The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-05-24
A WILD ROSE.
By ALvAH J. GARTH.
pyright. 1870 western Newspaper union.)

Dodge, the old housekeeper; Two OF
them in fact-mother and daughter,
think"
Professor Albion Dacre lifted his
eyes from his book with surprise, al
most concern in his timid eye.
IF 1t Is a subscription or some
thing of that sort, you might attend
10 II. Susan" suggested her employer
II don't think it is anything OF that
kind SIR" explained Susan. "lhe
elder lady said something about WISH
ing to talk to you about the young
lady"
very well; show them In" directed
the professor although he rather re-
sented any intrusion upon his dearly
loved solitude.
II am Mrs. Eunice Ward" spoke
trained, even voice, and a matronly
appearing lady with a refined cast OF
feature introduced herself This is
nv niece, Miss Gloria Tresham."
Professor Dacre courteously ac-
knowledged the greeting of the elder
lady. AS he fixed his eyes upon her
companion, it seemed as though the
latter had brought into the staid well
governed house the very essence of
youth, beauty, breath of the forest
or the sea, free, unrestralned, an in
defnable spiritual something that
caused the professor to feel as If this
lovely creature was quite of another
world.
Mrs. Ward was brief, concise and
practical. I'VE have just moved into
the house diagonally back Of yours"
she said.
'sAhl then we are neighbors?" OBJ
served the Professor.
My niece, Gloria" proceeded Mrs
Ward, has been brought up for eight
cen years in the remote wilderness.
When her mother died my brother
went into seclusion, taking his only
child to share it. Gloria has been
brought up among natures solitudes.
She has had music, reading, the de-
voted love of her father III her hermit
like secluslon, comfort, even luXuries,
but no outside companionship. When
my brother died | hastened to assume
her charge. Gloria is loving, in
nocent child, who knows nothing OF
the great world. She can read, she is
wonderful panist and singer, but she
has not been taught to write a line
she knows nothing of the science OF
study. Professor Dacre, would you
consent to take Gloria as a special
home pupil, with the idea of familiar
izing her with the system and methods
of acquiring learning? And later on she
might enter upon a course in some
seminary"
1t was an extraordinary concession
to ask of man as occupied and as
well paid as Professor Dacre. The
sweet eyes of Gloria Tresham fixed up
on linn, lie was Influenced to say:
Madam | have two hours daily In
the afternoon un0ceupled and usually,
devoted to rest, or reading in my libra
iy, or the garden. 1t will be duty
and a pleasure TO have your niece for
casual pupil, but please do not speak
of compensation, and a sentiment of
pity for the orphan girl and a natural
desire to be helpful to others so clear
~ spoke in the grave, earnest eyes,
that Gloria's own bestowed glowing
glance upon him of gratitude and con-
fidence.
Within a month Albion Dacre was
lifted into new phase of existence.
To him Gloria was an unframed wild
rose, sweet and beautiful, who shamed
his practical worldly-wise nature in
contrast with freshness, purity and in-
nocence of n soul that had known and
loved nature with the ardOr of child
Many a time the professor nurtured as
dream embracing all that was worth
while IN life, an ardent longing TO
sees new existence amid the glories
Of nature in its primeval wildness,
away from the drudgery and inhar-
moniousness of his present sphere,
communing with the flowers, the birds,
the stars, and learning from the lips
Of his fair young pupil lessons of the
real loveliness and peace of a happy
existence, forgetting the world and
by the world forgot"
"Oh, think Of it," exclaimed Gloria
rapturously one day. II can write
whole line. See,' and the rugged
heart Of her tutor beat tumultuous-
ly as she placed before him a sheet
hearing the words, Il love Aunty
Eunice and dear Professor Dacre more
than anybody else In the whole world"
Then after that there seemed to
creep into her nature a certain shy
ness that puzzled Albion Dacre. Even
her aunt observed the change. Con-
tact with the world was teaching the
artless girl that she should repress
the naive free impulses that her life
in the wilderness had encouraged.
One afternoon the professor came to
the tree-shaded table where Gloria
took her lessons to find her sunny head
pillowed on one arm and her lovely
eyes closed in slumber. She had been
writing in a little memorandum book
and he could not help but scan the
open page before him.
1t held the secret thoughts of n girl
in love-herself. 1t artlessly analysed !
the deep devotion that had grown up
r. ~.