The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-03-02
\ TEMPTATION n PERSISTED

ed in the sky. the smoke of the east bound passenger train. She listened to the harsh crcaking of the corn, and her face grew set
 "Rick had no right to bring me to such a place." she thought, forgetting how willingly she had come.
 A nah drove into the yard. tied his horse to the wheel of the wagon and came toward the house. Don't you knew me. Katei" he called loudly, to be heard above the wind.
 "why. George Gilbert, Is It youT' she exclaimed. She held out her hand. "How did you ever happen to get heref Come right into the house. Kicks gone to town for coal"
 The man followed her Into the main room of the house. which served the double purpose of parlor and kitchen. Tn one corner stood the stove: above n a long shelf covered with neatly seal loped papers. on which stood the lamps and tinware. A safe with perforated tin doors was in another corner. A bit of ingraii carpet. a rocking chair and a round table with a red cover made the parlor.
 You see. I'm travelling for a grocery house." the man said. sitting down, and l make Houston now, and your folks said l must be sure to come out and see you. How are you doingT
 Doing" Kate cried. scornfully look ing around the room. Cant you seeF Making just enough to keep soul and body together-corn IA cents and we're nine miles from market"
 Why don't you come back homer he asked. leaning forward In hls chair and noticing how much Kate had aged since she came west
 Dick never seems to think Of it. Be sides. don't think we've got money enough to take one of us, let alone both. just long 10 go. Sometimes it seems like I'd go wild staying here. A man can get along bctter'n q woman
 Are you comlng?" he asked.
 She stood moment strengthening ihc cover on the table. "YcS. Ill go" she said decisivcly. "rhcre are few things | must take. but can be ready iu half an hour"
 "It's 4.3O." George called.
 She laid her hat and cloak on the bed. I'm glad baked the bread and dried apple pies thls morning. she thought. Men are so helpless about houseworS. must leave some word of where I'm gone. guess he has 'rlcd to bc good to me, but he has no right to keep me here"
 Shc found a sheet of the thin blue lined paper on which she had so often written Co her folks. She sat down on the bed with the Ink bottle on a chair near by. Dear Rick" she wrote, then hastily crossed lt out and began Rick" Then she was mouonless for a tirc, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. 4, last she wrote: George Gilbert ls here and k going to lend me money to c1 home on. cannot stand lt here any longer. hope you will forgive mc. for know you have tried to be good to me and
 She threw down her pen and ran Into the kitchen. George stood in the door way smoking and looking down the road. Ready" he asked without turning.
 "Oh. can't go" she cried husklly. "I can't go' He has done his best. It would be Tlcked wNen he has worked so hard. Poor Rickw She sat down and covered her face with her hands.
 "An right" George answered. "I was willing to take you; but. if you think you'd better not. that's all right l don't want to interfere, as said be- fore"
 She watched him out of sight. Then she went into the house and laid her clothing back in the trunk. Her letter lay on the floor. She picked It up and threw 1t into the fire as if it had been unclean. She watched it blaze and turn to a white ghost. which she crumbled with the poker. When the house had taken on It's ordinary look. she put the teakettlc on the stove and set the table for supper. As she cut one of her pies she smiled. She was Co eat them. after all.
 The wind had gone with the sun. and 1t was dusk when she heard the sound of wheels. She took the lantern from the high shelf. llt it and ret ou, for the barn.
 "Is isat you. RIck?" she called.
 Kate Lcld tue lantern while her hrs' band mhl.ched and fed his horses. Then tlcy walked together Co the house. Through ;hc open CoOr b.'ci; of light fell on the ground. and wiihn the red tablccloth and white dishes shonc pleasant and cheerful.
 "Tvc got some good news. sis" Rick said across the table as he helped him self to a third cut of pie. "Old man Shu,z wants to buy this farm: siys he don't like the way my land gorg's ont the corner of his section. He VII tNte up the mortgg-e and givc me SJpO clear. It ain't much. but we can go back home and begin over again-be gln over again in a country where man gets a decent living for his sweat and labor"
 Kate laid her head on the table and began to cry.
 "why. sis. amt you tickled?'' be ask ed. "I did 1t because I thought this was no place for you"