The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-07-23
COMMONPLACE
sy LILLIAN Z. CHARLTON

| tsSSsee>s. .ssSsssSse>e~esesese
- is4i. ~ Nocisrs Nevspspsr sysasssss,
Madee. weary and warm from long
mornings work In the berry patch
was seated In shady corner Of lieI
vnrden. Opposite her cousin Gwsndo'
lyn. sool aud dainty In pale.blue mus
I'm. was reclining gracefully In the
hammock. To tired Madge. who since
her fathers death had put all her girl.
Ish energies Into the running of the
fnrm. II seemed M n cousin Gwendo-
lyn had q monopoly Of coolness and
dalntIness and pale,blue muslIns. Per
hsps that accounted for hss contrary
mood and the snappIsh replies ass
gave TO her cousins occasional Qsss-
tions. ..la, t.4 -at
"Madge. dear" Gwendolyn's musical
voice sounded from the depths Of the
hammock. have you read this last
beautiful article of Donald Caring.
tonsf" .s,s-a4. ....
mo. I haven't" snapped Madge.
"But you surely think he Is wonder.
ful. do ron noti Such originality and
such expression"
II have my own opinion Of him and
others like him." she muttered. "Hs
probably has had precious little per.
sopsl knowledge Of that. Gospel Of
Work over which you are ravIng. !
can picture him sitting by q big desk
In a comfortable chair. running his
lily white fingers through his waving
locks while he pauses for fresh lnsplra-
tion." I.,
Nadge. enjoying her cousins shocked
look. was preparing to add fresh color
10 her imaginary picture. when she
spled a dusty figure. In a dlsreputably
dusty machine, trying to climb the, hill
road.
There's poor. hard.working soul
In distress she exclaimed. I'm
going to see what II the matter You
can stay with Donald. Or" bit
wiekedly, wouldn't you like to come.
too. Gwendolyn-and helpr
81 think not" answered Gwendolyn.
calmly. "He looks like rather q com.
monplace sort OF man."
Commonplace he certainly looked.
and very commonplace was the ques
tion he asked.
"Wlll you please tell me the way TO
the nearest garage? III have TO have
help here. -e
Madge looked critically at the ma
chine. II wonder II II could be the
same trouble that Uncle Jim had last
weekf" she pondered. ave had an
awful time, but we fixed It just there"
and she pointed with practised finger.
TO a bit OF the mechanism.
after considerable work on the
part Of both the little machine was
put Into normal running order.
"How did you happen to know 90
much about machines and work Ia
generalf" he questioned.
1--WE been trying to run this place
since father died, four years ago" she
answered. ave had tlme--and need
to learn q good many things"
"And you have learned them well,"
he said, admiringly.
"But get horribly tired and impa-
tient sometimes" Madge confessed
"Today maligned my cousins favorlte
author, Donald Darlington. l really
like him. but was cross and tired
and made fun of him." and she re-
hearsed the subject to her laughing
: IL know Darlington little," he
smiled, "and guess he is lazy duff
Leaving, he drew some cards from |
his pocket with the words. Perhaps |
your cousin would like to hear her |
favorlte author. / believe he lectures |
In Bainbridge next month. Possibly |
you would come. too. We may meet |
again."
On the night of the lecture the big
town hall was crowded. Madge looked
up quickly as the, lecturer entered,
,nly to look, llorrified, as quickly |
downward. For, beyond mistake, this
Donald Darlington, immaculate, In
evening garb, was none other than her
Prince Dusty" of a fortnight past.
The lecture was over at last and
Darlington was the centre of an ador-
pg throng. Yet somehow he was as
as Prince Dusty had been.
I was late, in the evening when the
wo found themselves in quiet cor n
Ter, and she asked: II
"Can you forgive me? I really didn't
"There isn't anything to forgive" he
aughed. but want to ask a favor.
four cousin Gwendolyn has invited
ne to call at your home. Have your
,ermlssion to come-not wholly for
'ousin Gwendolyn's sake?" The
onest blue eyes looked into the
epths of hers. s ssa
"Yes, oh. yes.p she said bit tremu-
ously, not at all as she said the little
9ord, withr-her whole heart In her
dice six short months later.
Mar Call. rYoo "a p..eu.