The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-03-21
DID HELP
lSlS, Pyrlhe McCl
per sYndlcate.l
by CATHERINE PARSONS.

= St""hu anu spdHs 10 nef Ieet lmpt
: tiently.
I'm fool" she told herself eros,
~. "a stupid, silly girl I came here i
get away from Carter-becnuse
thought hated him-and I've ncve
passed such IA miserable week in m,
li1ew
"Heiloi" plped shrill, childish voic,
near her. Katrina looked around aut
saw small ragged little girl regard
ing her lntently.
u live over The hill in the gray
mouse she began by way OF introduc.
ton. Il seen you sittin' here yester,
day and you looked so sad that
thought maybe you got some trouble,
too
Katrina smiled. How old are you ~
she asked with more interest.
Il aiu't sure. Ma says I'm nine and
Pa says ten. ThSre's so many of us,
We ger mixed. We got eleven in all,
countln' my cousin that spends week
with us once year, an Joe when he
marries Molie-if they do get married
now. That's another trouble"
rs your sister engaged ~ ..-
well, she's been Keeping conpanv
with Joe, but they've broke up now.
Ma says It's all foOlishness and she's
aWtul upset cause she thought she'd
got Mollie Off her hands for keeps. And
Mollie cries and says she hates him
and she won't ever get married to no
onel gotter go, now, it's supper
time, ! guess. I'll be round tomorrow.
II get time. My names Elfredn af
ter my aunt thar died Good-by."
The next afternoon Elfreda came
again. She was fairly bursting with
excitement
What do you think has happened?"
And without waiting for an answer
she went on; "Mollies made it ND with
Joe, and they're goin' 10 be married.
Amt it grand?"
Indeed it is dear. How did 1t hap.
pen?'
Yesterday when MoIlie was over to
her place to work, The lady was all |
broke up because young feler she
Enew had gone away from home to
stay always because some girl give
him the slip. An she rold OIollie if
folks would have more sense such
things wouldn't happen, When Mollie
come home she said Ic0uld take note
to Joe, an did an he grinned and
said | was good girl He gave me
penny, too!'
For a moment there was silence,
then the child seized Katrina and
pointed at two figures crossing a near
~ field. The man had his arm about
he girl and their faces were radiant.
That's themW whispered Elfreda.
Amt they made it up great" !"
"Will You mail letter for me, Oh
our way homer" asked Katrina. "Tt
Won't take me a second to write"
1t was dusk in the field by the old
pple tree, Dat Katrina had forgotten
il about time, She was thinking that
he letter ought to reach Carter the
ext evening. Would he come? Wear
y, she leaned her head against the
rec and closed her eyes.
Unseen by her, young officer hur-
led across the field towards the rustic
eat When he was quite near he
allied cheerfully: Wake up and
peak to me" Katrina opened her
yes and for q moment gazed at him
azedly, Then, light dawned and she
orang to her feet.
why. Carter p she cried. "You got |
our commissioni Oh, isn't it wonder |
Il. But what made you come? Tell |
e, quickly, please" "ve4 |
'Weh, you see, just couldn't keep |
way. I've missed you so, and I've hat /
myself terribly, and then, yester- |
~ / got my commission and I'll have
go away, and had to see ii you
ould go with me- knew you would
:ver send for me, SO came"
but | did send for you-the letter r.
ant an hour ago. And begged you
come-shamelessly, did"
His arms went about her. -,
'What made YOU do it, dearest?" he
ked her.
"A ragged, dirty little girl She :,
ade me feel so mean and lonely and =
serable that there wasn't anything
ie for me to dol" Then, her voice -
anged, and she caught her breath =,
sob. "Oh, Carter, I've missed you
dreadfullyl There hasn't been
ght when l have not cried myself to -.
ep and Aunt Alice thinks l am per- =.
,tly mad, know. Please never leave
again-please
1 guess not Wen be married the
mute we get home" -,
The next day Elfreda called to ask
trina to come to Mollies wedding.
I'm sorry, dear, but I'm going home 80
o my own wedding" she told her. -,
How will do for husbandT ask ~
Carter, with mock fear in his voice.
llfreda looked him over appraislRg- =,
sS.iAKeIl aI-epass-y you're all right, but - -
course you Hfn' Joei' ~
Katrina and Carter laughed hap
Y. -
Here's a present for Mollle," prof -
ed Katrina, slipping bracelet from
arm. And l hope she'll be as
,py as amr' ~,
Firsts European Arteslan Well.
he FIRST arfaSian we'll to no hored in