The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-19
Won by Waiting.

s'e,asa'e'aesax
 The plain fact stared Will Spencer ey- CT In the face that Helen Raymond did not love him, and that Mrs. Raymond had urged his suit and exerted her mater nal influence and eloquence until Helen had consented 10 be his wife. telling him very frankly that her heart was In tho grave of her lover, George Vanhorn, who had been killed in a railway collision nearly one year before.
 Win Spencer winced. for he was rich. very rich: hut then he put to tho wound that soothing salve. q will win her lovo when she Is my wife," that has wrecked SO many lives.
 After the laspe of several months he won Mrs. Raymond to his side. and so by proxy wooed Helen and won-whatf A | cold. reluctant consent to be his wife.
 Mrs. Raymond made suggestion. II want you to 60 away for month" she said to him. "and let Helen miss the con- stant devotion that she has had since your betrothal. Let her feel that q void has come into her life and how dull and cheerless it would be if she lost you. The wedding day Is set for June 10. and this Is April. Stay away until the 9th or 9th of June"
 It gave him the first really happy mo- | ment of his engagement when Helen said gently. yet with a shudder:
 "I cannot bear to think of you on raii. way trains, Will Write often. that may know you are safe"
 Her lips met his In n tender pressure such as loving sister might bestow. but with far more affection than she had ever before given him. The hope made this unexpected absence endurable. and for two weeks life held more pleasure than it had done In all the days of his courtship.
 Then came blow-sudden, sharp, overwhelming. He was in large west ern city, when. after night. returning to his hotel Q man on crutches asked for | charity. The voice was familiar, and In q shock of horror the face struck him.
 George VarSorn"
 Let nc 20. Spencerr the crippled man pleaded. "I didn't recognize you. Don't you know am dcady
 'l know you are coming in here with me-" WlIl said gently. substituting his arm for one of the crutches and entering | the hotel, where he had a room. He would not let his guest speak until he had ordered a supper and made him com fortable. Then. turning to him. he saw ! that he was weeping. "Sce what woman you male of me! 1 the poor fellow said. "You thought was denlP
 "Ycs. All your friends think so." "lt was narrow escape. and wonder why l was spared. Nine months in public hospital have left me crippled and lncurably m. They would not keep me | after could get about on crutches, but have begged or starved. and It will not be for loug, would not let any one know for fear it would get to-to-Hel- cny'
 You want to hide from hcrT" "Ycs-yes! What would her life be | lied Co mine? You will not betray me, | Spcnccr?"
 But you may recover
 "No. should bc only q wreck If ] could. but l cannot
 Will Spencer literally could not speak | This man asked of him only the silence that would give him bis wife. Aud then ! true. unscltish love triumphed.
 "She will never marry me-" WI thought ruefully as he folded long . long letter. But she shall not be cheat | ed out of what little happiness life may still hold for her"
 He wrote. too. to Mrs. Raymond let Ger that caused that respectable lady tt grind her teeth. but which she obeyed' packing her trunk and accompanying | Helen In the journey westward. IL was | Wnl Spencer who met the two at the de pot and accompanied them 10 the board. Ing house. where he kept Mrs. Raymond | in the parlor after sending Helen up stairs alone. It was Win Spencer who smoothed away every difficulty. engagins rooms for mother and daughter and qui' etly effacing himself. George NanhOrn was resolute on one | point-he would not marry Helen. He had no hope of recovery. but lf the unex' pected should happen he would not risk running Heleu's life by binding lt to his.
 "Oh," she would cry. what am I to deserve the love of two such men Mother, lt humbles me to think how they | love me-"
 And by this love her courage was sus' talncd through the three months when
  Vanhorn's path 10 the grave. Will Spen' cer never spoke of love to her. giving her | up entirely. but upon her lover he lav' lshed every kindness wealth could pro cure or friendship dictate. It was three years later when he came home from a European tour and called on Mrs. Raymond.
 "Mrs. Raymond. sir. Is dead" the serv' ant told him. "and Miss Helen's living in -- street. She's come into some money from her uncle. sir, md Mrs. Gre | dy took this house. sir" Come into some money! Well, she | did not need him. He would wait awhile But in q few days a little note reached him:
 "lt was unkind to let me hear of your return by accident. Will you not come tC see meT'
 And when he went he could not kceT | the love out of his eyes or his voice, and shc-at last. Her eyes dropped under his gaze. her cheeks blushed for him her voice faltered with tenderness. Aud he had no secret hidden from the loving eyes. no treachery he would dread tC have her discover.-Keystone. |
 | -a-~---