The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-07-19
\ TEMPTATION n PERSISTED

IL was on the frontier. A wom0n stood Ia Che door cf the house, looking at a distant tcndrl of smoke that trail ed In the sky. the smoke Of the east bound passenger train. She listened to the harsh crcaking of the corn, and her face grew set
 Rick had no right Co bring me to such a place." she thought forgetting how willingly she had come.
 A man drove Into tho yard. tied his horse to thc wheel of the wagon and came toward Che house Don't you knew me. Katey" he called loudly, to be heard above thc wind.
 Why George Gilbert, Is it youT she exclaimed. She held out her hand. How did you ever happen Co get heret Come right Into thc house. Kicks gone Co town for coal"
 The man followed her Into the main room Of thc house. which served the double purpose Of parlor and kitchen In one corner stood tho stove; above ii a lonc shelf covered with neatly seal loped papers. on which stood the lamps and tInwurc. A safe with perforated tln doors was in another corner A bit of ingruln carpet a rocking chair aud a round table with a rcd cover made the parlor.
 "You sec. I'm travelling for a grocery house." the man said, sitting down. "nnd | make Houston now, and your folks said ! must bc sure Co come out and see you. How arc you doing|
 "Dong. Kate cried. sc0rntully look nc around the room. Can't you seet Making Just enough Co keep soul and body togcther-co corn ll cents and were nine miles from market"
 "Why don't you come back homer he asked. leaning forward ln hls chair and noticing how much Kate had aged since she came west
 "Dick never seems Go think of it. bc sides. I don't think we've got money enough Co take one of uS let alone both. I just long to go. Sometimes it seems lil-s l. go wild staying here. A man car .-. along bettern a woman
 "Are you cominEr De asked.
 She stood a moment struightcning Che cover on thc table. "lcs, Iu go, she sald dcclslycly "Thcre are a few things must take. but ] can be rvudy lu hulf an hour"
 cts 4.3O." George called.
 She luld her hat and cloak on the bed. "Tm glad I baked Che bread and dried apple pies this morning" she thought. "NIcu urc SO helpless about bouscworL ! must leave some word of whcrc I'm gone. l guess be has tried Co bc good Co me. but be has no right Co keep me here"
 She found a sheet 0f Che thin blue lined paper ou which she had SO often written Go her folks she sat down on the bed with Che Ink bottle on a chair near by. Dear Rick" she wrote, then ! hastily crossed it out and began Rick" Then she was mouonless for ume. her eyes fixed on the ceiling l At last she wrote. George Gilbert is here and Is going Co lend me noncy Co go home on. cannot stand it here any longer ] hope you will forgive me. for ! know you have tried Co be good Co mo nnd'-
 She throw down hcr pen and ran Into tbe Kitchen George stood iu the door way smoking and looking down the ro0l "RcaJys' hc asked without turning
 "Oh. [ can't ro-' she cried husk.ly. "I can't co' Uc has done h.s best It would bg yicEgl wheu he has worked SO hard Poor Elck" She sat down and covered ucr ;acc v.tl her hands.
 "Aug.-ht Gcog-c answered "l was willing Go take you but ,f you think you'd better not. that's an right ! dou't want Go interfere, as ! said be fore"
 She watched him out Of sight. Then she went into thc house and laid her .Iotalue uJrk ,n Che trunk. Her letter mv u1 tac floor Sue picked it up and throw 10 Into Che fire us if it had been something mcloau She watched it blazc and turn to white ghost which she crumblcJ with the poker When the house had taken on its ordinary look. abe put the teakcttle on the stove and set the table for supper AS she cut one of her pics she smiled. She was Co eat them. after all
 The wind had gone with the sun. and N was dusk when she heard the sound of wheels. She took the lantern from Che high shelf. lit it and set out for the barn.
 "Is that you. RIckT she called.
 Kate held Che lantern whilo her hus band unhitched aud fed his horses. Then they walked together to the house. Through the open door a block of light sen on the ground. and within the red tablecloth and white dishes shone pleasant and cheerful
 eve got some good news, sis." Rick said across the table as he helped him. self Co a third cut of pie. "Old man Shutz wants to buy this farm; says be don't Ike the way my land gouges out thc corner Of his section. He will take up the mortgage and give me SGOO