The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-03-16
TIE HOPE CHEST

BY VINCENT c. PERRY.

: There never was a chaperone llk,
: Aunt Flo; both Leslie and Nora agreed
on that Leslie and Nora had beer
engaged for over a year. He had fine
position and an income capable Of talk
ing care of wife, 50 he thought II
time they were married.
Why, Leslie she said one day near
The end of the season. "you talk as Il
| was on the verge Of being an OLD
maid like auntle I'm just in my early
twentles-the age when girl gets the
very best out Of life. My good times
have inst begun"
THAT doesn't say that they will
cease when you become my wife," he
argued. You know that l love you
and that your happiness is my first
consideration.
But arguing only made each more
LSmbbornly sure Of his own opinion, and
finally Leslie left Nora in tears.
Aunt Flo was waiting for them on
the veranda of the hotel. The minute
she saw Leslie appear alone she knew
something had happened and was
ready with her sympathy when he
poured out his troubles
81 agree with you; Nora is foolish
to watt she said after he had fin
ished. "Have patience, though, for /
have a plan"
Near the end of the week, trunk
arrived. for Aunt Flo. She had not said
anything about its being expected and
Nora was rather curious to know why
it had been sent. Surely her aunt had
not bought new clothes. She had more
than she would be able to wear there,
as it was.
1T contains some things have had
sent here for you dear" Aunt Flo ex.
planned when Nora questioned her
about it. "They ere some things of
mine that l have intended giving you
and they can go home with your lug
gage"
You're dear! What are they2"
Nora asked eagerly.
Some things that l started collect
ing when was younger than you. I
prize them and would not let anyone
have them but my fayorite niece"
Nora found the trunk in her aunt's
room and the ktS was in the lock. 1t
was an old-fashioned trunk but ii look
ed as if il had done very little travel
ing She looked 1t over reverently be-
fore she opened It, Somehow there
seemed to be something sacred about
It. Carefully she lifted the lid and
he odor of fresh cedar filled the room.
The trunk was lined with green silk.
On top was picture OF very beau
iful girl. She picked ii up and looked
It it wonderingly. Why it was Aunt
7lo when she was girl.
The picture, however was forgot
en- in the wonders found In the truak
of all kinds in sheets, pillow
'ases towels and many other things
Before she reached the bottom She
NEW what the trunk had been. It was
AUNT Flo's Hope Chest" Now she
,new why it had seemed so sacred to
Ter. Poor Aunt Flo, she had never
'een married AS she leaned over tho
runk something caught her glance.
neat pile of letters tied with pale
ibbon rested at the bottom. They
rere her aunt's love letters, she knew
without looking inside.
Letter after letter she read. They
cad like Leslie's letters, only more re-
erved and old-fashioned. What
lover it was that Aunt Flo
nd had and how anxious he had been
hat they get married Why hadn't
hey2 Some of his arguments were (
lst the same as Leslie's. How foolish /
Aunt Flo had been TO let his pleadlngs
o by unheeded The last letter was
in different hand than the
Tiers. The stationery was edged in
lack. As Nora read this letter the
ears started to her eyes. SO he had
led in foreign cOuntry-that was
Thy Aunt Flo had never married. l
fora sat for long time in medlta- t
on. A step sounded. 1t was Leslie. t
"Aunt Flo sent me up here" he arol-
gized
"Oh, Leslie" she cried as she jump =
d to her feet; "come and read these
stters. 1t is the saddest thing Poor
unit Flo" r
1t was not necessary for him to read
he letters. MIRA told him what they +
almost before he had t
nance to open one Of them. He read
le last one, however, and as he read
e realized just what a brick" Aunt
10 was, to keep smiling He did not 9
leak for some moments, for he found
lat tears, after all, were not solely r
by women.
isn't their case like ours?" he ven Il
lred, when he thought Nora was ready n
II it.
"All but the dying part" she smiled :
trough her tears. i
"That might happen"
"Oh, no. will get married as soon p
you like. Leslie"
Then let's make 1t today. There is
e dearest little vine-covered church n
the village"
Production Of Pearls.