The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-04-15
A LITTLE COURAGE
by GRACE cANFlELp.

that young man TO his own reflection
as be iuggcd at colorful tie. ''do
you realize that you are twcniy.ohe
todny--a rlslng business man, and yet
you haven't got girl? ion poor
boob Ardeth Appel doesn't even
know that you exist Are you never
going TO forget her and 80 hunt up
a wlfef"
The blue eyes glared back nj him
for moment, then twinkled lrrepres.
slbly.
ayes, By gum, | am" replied the
other Charlie. "'And I'm going TO be.
gin today appoint myself a com.
mIttee OF one TO declare a holiday
The fatcs had been preparing n
little Joke on Charlie Wetherbee.
Here was girl. beautiful, rich. and
full OF the love OF adventure. who,
unknown TO herself. had been adored
for years by youth strong, active
and poor, but also loving adventure.
Ardoth Appel did not know Charlie
at nll---or she had not until the fates
took n hand.
Charlie smiled blllhey as he swung
down the street TO the station on his
way to New York on his search for
4 wife. But every step took him
away from her, anu by the time he
bought his ticket, his smile had faded
little.
Wonderful weather. he remarked
TO himself enthusiastically, and forced
large. artificial smile. lie won
dered II, after all, lie wanted n wife
when he couldn't have Ardeth. lie
propped up the fast-fadlng grin with
two fingers
"Why grleve so hardl asked an old
gentleman.
81 beg your pardonl" ttammered
Charlie.
Charlie looked at him earnestly,
seized with sudden desire to con-
fide In someone.
Il am sad" he confessed, rand so
would you be II you had loved a girl
for five years without ever meeting
her"
"But why don't you meet her?'
Cant. ! am only poor working
boy, and her father is a millionaire
more or less. She sure is a winner,
though" in musing tone.
Charles smile was gone now, and
II had been his undolng. II he had
not been so busy trying to hold on
to 1t he would have seen Ardeth
Appel get in at the other end of the
car. She, too, had felt the urge of
adventure that morning, and had
slipped out of the house before her
father could stop her.
Now as Charlie. Wetherbee told his
sorrows to the kind gentleman. some
thing strange happened to him. He
had just said: "Its pretty hopeless,
/ guess" when he suddenly felt that
1t couldn't belt mustn't be hopeless
Unaware that the train had stopped.
and that the passengers were filing
out, he said In loud, determined
voice, looking straight ahead
mo, 1t is not Some day." he con-
tlnued with conviction, II am going
to marry that GIRL" And as he spoke
he looked right into the eyes of tie
girl herself! The Fates chuckled with
glee.
Ardeth, at first inclined to feel in
suited, was suddenly amused. Look
ing calmly back into the clear, hon
est eyes Of the stranger she an
swered:
you may consider yourself accept
ed" Before the astonlshed young
man could follow she was speeding
away in the luxurious limousine Of
school friend.
1t was two years before the Fates
gave him the opportunity. The morn
Ing was perfect, and Charlie quite
looked the successful young business
man as he boarded the train--bound
for a conference In New York. The
train was crowded and when Charlie
saw that he must share the seat with
ArdetK Appel or stand up, he felt
that the moment was indeed his.
He settled himself beside Ardeth
with a polite, impersonal bow, and
began to read story.
"Things like this just don't happen,
you know He broke the silence cas-
ually. Ardeth, startled, looked a
question.
Like this story he went on. "Man
loved a girl for years without her
knowing it. He sees her on the train
one day and, throwing all caution to
the winds, proposes to her
"How improbable! But the girls
cheeks were suddenly flushed.
"She calls his bluff, though" he
continued in the same impersonal
tone, ''and accepts him.
"You say he has always loved herr"
The girls. voice was faint
"Since he was kid. But her ia
ther had no use for him. Good chap,
too" he added brazenly
The girl recognized him suddenly.
and an overpowering embarrassment
seized her. What would this terri
BILE young man say next?
Then Charlie Wetherbee took his
life in his hands and leaned forward.
what do you think the fellows
chances would be?' he asked.
Ardeth could not but admire the
courage which had prompted these
words. and her tone was not too an