The daily morning Alaskan., 1900-11-17
FAITH.
"My darling, what's your answerT

"My darling, what's your answerT'
 Hush, Elmer. Let us go to the or chard. and 1 will tell you
 They went, and on the way Constance Stanley told him of a stormy scene with her father in which he forbade her 10 marry Elmer Houghton. Tears and en- treaties were alike vain. He positively forbade it and would not hear of her mar riage to poor man.
 What is 70 be done, my darlingW asked he, taking her in his arms and piL lowing her head upon his breast. Bear it." answered Constance in a , choked little voice. But, Elmer, I think the very best thing to be done is for you -you-to go away, for if you stay here l might be tempted to disobey papa, and then we would both be miserable so, please, for my sake go" The last word died away in a vail of anguish, and in voluntarily he frightened his clasp around her.
 Yes, dear" he answered, 'I will go. I will struggle for fame and fortune, but tell me, if go, will you have faith in my promise to return againT
 You know 1 will, Elmer, and now 1 must go"
 So, with many promises, kisses and tears, the lovers parted.
 Constance stood where he had left her and watched him down the road. As he came to q turn he stood and waved his hat. She waved her hand in reply, and, turning, made her way to the house.
 Four years passed and never once had Constance heard from Elmer. Through his friends she heard he was in Austra- lia, but nothing more.
 She is standing tonight alone in her chamber Elmer's photograph before her, She is dressed for her party, and beauti' , fnl she looks ill her long, sweeping robe of lace, clasped here and there with dia- nonds, her fathers gift; in her hair, too, are diamond stars, among which k a sin gle pearl given to her by Elmer. who re- marked that pearls and dark haired girls belonged to each other. Her fa>e is a study. but let us hear what she is saying;
 Darling Elmer, l ill ever, though long parted. be true to you; fGir four i@"Ss years l have been and ever will be true to you and you alone"
 Then she turned and descended to the parlor, where the guests are already be ginning to assemble As she enters 4
  beautiful she is, for four years have changed the grlish beauty of IT to d glorious womanhood of 21. She goes from one group to another, welcoming all graciously; still one can see it is mere formality At last she comes to Daisy Morton, who whispers:
 "The Davenports will arrive presently, and believe their cousin is to come with th rJ To I lieve his mother, an only daughter of old Lord Harcourte, eloped while a girl from England, and for years no trace of her could be found. Quite accidentally they met this young man, who was returning from Australia and he proved to be the { son of the long last daughter. As the maternal grandfather was still alive, the young man visited him and staid with the title and large fortune, which, to- gether with that he had amassed, has made him one of the richest lords of Eng land. Am I not a gossip!
 q am afraid you are inclined that way" said Constance. "You must be careful with whom you gossip or you will receive bad name."
 q know still more--I believe this Lord
 
 and fortune" said Daisy, looking at Con stance keenly.
 A quick, sharp sigh escaped Constance.
 Now, Connie, dear, you are thinking of Elmer" said Daisy, for she and Con stance were fast friends, and to her she | (Constance) confded all her sorrows.
 "Yes, 1 was, Daisy" said she. "In fact, have been thinking of him all day, almost constantly. I do not know why"
 Well" said Daisy, T propose you and I take stroll through the conservatory. You look troubled and you must not let any one see you until your face is cleared. You must be happy and gay" Then she added to herself, After one walk through here you will be-" | Together they walked up and down, ad- miring several new additions. Then Dai- , sy proposed they go down the other side. As they turned Daisy gave Constance A | little push and vanished. A gentleman stood before her. Con stance.' was all he said. l "Elmerv was her exclamation. She swayed little and would have fallen had he not caught her in his arms. She had not lost consciousness. but was