The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-18
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 healthy woman.
 Gladys Rny had just come from q ,ear's stay with her grandparents in New York and was barely lO. fretty We'll. that Is no word for It. She was just as lovely as new blown rose And she was as good as she was pretty and as loving as she was good. and every one would have seen 1t was out of th' question for her to marry Squire Hard. ng, a worldly man of 40. with shrewd rye for the main chance.
 She WAS just as unselfsh as sun peam, Ss impulsive as a kitten. as guile- ess as n violet and cared nothing for tho position Squire Harding could offer his Nife. Sho never knew what to say to Him when he came to Clematis cottage, AS her home was called-was afraid Of his bass voice and shy of his facetious' ness. and yet he came and came. and her father encouraged his suit, and Gladys vas told she must agree to marry him.
 Must, because business was dull, and there was mortgage on Clematis cot tage, and there was no sense In girl re- fusing such a chance. Of course. she would never have another like it In life time.
 She had no mother. but her brothers protested, telling her that she was goose. and at last the poor girl was har' assed into making half promise that "perhaps some time she would.
 But her father at once set in motion preparations for the wedding and sent Tor Aunt Phoebe.
 Aunt Phobe was an uncommonly skill ful needlewoman. but. what was more in Gladys case. she was person with heart.
 One morning she went into Gladys chamber and found the girl hastily put. ting away lettcr-a letter postmarked New York and directed to herself in the bol,lest and handSomest of chirography. Having put the letter under lock and | key. Gladys turned silently to be meas. lrcd for a new embroidered waist.
 "Arc you tired. GladysT' Aunt PhGbs asked.
 1 "A httlc." replied the girl. "Didn't you rest well last nightT
 Not very "
 ] "Gladys. Sou are my dear dead sisters iild. Tell me what ails you"
 "Ob. auntic. my heart achcs! ! Anl she put her face on the broad. wo- manly shoulder and burst into tears.
 "Thcre, there. dcaric! 1 knew it was a heart trouble. Tell auntie all about it don't believe you want to marry Squir Harding."
 "I don't-I don'tm sobbcd Gladys. Then you shan't marry him, I'll put A stop Co this work. sure as my name h phwbc Ray, don't know how now, but .Nnlr
 One morning she presented herself at Squire uarding's door and was shown into his private room where he received his clients
 "Sit down. madam. si, down." said the squire.
 "Thc subject of my call is my niece"
 "Ah"
 "Ycs. suppose you will be deepi! ,g ,ercstcd in this?"
 Certainly. certainly. Anything wbich concerns my pretty little Gladys. Al chat k an uncommon girl. Mrs. Bay 's gentle. SO fair. SO healthy'-
 "Ancm" croakcd Aunt PhGbc omi nously.
 What. dear Mrs. Ray! Is not Glady' well?"
 Far from it"' [ "You amaze me. Has some outrageous disease approached that lovely girlI'
 Aunt PhGbc shook her head and spl rmnly said:
 ! Chronic"
 "What-what Is it?'
 "A heart trouble" pronounced AVn' PhGbc solcmnly. What the pOCr chp suffers from it no words can tell"
 "Yes. yes. Well. now. my dear iad/ what course ought to purYue unde' these remarkable circumstanccs? Witt my peculiar views on the subject o' health-my very decided yiews-l reall! cannot be expected to proceed as h--S the circumstances were different"
 "I don't know anything about tbat. ] cannot advise you. But l feel as 1T ] had done my duty"
 But lean I honorably retract? Can withdraw from my proposalT
 My brother-in-law Is of a very cholerit temper. cannot say. But you migh be called away"
 "I am called away. have ursen' business in Liverpool. and am the mar who should be on the spot. No indirect agency will prevail I shall go abroad ai once, Mrs Ray. And Miss Gladys-she is very prctty-no doubt Inay supply my | place in the course of a year with some one who-who has not the peculiar and very decided views on health that hold | And yOu-since you seem lady of un' common sense and superior ideas of the fitness of things-will perhaps use your influence to-to'-
 Certainly. to smooth my niece's path way, of course"
 So the conversation came pacifcally to an end. and two days later the squire sailed for Liverpool. The news came tc the Rays like thunderbolt. for the ia thcr and son had prospcctively secured a large slice of the good fNrtune from | Gladys wedding the rich squire. But he was gone-for year or more. report said and after a furious Gnj senseless ange, against Gladys. the Door girl was leN 'r peace.
 When Aunt Phoebe went home t. hel quiet seaside dwelling at Baypore:, sbt took Gladys with her on visit. and one day she privately wrote letter 10 Dicl Archer. who she had learned through Gladys grandfather was q most promiS ing young man.
 The result of this letter was to brins the young gentleman also to Bayport ou q visit. and the young people had plenty of time in which to plight their vows ana take Wise counsel with good Aunt Phoebe
 Through her influence Archer was soor prosperously established in life, and now In happy motherhood, happy and rosy