The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-09-17
THE BJTER BITTEN
prleinaLl

LAAfitluNAl I "TIcnry Tcalc Ys a gawkr'
 I heard the woi,ds across the garden wall. am IRnryNTealc. The speak CT was Kate Ugrkcr. who was talking with her cousin. tNlarion Drowne.
 But he know,thlngs! replied Mar lon.
 What matters it if he docs. He Is too bashful and reserved to tell whnt he knows. There isn't a girl iN the place who doesn't dread to bo left alone with hlm.' -..---
 Don't you thnk some of them might overcome their aversion if he should suddenly become wealthyY
 q don't think I could stand him if be were worth
 J was lying In a hammock In the back yard. reading l got up and went into the hoyse. but as this scrap of conversation occupied but a few mo- mcuis could not very well avoid hear lng lt. To do myself justice, did not wish to hear myself discussed. Kate uarker's remarks were intensely pain ful to mo, SO painful that resolved 'to leave the place Of my birth and go forth Into the great world. hoping to forget them. - -.-,- [ did not forget them, but I had tue scnsitivencss knocked out of me verJ' I quickly. made money, made ity but of nothing. and Co do thls I was obliged to master my feelings. 'TO those who havc shall bc given and by uhc death of an aunt l Inherited a. fortune. I owned the little tumbledown house with thc acre of ground about 1t In which bad lived with my mother, and since she was no longer living I resolved Co go back and dispose Of it The day after my arrival l rlggcd a hammock in the back yard and lay down n lt with a cigar and book. Pretty soon | heard voices over the wall.
 Have you seen him|
 "Yes; I was pccplug through the blinds when he came"
 ! l recognized Che first voice as that of Marion. Che second as that of Kate. This was an I heard. for the two girls passed out oC hearing.
 In the evening l called on my neigh bor. Kate IIarker received me as if were her oldest and best friend. mak- ing no attempt Co conceal the favor had found ia her eyes since she had pronounced me a gawk Marion was very reserved. Indeed had been Os UasophistiCatcl as when I had heard her say "But he knows things~ l should have concluded that she had turned against me But a man can't ! make money without gaining a knowl- ! edge of human nature. I suspected that Marion now held oloof from feeling that since | had become de- sirablc catch" lt was not her place to court mc. Nevertheless I had been re beating her words But he knows thiugS,' for years and before leaving home had pmIoucd her likeness. Her honest face as it was Ot seventeen had been well fixed in my memory. It was now no less honest and had grown moro beautiful | did not propose to put Up with this seeming indifference.
 "You y.Gug ladies must be more careful gs Co your words, | sdld Be fore ! w.nt away l overheard a scrap Of coa.isgtion with regard to me that gave .e great pain
 Both looked at me uncasily.
 "You two were talking in the gar den. One said. Hes a gawkr the oth- CT, But bc tr-ws thingsr"
 The tN. looked at each other inquiringIy.
 "I remember no such conversation" said Kate. Marion was silent.
 "Do you MarionT' l asked
 "No, but cGndor compcls mo to say that at that time the criticisms were just"
 "Thc first surely was. though | am not SO ccrtuin about the second But the justucss of it an could have no effect on a boy of nineteen. have for years felt harshly toward the one who called me a gawk and kindly to her who said But hc knows things"
 "Then you recognized their vOices," said Kate. paling slightly. "rell us who called you a gawk"
 q may have attributed the remark to the wrong girl, but to whomsOever I toss this pin let her stand accused"
 Taking a pearl pin from my scarf, tossed it to Marion.
 The distress on Mnrion's face was painful to see. Kate blushed. md the guilty look on her face was equally distressing. She struggled with her self to take the blame that she knew belonged to her, but without success. waited to sec if Marion would place lt where lt belonged, but she did not She handed my pin back to me.
 keep it as 9 token that you are for. given" l sald.
 But she was rcsolute. and at last placed the jewel again in my scarf.
 waited a week. leaving the girls free. the one to assume her just bur den. the other to place it upon her friend. l paid Kate marked attention and treated Marion with indifference [ had learned seldshness myself, but ndmired that sense of honor which