The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-08-03
DUTY'S
PATH
ny EiIiStt Flower
Copyright, 100, By ths
s. s. Mcclure Company

rister" was a title he had jokingly CIV.
On himself, but there was something Of
pathos underlying the Joke. In these
days an overcroWded profession gives
little opportunity to the young lawyer
without influence 20 set a start, 20 he
bad ample leisure for his love letter,
and this IL what he wrote;
Dearest one-Rusiness b rushlng-that
Il. Il Il rushing right past my once !
winh some OF Il would stop and turn IN,
but have too many competitors who ore
able 20 reach out for T. They have innu-
entail friends who turn business their
way or who secure them positions With
established hrms.
san. dearest. you mustn't DO diaheart-
ened. but I know you won't ba Indeed "
seems almost insulting 20 say this 20 20
patient and faithful q sweetheart but
am saving n for my own benefit rather
than for yours. Tho struggle u % dis
couraging and disheartoning 81 times that
I can only give myself confidence By
speaking confidently 70 you But GER
tainly' am gaining. A little business u
comlng my way, and am oatabliahing
myself slowly With men who can give me
more Then there n tho land. In another
six months I win have title 10 that ono
We can be married Think % III Married
IN six montha NO who have waited %
long. and without that fear wo would
have 20 walt another two years before
my income from the law alone would en-
able me 70 care for a wife I have told
YOU the history OF that barren tract dos
ems Of tines Bweethearti how my tatheI
secured his claim 20 H. how DO neglected
Il. how irrigation and tho development OF
contiguous property gave u a sudden val
ne. how he found tho title clouded BY
prior claim when he came 70 perteot "
how he failed 70 ind tho other claimant,
how no tried 70 straighton the matter out
legally and all that ] Ike 20 dwell on u
now, sweetheart. for On only SIX montha
more tho statute o. limitations viii tn
validate
The opening Of the door interrupted
him. and ho put down bis pen as a
neat but poorly dressed woman en-
tered
Lawyer TelfOrdr she asked heSi.
tatingly.
'sTelford Is my name.- no answered
What can I DO for your
Il don't Just know" she answered
doubteuliy. I'm a poor woman. with
out friends or money, and the lawyer
on the door below told me he thought
you'd have time TO look after my busi-
ness"
sends me all bis charity cases. but
never any with money IN them" NUT
tered Telford 10 himself bitterly, but
be spoke kindly to the woman IL was
evident that she had seen better days
and disliked TO ask even advice as
charity. Indeed her next words show
ed this
Maybe / can pay you" she said.
III can, 1 will Maybe can pay you
well. don't know. That's what
want 20 End out"
Something IN her manner won him.
There was nothing Of the mendieant
In her. She was neither aggressive nor
whining. speaking timidly. but frankly
and honestly.
aMadam." said Telford. eourteousiy
offering her a chair, II know that you
viii, and whether you can pay me or
not you shall have the best advice that
I can give you"
Thank you SIR" she answered, tax
ing the chair and producing some pa
pers from beneath her shawl Tho
other lawyer wouldn't even listen 10
me when / said I had no money, but
told me to come to you. And I'm glad
did, for I know that youn DO honest
with me. You sec, I found some pa
pcrs In an old box after my husband
dled-he'd been bedridden for a long
time-and didn't want 20 burn them
without knowing what they were. ]
read them through. but I don't know
whether they're worth anything. and
the noighbors don't know, and had to
ind somebody who did know. They're
30 legal It seems as II they ought TO
represent something"
Telford took the papers she offered
and at the first glance his fnce became
pale, but be read them through careful
ly. ThOn be leaned back In bis chair.
and something In his face frightened
she woman.
There isn't anything bad In them, Is
thereY' she asked.
"No." be answered shortly. I'm con
slderlng what's best to be done"
He got up and walked to a window.
where she couldn't see his face.
"Who knows Of these DaDersr be
asked az last
"Ono or two OF the nelghbors," she
replied. That's all"
Suppose I should tell you they were
worth 500 or $500" he suggested.
speaking with an effort and In a voice
strangely unlike the courteous, cheer
tul tone In which he had frst address
ed her.
"oh. that would be SDlendidr' she
cried
would you sell them for thatT'
Would IT' she repeated jubllantly.
why, Harry could have some new
school clothes and 90 could Ellen.
And maybe Jessie could have some
music lessons-sho has such q good
voice-and | wouldn't have 70 worry
about the rent for-Sr- II wouldn't
last 90 very long. would III But ]
could be making more all the time. as
much as I am now, and Il would be
such a help. But you're not Joking with
mcY' she suddenly inquired anxiOusiy.
"You'u take $500 and be satisaedr