The daily morning Alaskan. (Skagway, Alaska) 1899-1904, 1902-07-27
JONATHAN


/ TAN IN love too. II tell YOU. old man.
be would say when opening letter Of
familiar blue. when you are not feel
ing well and the world CRATES on you
Ike a cancels hair shirt, there is moth
ing so good as an old fashioned love
letter"
They must have been tender and
sympathetic. but withal dash Of am
billion and inspiration In them. No TILE
OF village gossip could have brought
that light into Jonathan's eyes or
that dash OF color TO his cheek. AZ
their conclusion be would dream awhile
perhaps and then fall at his books and
work like mad. |FF|
He showed me her picture one night
She was dark. with a high forehead
and shadowy eyes. The mouth and
chin were both wen formed, but rather
masculine. II was a beautiful face,
though not pretty.
Although Harrod had loved the girl
an his life-and she him, II there be
aught In the signs OF the zOdiac-they
had a misunderstanding OF some sort
or other during the summer that FOL
lowed his graduation. When he re-
turned east the following autumn, be
was Quieter than ever before and. II
possible. more gentle and sympathetic.
He and had rooms together, where.
In lieu OF other inexpensive pastimes.
We were won't 70 spend the evenings
working and reading saw from tho
drst that something allied him. and
as be no longer received the blue en-
yelopes or counselcd me to lose my
heart 1 guessed the reason and asked
no questions,
lie did not become Opathetic, Jona-
than didn't His old habit Of work
was stronger than ever. And now his
stories began TO appear occasionally In
the magazines and the dear public to
recognize his name and 20 read what
went with Il.
Two years had passed away before
Jonathan had made even the slightest
reference 20 this love affair OF his. and
that was when he came into my room
one cherries. gray November after
noon the picture OF abject melancholy.
In his hand was a crumpled piece OF
paper. This he placed before me on
che table; then he went and seated
himself before the fireplace. where /
could not see hls face. The paper was
a clipping from some inland Journal
describing In lorld terms the wedding
OF Miss Wlnlfred Conover to one Amos
Scheneck. Only half the article had
been clipped evidently, and this had
been pasted on n half sheet OF note pa
per
/ read the tawdry effusion through;
then twisted Il TO pieces and dropped
Il into the wastebasket-
Jonathan. my boy" ! said. going
over and seating myself on the arm OF
his chair. "who sent you this thlngT
Il DO not know" And there was a
world Of sadness In his voice The
envelope was addressed IN strange
hand. and not a word accompanied H."
We were both silent Tor moment
The logs were burning cheerily; out
side the wind was blowing "A gale. JON
ATTAIN sat with his face IN his hands.
when / came here to you just now"
De said. Il was chilled and lonely
the day Is so somber-and l had been
tramplng al over the country AID
well. / cnme TO say goodby. / wanted
20 leave this life and wait for Wini'
fred IN the next, for"-hls voice went
straight to my heart-"ah, Billy, love
her sor'
"You lie down here on the lounge be
fore the fire." / commanded him. "and
stop this brOodlng" pushed forward
the couch as l spoke, and he dropped
on Il like an obcdicnt child He gave
nc one grateful look and then, under
the influence OF the genial warmth and
the fatigue OF many vlglls, fell fast
asleep.
Whether or not dozed I cannot say,
but suddenly ] was aware that some
other than Jonathan was In the room
I raised my eyes. and there, TO my In.
finite surprise and astonishment saw
standing opposite me. across the table.
q styllshly gowncd young woman.
started TO my feet with an apology
on my lips. but az I glanced at Der face
my tongue was tied. and remained
silent She was dark aud with high
forehead and shadowy eyes The mouth
and chin were both well formed. but
rather masculine, and she was beau
tlful. though not pretty.
"Mlss Conoverr' ! exclaimed.
Yes" she answered. with n voice
that was low and vibrant ut Is l."
Then. with the color mantling her
cheek. she corJnurd:
81 have Just arrived IN the city
Yesterday I learned that an ancient
erUn,y OF joHathan's sent him para
graph from an account OF cousins
w.ddlns. and--the color increased
TIL quickly "knowlng Jon
athan so wrll wished. Il possible. 10
SCI him before the clipping uachcd
hlut AMI yot see, knew You also
know han vel
III. lips closed tightly for a second
then curved int a smile Two great
tears started IRON beneath the droop
nr Z. she's. bat were quickly intercept