The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-05-24
A LOVER
 SUBSTITUTE
toriginaLl

. daguerreotypes The only pictures made were oil portraits or miniatures. It was possible for people often to know a good deal of one another without my Idea of each others personal appear ance.
 Early in is- Marshall Gaylord, a young New Yorker, started for St Louis Crossing the Alleghany noun tains in Q stagecoaeh. he fell in with Arnold Bradford, and the two became quite intimate. At Pittsburg Bradford was taken m, and Gaylord remained and nursed him. Bradford died, and before his death he con1ded to bis friend that he was expected fin Bt. Louis to marry a cousin whom be had never seen and who had never seen him, the match having been arranged by their parents. He charged Gaylord to 20 to his cousin as soon as be reach ed st. Louis and inform her of her Aance's death. Gaylord was charged to break the news as carefully as pos sible, for the young lady was fin dell cate health.
 When Gaylord reached st. Louis, in- stead of calling at the house he sought the office of Mir. St. Clair. the father of Elise St. Clair the young lady in Ques- ton, and told him what had occurred The news plunged the father Into pro found grief. for his daughter was very m. and they were all looking for the arrival of her lover. hoping that the pleasure of meeting him would give her a new lease of life. Now 1t was to be feared that the shock would kill her.
 Mir. St. Clair took Gaylord to his home and. leaving him in the drawing room, went to Inform his wife of the danger that threatened their daughter. Mrs. st. Clair presently came to re- celve Gaylord and. with great hesitan- cy and embarrassment. made the re- quest thnt he would for brief period, tilI her daughter should be out of dan gor. personate the dead Arnold Brad ford. Gaylord shrank from playing such a part. but was not iu a position to refuse. Mrs. st. Clair announced to her daughter that her lover had ar rived, and the girl was made ready to receive him. Gaylord was conducted up stairs and ushered into Elise's pres ence.
 GaylOrd's emotions may be more readily imagined than expressed. Re aiizlng that a life might be dependent upon him, he nerved himself to act with as much feeling and deucacy as possible. He saw Q pale girl propped up with pillows. her haring dark eyes, darker from contrast with her white complexion. turned upon him with in- tense expectancy. The moment she caught sight of him her face lighted up with pleasure. Mrs. St. Clair. who was watching the meeting. breathed Q sigh Of relief. Approaching Elise, Gay. lord took her thin hand and kissed it.
 Poor chlldw he said feelingly. "If I may be instrumental in keeping you for your father, your mother"- He hesltated.
 Yourself" she said.
 "Myselr'-his voice sounded strange to him-"there shall be no limit to my thankfulness."
 "Now that have seen you wish to live all tho more"
 "You V" live. sweetheart"
 From ;lls point Gaylord not only lost consciousness of the deception he practiced. but felt his part
 "Ycs will live" said the girl. q feel i,; know it. Providence has sent you to me to make me happy. My life shall be devoted to making you hap py."
 "You must be patient and avail your self of every chance. The spring is coming on. and the warm sunshine, the leaves sprouting on the trees, the sing. ing birds. will put new life Into you. Every day I shall note your gain. Now, I am sure I have been with you as long as it is prudent for this first meet. Ing"
 He pressed her hand and was about to leave her when he saw a mild re proach fin her eye. He knew what it meant and, bending, kissed her.
 Gaylord knew that if Elise St. Clair should be won back to health she would be informed of the deceit and It's reason and he would be an honora. bly, discharged lover. But he feared that tho means of cure might fin the end be worse than the disease. Yet he was not thinking of this. His whole heart had gone out to the girl whose life he hoped to save. Descending tC the drawing room. he found Mfr. st. Clair. who. attempting to express hls thanks, broke down under his embar, rassment Gaylord with a few words put a new phase upon the situation.
 "Mr. St. Clair," be said, CT beg to bC considered an applicant for your daughters hand This ls not the time to tell you who am. my position or connections. It is only it that should say that my heart has gone out to the lovely girl who believes me to be her betrothed."
 From the moment Gaylord spoke these few words all was changed. HC visited the house and the invalid daily . n I