The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-11-17
Two Lonely
Souls
0A
By ALDEN CHAPMAN
NSoDyright. 1918, by the Western News.
paper Union.y

Ah the ar over the fence surrounding
tne grounds of large rambling old
Iashloned house and landed directly
against the breast of Bruno Paxton.
lie clutched it as it was headed for
the ground, glanced up and met the
flashing eyes and smiling face of a
lady halt. concealed by the shrub
Dery. Then the latter darted away,
pursued by little girl who, her apron
1ull OF flowers, pelted her out of view
with the fragrant flowers.
Somehow the mind of Bruno was set
In turmoil. Had the lady in the
horal battle aimed at her child op-
ponent. or at himself? At all events,
the episode set his mind IN whirl.
lie had reached thirty the same inn
pfeSslble idealiSt that he had been at
twenty. He treasured the rose and
dreamed dreams. He passed the same
place slowly the next day. Half OBJ
scured by some lilacs was a feminine
form. Bruno slightly raised his hat.
Unmlstakably in response there was
the flutter of handkerchief. He was
noticed. 1t must be the lady of the
rose battle A vast ferment of senti-
ment and romanticism took place in
his soul. The next morning it was
raining but from an upper window In
the house, white hand moved as if in
notice or greeting.
Passing down the street the next
day with his close friend, Dale Arm
strong Bruno clutched his arm fever
ishV and indicating lady crossing
from the house now his center of at
traction to an automobile, and whose
face was that of the lady of the
roses, he uttered unanimously:
Armstrong, you know everybody in
town. Who is that girl?"
"Girl?" repeated Dale. She is
married woman-Alrs. Walter Martin.
Husband and child. What's your in
terestY'
Nothing" he faltered in a sort of a
collapsing groan. Love blasted my
ideal vanished !! Only flirt p he told
himself in a suppressed undertone. 1t
was the rude blighting of possible
romance in its budding that so crushed
Bruno. He had woven a fairy fabric
of ideality and it was humlliating, de-
disappointing to have it thus
sent asunder. Armstrong, coming In
to his office the next day, found him
seated m0rose and hollow-eyed at the
window, staring out blankly at nothing
ness.
Whats the trouble, Bruno?" he hail
ID in his CHEEKY off-hand way.
"Oh, tired of life and its false prom
ses," returned the other dfsmally. /
ion't seem to reach any goal in my
Tell you, I'm almost sui
idal in my present mood"
"That soY rallied Armstrong bland
y. "Well, over in my office I've got
real glittering stiletto, true and
onest, deadly revolver and bottle
t sure thing cyanide. Want to make
choice?" I
THANK you, no." answered Bruno
curly, nettled at the badinage, good
atured as it was. IF ever step off
bruptly the water route is the surest
nd cheapest"
There seemed to be a satisfaction in
ursing his dark ideas. Bruno did not 3
heat himself by trying to believe that o
e had been incurably oaptivated by "
le lady of the roses. The verge of t.
'mance land had attracted him, hut n
: had only glimpsed its confines when :,
tie had abruptly transformed it into :,
dreary desert y
"Oh, for one true sympathetic soul"
pondered as dejectedly he made his
ay hOmeward
1t was warm and he took off his coat.
G was restless and irritated and
gan pacing up ana down He got
rectly up to the edge of the EN-
nkment overlooking the stream.
"Ah, placid waters, not so cruel as
harsh, disappointing world.p he ut
red melodramatically. ::
'No-n6-surely you are not think !:
z of-of-" !.
Bruno started. A slender. winsome
Dman had seized his arm. He did
I know that it was she who had Ju
'own the lilac spray in his path and
d followed him. She was fair of
e and graceful of form, although
far up in the twenties as himself.
there was gentle sympathy in
: eyes that somehow won upon him.
If you mean i was goir; to jump
he said, mo; I'd ought to
ugh"
Think of your friends"
/ have none. Nobody cares for
And you never noticed the lilac
ayl" reproachfully censured this on
tlmental spinster-"after bowing fo1.
me in the garden and responding on,
h smile to my waving from the -, ~,
dow - WI
Oh, it was your exclaimed Bruno liv,
haven't confided in my sister,
. Martin" continued Miss Bella
ston, but it has been very pleas
to think l was making a manly,
pathetic acquaintance"
he hung her head now. Bruno took run
her look at her, understanding his ket
r as to the roses He pitied her