Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-06-28
AN ALASKAN TRANSFER.
BY KILBoURNE CovtrS

l4w cedar logs, as are all the old houses
al Sltka. Outside il was far from at
Inactive, but inside there was an air of
home comfort, and even Eastern luxury.
not that of the Orient, but that of the
states"
In front of the ponderOus Russian
stove, their feet buried in soft red fox
rugs, sat two young women one chilly
December afternoon. The sun. had long
since sunk behind the mountains. but a
student lamp threw its pale light across
blth heads, showing the younger 10 be
T. Glen haired, while the silky curls of
II companion were of almost ebony
< kness.
Ia | could scarcely teach today, the chill
+ Zen were so troublesome, and then |
- 'ys begin to feel a little homesick and
nervous when the holidays approach this
will be my fifth Christmas i'll Alaska. |
wonder if another year will find me at
my post, sometimes | grow so tired of
Teaching" The girl spoke YEARLY, plac-
ing her hand lovingly on the bright head
BESIDE her, for Katherine had slipped
down on the rug and nestled her head
against her friends knee.
But you can stop teaching if You
wish. Marian. Think of my trials labor
ing these dark days with those poor little
Indians, who can scarcely sneak n word
=
II would not take me years to decide. |
would send in my resignation as govern
ment school teacher very promptly"
katherine spoke witr spirit. if not envy.
Marian's dark eyes grew stern and a
rebuke trembled on her lips, only to be
left unspoken. Would you really marry
Just to escape the 0rudgery of teaching?;'
she asked gently instead.
certainly, if a man like Edward Cal
vert asked me, answered katherine
stoutly. II believe that l will take him
myself If you don't decide pretty soon"
she continued, half laughing.
Pray do so; you are welcome. I will
give, up all claim, title and interest i'm
him. Marian returned. mockingly.
DO you mean it?' asked Katherine in
tense tone.
Marian's face whitened, but She turned
nef eyes toward the row of home photo
graphs that decorated one wall aud re
pied slowly, Yes, | mean it
Katherine made movement to take
her hand, but Marian did not seem 10
notice 1T. so she rose, stopped down ana
silently kissed her brow. Marian shrark
from from the caress, yet so slightly that
katherine was unconscious of tho invoI-
untary rebuff which she would have ~nrn-
~ felt had she looked into her friends
eyes that she avoided.
In the second evening" as they term
the time after supper during the dar.l,
winter days at Sitka. Edward Calvert
came laden with an armful of maya
zines, which each steamer brought to
him.
He was told by Katherine. who stood
fair and sweet to look upon. with Il CO.
quettish blue ribbon in her bright. soft
halr, that poor Marian had n headache
and had gone to her room for the night.
Mr.. Calvert dropped the magazines on
the table in disappointed way. and
IA nf hon II
~, childish manner about the amusing
incidents of the day in the Indian school.
Marian. lying on her couch III the next
room, listened to the merry voice that
soon invoked like tone in Mr.. Calvert
usually grave accents. Was she missed!
The most egotistical person could not
have imagined so and Marian, sensitive.
self abnegating girl that she was, felt
what 1t sometimes means to be taken at
ones word
The campaign had opened and the new
was putting forth all the arts
and graces in her power, while the one
who had voluntarily retired from the
held rose, and, wrapping herself in Il
long cloak of natural seal, gift from
al Calvert, stole out the rear door and
walked slowly down the deserted street,
by the Greek Church. on beyond the
trading store, hurrying as she passed
the barracks, fearing 10 be observed by
some OF the naval officers who had per-
haps fingered there, preferring the coy
quarters of the marine officers to the
cramped ward room of the pinta.
At last she stood alone on the wharf |
not even was there ii Siwash or Klootch- |
man to mar the solitude. for the Indians
keep early hours. She looked off toward
Mt Edgecombe, whose snow crust Shone
III the moonlight.
How silent it all was with only the
tapping of the calm swell of the ocean
against the piles of the wharf to- break |
the stiffness. and Marian, looking sea-
ward, ont beyond the little islands. re-
peated almost unconsciously the words |
of the Ancient Mariners Alone. alone. |
on wide. wide sea- so lone it was that
God Himself scarce seemed there to
be"
1t was less than month. when the |
new year was yet young. the little COM |
of Sitka was ast0unded ut the |
of Katherine's engage
ment to Edward Calvert, and it is safe |
to say that no one was more surprised |
than the fortunate man who was soon !
to lead his fair, childlike bride TO the |
altar.
SO busy was he kept by her during the |
short period of their engagement that he |
had little time for reelection, but other |
people wondered how the transfer was
made.-New York Daily News.