The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-01-11
Big Happiness
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE


soIiIoquixed ben Rutter as q brand
new auto. resplendent In shine, at'ach.
ments and noiseless progress. circieu
past him on the dusty country road
and Its occupants, n girl OF ABOUT
twenty and a young man a year or TWO
her senior. nodded crisply. casually,
and Ben knew that he was relega'eu
TO Immediate forgetfulness.
"Humphl" he said little restively
and n good deal hurt mentally. that
was Dolly Nugent and Ray shad'
burne's new machine has caught her'
Excused herself last evening from a
drive In my plain but old reliable. ihn'
ends another--no. l won't say romance
for II hadn't got that far--luckily'
Casting up affairs. I'm beginning TO
think I'm not built right for Elsdene
society"
Certainly Ben was suggestive or
big overgrown boy, but In no way ooor.
ish or awkward. He was the envy OF
every amateur sprinter and onrslnan
in the district. His good nature ever
refused 10 be ruffied. His kind-heart'
edness bafiied Indifference, even WIN
those who did not feel that he was
mite up 10 date In his notions. Ben
despIsed show and affectation and ex'
pressed the sentiment frankly. out
spoken, clear-headed. clean'mihueu'
he offended some. was feared by oti'
ers who were not right themselves,
and the girls Of Elsdene seemed to
have n set model OF a to-day young
man that reminded Ben of dolls ana
college graduates.
aLet me see," he reflected ms he a'-
lowed the auto TO proceed ieisureiy,
.rye not made much of a hit since
came here. Folks around copy after
the city and run in cllques. There was
Alvo Lapham. a sweet, pretty girl any
ono might like. She tried me out ana
tired of me. Wearing my second best
to concert settled her. Then wanda
Rurt-coquette all through anf simply
had fun with me. Greta Norris was
after money and my heap wasn't big
enough for her. As to Dolly, she was
fairly. bewitching, but don't smoke
cigarettes or wear diamond ring or
snend nil I've got on show and class
ss they call It, so she has given me a
final turn.down. Well, somehow feei
more like an escaped man than dis
anpoInted one When ] marry ! want
genuine old-fashIoned big happiness
true hearts about me and comfort
rather thxn luxury"
Ben drove on for an hour or two
simply putting In the time OF lovely
June morning. He gave HIT 10
barefooted lad carrying his fathers
lunch to him in distant field; ne
drove mile away from the regular
road to accommodate a rheumatic ola
woman. and at a little electric railway
station took up a lady, her child ana
her satchels and received warm thanks
for saving them two-mile walk. linen
Ben shifted and smacked his lips and
slowed up as half mile farther on
he neared q farm house. The aroma
of appetizing cookery appealed strong
lv TO his very human senses. He drove
tho machine TO a horse block leaped
out and. hat in hand, knocked at the
front screen door Of homelike farm
house.
A vivacIous, healthy-faced girl, little
resembling in build and strength the
dainty. delicate devOtees of culture ard
fashion who had made Ben sick and
tired of femininity, appeared In an
swer to Ben's appeal at the old-fash'
ioned knocker. She was all smiles
and dimpIes and seemed to recognize
kindred spirit in the boyish careless.
ness of the young fellow who warmed
up magcally to her greeting.
"Brought a message from my sis
ter?" she asked directly.
"Why. no! Who is your sister, II
may ask?" interrogated the puzzled
Ben.
"Why, saw you deliver her and hel
child at her home down the road"
"Oh, was that your sister," 1ues
toned Ben. Happened to pick her uI
on her way home. Nice lady; bright
little tot. What I stopped here for was
meal IL can have 1t. I'm des
perately hungry and that cookery fla
vor in the air halted me. Of course
looking around at this well-kept place
know you don't sell meals"
"But as you showed kindness t.
Sister Bella, let me reciprocate, won
youT asked Ora Larned.
$50 can have the meal? I won
forget the favor. Say, 1t does my hear
good to get into a real home, remind
ing me of mother. Let me just hans
around like boy on vacation, won
you?" and Ben had his way. and fo
half an hour sat In the kitchen.
Soon half dozen workers from th'
field came trooping in and introduc
tions to Ben followed. 1t appeared
that four families lived within mile
radius and a great group of .relative
they made, unpretentious but con
genial.
"Real big happiness call your com
bination Of good-natured, good-heartet
people |" commented Ben to Ora, as h,
went his way. "Can I call again?"
sIf you wish to-" answered Or;
with slightly heightened color, for TIL
eyes Of the speaker We're ardent an,
admiring.
He repeated the call several time