thu
doll had been the last OF a series Of 4
things that had kept her hands and
brain busy for months. BUT now the
old desolate feeling grlpped her heart
And then the major came Michaels
having once more changed his chrys
alis. appeared In his white coat. with
the ma jor's card on a silver tray.
Miss Martha took 1t wondering, II
was an unusual hour for callersl
"hl right. Mchaels. tell the gentle
man TO wait" The uncertainty Of her
voice was scarcely perceptible. "plll
see him IN a few minutes"
The color came slowly, painfully in
10 her face flooding her throat, her
temples and her cheeks The major
Alan Hartwell After so many years
Suddenly righteous anger surged /
into her heart Why should she be
friendly with the man who had spoiled
her life? She would see him, but she
would tell him what he had done and
let him go his way again.
To the man waiting behind the vines
of the porch she made an unusually
charming picture-her soft, lustrou
hair blowing in just a triiie OF dis.
array, her face flushed beautifully and
the blue linen morning dress.
And then occurred an interesting
tableau. A small hoy dripping mud
came screaming up the drive. holding
out an object that appeared TO be the
product Of coal mine. s
81 fell over the bridge" screamed :
Carlo, and went into mudhole An
| spoiled the package"
Miss Martha stopped aghast HeI I
beautiful doll was spoiled
"Oh, Carlo, how could your she
,ried. You're a naughty, naughty lit.
lie boy, but"more kindly-'I suppose
{ couldn't be helped"
u was just walking along and" X
"Al right. Go back and tell Minnie 3
o wash You of. Perhaps the dolly
sn't hurt after all"
"Td come down to help-but II
Gems something's happened. / can't
move" said a voice from the porch.
Miss Marth few up the steps, muddy :
'arlo at her heels.
"Oh, forgot" hlubbered the little +
oy. q put my blackjack chewing =
un on the chair while ate my cakel' 4
The major in immaculate white :,
anneis tossed Carlo a quarter. "Here, .
on can buy some more You've done
nough damage for one day :" :
I'm sorry ] can't get up" smiled the +
laj0Fn, 'I-rm unavoldably detained Z
Iartha; I've been unavoidahly de- =
dned all these years. Can't you forgive =
le. as you did the little chap7 Things !
rent so bad but that they can be
xed. / still love you, Martha. How
bout me2'
"rll have to do as I did with Carlo. :
'rgiye you, I guess" she smiled. II :
inpose you couldn't help It, either. =
es, love you, Alan" she whispered :
'ftly.
opyright 1917. by the Mcclure Newspa-
-