The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-11-23
THE IDEAL
BY RANsoME HARRADEN.


. He was thirty fancled himself con
: tirlned in a bachelor way, lived re
! Specially, earned a good salary, was
. smiling and friendly with everyone
and seemed settled down into rut
: pf sunny contentment. Through the
whole neighborhood the name Rupert
Woods was one to conjure by.
So much for the surface indications,
yet the man had his ideal and led a
dream life. Just over the mantel was
photograph Of an exquisitely lovely
and graceful young woman. 1t set
back in deep, rich frame. When
tyer Woods came home with a rose
pr q carnation in his buttonhole, he
would place it next to that delicate,
Iifelike face about which he had built
Np a secret romance that pleased his
fancy and satisfied his soul.
"a sister? A relatiye?' once his
andlady ventured to insinuate, hut
Woods only smiled in noncommittal
way and asked with an admiring
glance at the portrait:
'Ts she not truly sweet and beau
uful"
It was a year ago when Woods had
occurred that photograph. Always he
nd a mental conception Of his ideal
/ ( a perfect woman. One day he stood
! ipellb0und. His vision had material
| .cd. Coming out from the entrance
70 a photograph gallery was the be-
! lag he had limned in fancy. Ere he
rculd get back to earth again, she had
! Disappeared in the moving crowds and
te had never seen her since.
But about two months later, passing
ihe same photograph rooms, in the
rase outside among the exhibition por-
traits was her own. 1t was a perfect
piece of artistic work. He entered
ind Indicated to its proprietor that he
wished to buy q certain picture.
"Oh! we never sell those" domurred
Che photographer.
"Can you tell me her name--can
you give me her address" pressed the
eager Woods.
81 cannot The young lady ordered
half dozen, came after them, paid
Tor them" But then, after due per-
HuasiOn and liberal money offer,
Woods succeeded in securing the prize.
That lovely picture was comfort to
Inn.
One day Woods came home i'll, and
the l0n9lady called doctor. The lat
TEL ordered him to bed, and said to the
londlady;
''Mr Woods is going to have several
weeks of illness. 1 see no particular
danger, but you had better advise
his near relatives"
BLESS you, sirr exclaimed the
whole-hearted landlady, che has told
me a hundred times he has none. No,
sir only in the neighborhood. Even
The street children fairly idolize him,
he is SO kind and thoughtful of all.
The next morning Woods was in the
throes of fever. The doctor noticed
lying on a table a lot of little sealed
and directed envelopes.
"What are thoseT' he inquired Gu
riously.
"Recreation envelopes, sir" ex-
planned the landlady. "You see, sir
every last day Of the month it has
been the custom Of Mr.. Woods to give
q lot Of poor, Woodworking people
little money. 1t may be to one fam
ily enough for weekend trip, admis-
sion to some entertainment base
bah and bat for Il lad, a doll for
glrl. Little surprises regular rs the
sun, aud, oh bringing such Joy and
eladness. He saiI last night if he was
going 70 he sick, he'd better arrange
for the regular donations"
"a remarkable man; certainly n
good one" mentally approved the doc
tor. Then he looked fixedly, and in
some surprise, at the photograph on
The mantel.
"Whyl Who is this?" he inquired.
"That he never told anybody, sir"
DR. Ransome Nelly the next morn
inc addressed Miss Eva Winton, the
Young lady who had charge Of the Of
fee for half dozen physicians.
Miss Wlnton," he said, Il have
patient who seems to have no friends,
md ! found your photograph in his
'oom."
Glow can that bc?" questioned tho
ccung lady. q have but six pictures. :
md can account for them ALL"
"Well, it is mystery enough, and :
ny patient is Interesting enough TO .
make me DESTROYS Of having YOU go
With me on my call today"
Miss Winton was rs much at sea as
'ver when she saw the photograph in :
question. Woods was in n mild de-
irium. He would babble Of pretty
'ural scenes. Of glowing sunsets. Then
lie doctor and Miss WintoD exchanged :
glances as his mind
seemed to wander over his ideal, the &
llcture, its original. And thus it came
bout, because the soul of the patient
'evealed a palace filed with only beau
iful thoughts, that doctor and the
,irl became intensely interested in this
strange man who cherished this most s
peculiar romance.
Eva called to leave medicine. and 3
would sit around and chat with the 8
aDdlady. One afternoon the patient s
'pened his eyes. For the first time
they fell upon the face &