The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-05-17
REFORM OF ROxANA
BY LINCOLN RoTHBLUM.
?. 1870. by Mcclure Newspapsr syn.leate.l )

rosy flngertips she could recite in co
quettish fashion the name of de
voted, withal unhappy, sutor; but too
1t must be admitted that Roxana often
found need to exercise her most win.
some tricks of cajolery to win b k
the smiles her teasing tricks had
chased away.
1t was Dick. nicknamed the "Faith-
full" who suffered the most and COM
planned the least. He loved Roxana,
But perhaps nothing tried his pa
tience and good temper more than
Roxana's curiosity.
1t was to her mother that In des-
peration he appealed "What can |
do?" he asked dejectedly. Last
night she unwrapped box had with
me when | called"
"And--" prompted Roxana's moth
er.
"Oh, pshaw," bIurted Dick, at CON
tanned some underwear | had Just
bought" Dick fancied he saw Rox-
ana's eyes twnkling merrily at him.
What can do?" he repeated.
RoSana's mother glanced up. lips
twitchlng In smile she could i'll sup
press. "Pll tell you, Dick" she finally
answered in an encouraging tone.
you can either give her up-or marry
er."
I'll marry herw
And marry her he did.
Already on this fine July morning
her honeymoon of four saccharine
weeks seemed like a beautiful dream.
Just that week roll OF films had
been ruined by exposure to the light,
when Roxana could no longer resist
the temptation to learn if it contained
SIX or twelve exposures. But Dick
was big enough to realize he must not
permit this failing of his wife to mar
The placid and unruffled tenor of their
existence. and he gradually ceased TO
resent the tampering with his mail.
There was no more the unconscious
act of ripping open the envelopes as
ltoXana handed him each night his
letters in exchange for kiss.
Red summer had merged into a fall
resplendent in galaxy of yellows and
browns, and Dick trudged home from
the depot through the cooler atmos-
phere so pleaslngly refreshing after
the long hot day just over. The days
work had been particularly and de-
pressingly enervating and he looked
down the road toward his home as
nc shifted the heavy satchel he car
rled from hand to hand.
wonder what's in it," Roxana's cu-
'iosity danced excitedly high as she !
saw her husband coming up the gar
Ten path carrying the grip, M
Making all sorts OF pretty fuss
lbout him, Roxana finally gave verbal
fent to her thoughts. "Dick what
lave you in that grip?"
But his words did not carry effec-
i've weight. "This satchel," he said as
he laid the small valise against the
vail. contains material for a suit"
"Oh, do let me see," interrupted
toxana, I'm so anxious TO look it
'ver. I'll bet it's beautiful"
NO it isn't, and that's just why |
Ion't want you to look at it," Roxana
rowncd. Its an off-color PROPOSE
ion" Dick continued, "and it's just as
veil YOU know nothing about it,"
Indeed Roxana was quite dis
leased with her husband and firmly
ecided that If he was getting materi-
! for suit she ought to have been
Onsulted.
There the satchel lay on the floor
gainst the wall, its black leather
urface seeming to aggravatingly tan
alize her with the secret it concealed.
The echo Of his footsteps along the
arden walk had hardly died away
hen Roxana, with no qualms of con-
cience, sat herself on the floor be-
de the yalise and with hairpin and
rissors commenced operations upon
ne lock.
Not n note of vexation escaped her
$ tools of feminine inventiveness /
ent beneath the unusual task allotted
lem, and as she applied herself with
ltience worthier of better purpose.
ot until the debris of two pairs of
Scissors, one pair of tailor's
lears and an easy gross of hairpins
" broken and bent before her did
suits reward her efforts.
At last! The lock was pried. In a
oment she would know ALL The
Itch was slipped and the sides Of the
tchel flew open, revealing-a mass
papers
IloXana's surprise of disappointment
lgered her. "Oh, that Dick should
I've told me an untruth," she sobbed, {
I'd smarting tears sprang to her eyes.
Roxana squatted Indian fashion be-
re the bag overfiowing with legal
oking letters and greedlly read.
\ puzzling expression was succeed
by one of deep interest, and as a !
'ung girl with her first romantic =
vel. Roxana read on, obliv:ous 10
save the sheets before her.
And then understanding dawned
she gasped, "Dick did
Il the truth. 1t is off-cOlor material
+ suit-evidence for an ugly law
Sc" And then came penitent con-