The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-02-16

abandonment of IN impossible farm In
the alkall lands, and grateful settling
down in the welcome groove OF the
Walden place. 1t was the possession
of decrept old man, Ezra Wal
den, and his orphan niece, lola and
from the start John Burton liked 1t
and bound himself to remain. He was
to work it on shares and after that on
! half ownership basis.
Outside of comfort and prospect
there was lola. 1t took less than
month for Burton to treasure her as
the brightest little being he had ever
met. First he admired her, then he
longed for her constant company and
finally came to love her.
And chen disenchantment. so far as
his hopes We're concerned--a blow sud
den and bitter and then all the sun
I shine of life seemed blotted out for
/ him. lola had come TO treat Burton
| almost as one of the family. She en-
joyed companionship with a person so
! intellectual and kindly, and he enter
| tanned the secret hope that as time
went on she might come to regard him
with the favor of affection. The place
of happiness he had built so fondly
crashed into ruins as one day Ezra
Walden called him TO his room, where
ne lay slowly wasting away.
"Sit down, Burton" said the old
man feebly. 81 want to haye talk
with you. You have been a great help
and comfort to me, you have worked
hard and faithfully and ! don't want
to see you lose by it. haven't long to
live, the doctor told me last week.
When the end comes there is lola to
think of. | want to provide for her as
fully as possible. lola wishes to so to
Denver"
A quick pain struck tho heart Of the
ardent lover. "She has relatives there?"
he ventured family
NO, but about year ago a man
named Blake Darrell spent a month
here hunting and fishing. He was
fashy, boastful sort Of fellow and,
between you and I, did not impress me
very favorably, but as | later learned
made love to lola and she was i'm
pressed. 1t was after he was gone that
tho child told me that he had filled her
mind with all kinds of glowing ideas
of the active life of the city, that he
was writing to her regularly, and If
She ever came to Denver he would see
that she got Il fine position and would
make her his wife. She did not ex-
ectly agree 70 tbis for she wasn't sure
Of her own mind but I can ser that
when I am gone her thoughts will all
he fixed upon going into this new life.
What I was thinking was this: You
sa,. vou lave about a thousand dollars
sg,. n, T"t the place here. nav
do,.a what Y. Il can ana the balance to
oo to lola MS she needs IT, Only this
If her mind is set ON going to Denver,
ana If she wishes 70 marry this man.
Darrell 90 with her and become her
Guardian untll that is consummated.
inst as if Won were myself."
pnrton,s heart WIS beavv nc no oava
his promise TO carry out the iniunc-
+i,ns of NJ Walden HE dream wos
oyor and done Iolo was Iost to him
and fbe future seemed hliphted With
~ tba wool, tha old man died A kind.
Il, ooicbhor tool, lola in her chorce !
ond faw DAYS later Rurton called
n,on Tola +o learn ber wishes
She was suhdned With grief forlorn.
Il, rnoortoin hut finally told Burton
tho+ sbo wiehed to go to Denver He
ovnioined to her the wishes Of her
,,,.andfatbar and she seemed to ev-
s,,,,anoo a doom orotit,,de for bie holm.
81 la,o1 sorvice
1,tit ,os o,,nbaoi1od whom +ooothor
tbo. .,ortoa. for tho East His delicate
~ sn1ioi,ous coro for bar comrort
to,,ohod rolo doonlv Sba HOGAN to |
,.oaliao ho,,,, sho would mics tbe stnrdv
',ts,iir,,, i f,.;onds ,,hon bo wont hocr
n1ena 70 40 oId Form for which She
''oo,.ot,r hagor 70 g,rw bomasicl, she
- .,.oa ain,ost ST. toarf7l whom no loft ber
- hotoI in Danver Her face wore T
" atna,ao sar,onsness whom he called
81, - .,,a,.,,;,,c-
., o,,ia ill., 81 havo ro, dolivo,
"'N' .