The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-10-25
THE ARMY DENTIST
By EMMA ?. WILLIAMS.
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tne village ana was lOSt III tne clOuu
of dust that rose In its wake. Vlr-
glnia's eyes filled with longing as they
followed the car, then dropped visit
fully TO the letter In her hand.
IF only l could follow the trail OF
the automobile" she murmured long
ingly. "Why couldn't /, anyway
came defantly as she lifted the letter
and reread the offer which opened
to her the chance she sought so eager
ly, the opportunity to return city
ward. to teach, to be one Of the mil
lion active human beings instead of
existing In a half-dead village, stag
nant, dlsinterested.
She groaned aloud. OF what use
We're her years at college, her strug-
gle to graTdate at the head OF her class,
II all must end this way?
A slight sound aroused her atten-
tlon-a book falling from the Imply
closed fingers of her mother who had
fallen asleep in the rocking chair. The
soft lace on her bosom rose and fell
gently, evenly; and one large tear
strayed slowly down her cheek. What
was she dreaming of, TO cause the
tear2" Virginia wondered, and in
stantly surmised the answer. In n
twinkllng, the tempting letter was
torn into fragments and tossed into
the fireplace. Vlrginla's decision was
made.
Mrs. Marsh was delighted when she
learned of Virginia's decision. Her
merry brown eyes cleaned mischiev-
ously, and when, on later day, she
told her daughter of the expected ar
rival Of DR.. Ernest Harlow, family
friend,T her eyes twinkled again.
Virginia was making flaky biscuits
when the guest arrived. He sat on
the cool porch with mother, and un-
der the spell of her broad sympathy
he told of his experiences. Three
years OF service in the hospitals
abroad. Hard, nerve-racking work
Must recuperate before starting in
with dental practice on this side Of
the great ocean. Need of dentists in
the army? / guess yes Terrific
demand; no rest, day after day" So
he conversed, and later, I'm tired of
everything. That's the way l feel. Just
exhausted. Don't want to see the
street cars, the theaters, anything be-
longing to civilization. Don't even
want TO see a girl again" !"
Virginia prlcked up her ears and
listened more intently.
"Girls are killingly silly about uni
form. OF course they mean well, but
when a man is worn to a fragile, he
can't be bothered with giddy, sim
perlng fiirt."
Virginia rang the bell for dinner.
When Mrs. Marsh led the doctor to
the attractive dining hoom no Virginia
was in sight. A telephone call ap-
prised Mrs. Marsh of the fact that
her daughter was lunching with a
neighbor. Mrs. Marsh smiled know
ingly, urging her guest to eat. He
started In nonchalantly, but the lus-
cious vegetable salad, the hot biscuits
and tender sliced chicken tasted as
no nectar tasted to the gods. A
foaming glass of ice cold milk was
soon emptied. Then the raspberry
short cake, and the gooseberry Jam
'You are a wonderful cook" de-
clared the tired doctor.
"Give all the praise to Virginia"
Mrs. Marsh returned
II haven't met your daughter yet,
Where is she?" Doctor Harlow look
ed around eagerly.
"She doesn't care for men," smiled
Mrs. Marsh. "They are such silly fiirta-
tious creatures--as a rule. But you
will meet her sometime, I suppose"
Life from that day became very In
teresting to Virginia Marsh. Commu-
nifty work and city environment were
forgotten In the new game Of lodging
the attractive young man who couldn't
be bothered with girls, but who very
plainly showed his desire to become
better acquainted with the clever
housekeeper, whose picture found Its
way to his bureau. He met her, Of
course, and tried to interest her in his
European adventures, but there was an
of1ishness In her manner which irri.
tated and stung him into determina-
ton to win her attention.
One evening he induced her to pad
die across the lake with him. Far out
from the shore he tralled his paddle
carelessly behind him and leaned to-
wards the girl, grimly determined
to have his say uninterrupted. "vir.
glnia, can't get you Off my mind AT
all. I'm mad about you so wildly in
love that you've got to give me one
word of encouragement or Tll-Tll-
well, I don't want to think whnt ]
might do. Couldn't you care enough
for me to be my wife?"
Virglnia's eyes dropped TO hide from
him the light Of love that rose trl-
umphantly thrilling. 81 gave up a
career to stay with my mother. For
: the same reason I must renounce all
thought of marrying. cannot leave
her"
"Couldn't we take the little mother
with us, Virginia2
"She would die of homesickness,
for she has lived here all her life,
No. she would refuse to 20, l am