The daily morning Alaskan. (Skagway, Alaska) 1899-1904, 1900-11-23
4 SWEETHEART
OF LONG AGO.

Naomi is always cheerful-too cheerful
golden haired little Lilliard says some
times petulantly. But then Naomi is 80,
and it is years that bring the philosoph
ic mind"
Eighteen years ago, when Naomi was
l.. she had received baby Lilliard, her
newborn stcpsister. as the legacy from
the hands of dying mother mild
When, ten years later, their father.
gay debonair Ernest Romer, LATEST and
most charming of men and artists, had
followed his wife, leaving her two chill.
drcn utterly unprovided for, Naomi had
quietly and naturally slipped into the
position of breadwinner and house pro-
wider. Then had come lover too poor
to provide for both Naomi and Lilliard.
Then he had gone away to make a for
tune in distant lands, and for eight years
Naomi had never heard of him.
There comes a ring at the doorbell, and
little Alice Sparrow, Naomi's maid of all
work, puts in her head to say, "A gentle
man for you, please, miss"
Naomi rises in surprise as a tall, well
built man, with a sunburned complexion
and head of tawny hair, enters, and,
striding to her side, takes her hand.
Naomi, have you forgotten me-Mar-
tin ColquhounY
For a moment the room swims round
Naomi, but the next she has recovered
herself and Is saying quite calmly-how
it astonishes her to hear her own voice:
'How do you do? l did not know you
were in Washington"
Il only came yesterday" he says ca
gerly, $50 you see | have not lost much
time. l found out your address in the
directory-what a grand institution it is!
Naomi. you are not changed. Am II"
She smiles little. Il would know you
but you are changed"
81 shall tell you all by and by" he
says, and at that moment Lilliard rushes
in.
"Mare is out. Is it not shame?"
Then she pauses, blushing, and Naomi
Introduces the two.
so you are Liliard?' says Martin
Coiguhoun, smiling. Il remember you as
. Tiny .gili in short dresses, who always
searched m my pockets for chocolates.
Are you as fond of them yet?"
Il believe l am says Lillard, laugh
ing. Then she sits down, and so does
Martin Colquhoun. and they spend
pleasant, even gay, evening together,
Martin telling them of all the dangers he
has passed in the search for fortune
which, it seems, he has found.
Martin Colquhoun calls again and
again. He comes in the evenings. when
Naomi plays, and he and Lilliard sit in
the window together. He calls in the
afternoon and talcs them driving in the
park and to Mount Vernon, and he and
Lilliard generally sit together and do
most of the talking. And occasionally
he takes them to a concert or the opera.
And every day Naomi feels that the trial
of her life is drawing near.
But why should she grudge it? She
loves Lilliard. She Observation-Disclosures.
She desires the happiness of both. AS
for her, it only means that her sky will
grow little grayer her life little emp
tier; but at 30, she tells herself, one does
not feel the pain SO kcenly as at 20.
One evening he calls. Lilliard is out
and Naomi alone. He looks strangely
nervous.
Il have called to tell you | shall have
TO say goodby," he said abruptly 81 am
going away on Monday"
Going awayw Naomi echoes family.
eyes, for four years. My business re-
quircs me. And / have come tonight to
W say SOiutluluS lldL means II great zeal
to me--that all my future happiness de-
ponds on, Miss Romer."
Naomis heart is still. The blow is
coming, then.
81 think ! can guess what it is" she
says, wondering if her voice sounds
strange and unnatural. "Mr Colquhoun,
| will do the most | can. | desire your
happiness as much as-as Lilliard's."
He seizes her hands.
"Then-you are willing? You have
have thought of it?" he asks, a little I'M
steadily.
Il have no right to be anything else,"
she answers smilingly. "If Lilliard is
willing, that is all you require"
billiard? | do not understand you,
Naomi. What has Liliard to do with it?
Don't you understand, dear, that l love
you as much, nay, more, thousandfold
more, than ever? Naomi, it was not my
fault that l have been silent all these
years. My letter--the last One-was re-
turned, marked Left-no address, But
| have never ceased thinking of you, and
now | want you as my wife. Naomi,
Naomi, after waiting all these years, am
l to be disappointed at the last2"
"Oh, stop!' Naomi cries, little wildly.
IL thought it was Lilliard you cared
for, not me-"
"Lilliardw He grows holder then, and,
drawing her within his arms, lays her
sweet face against his breast. "Why,
Lilliard and | are very good friends, but
she knows the truth, Naomi. My darling,
is that why you have been so cold to me?
| have sometimes thought the past was
dead to you-dead and buried-you were
so cold But it is not so, Naomi? You
still love me, my sweetheart of long
ago?'
And Naomi's answer, though too low
for any ears but his to hear, is evidently
heard by Martin Colquhoun, for he bends
his head and then and there triumphant
ly kisses her.-American Queen.
breaking Horses In South Africa.
The way in which horses are broken to