The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-03
UYEK A UKAYE.
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EDITH IDA wHITMARsH Born May 70. 1880.
 Died Feb 5. iso

ltopped before it she was surprised ,o see that some one had placed fresh dowers on the rounded earth. Drop ping the plants. she bent over the flow CTS to see if there was anything to iden- tfy the person who had placed them there. She was disappointed There was not even SO much as a bit of rib bon to bind them together She had come on the birthday of the dead to plant some shoots and knew that he or she who had been there before her had known or the anniversary. for there were just twenty roses-
 Between Edith WhitmaHh and Ger aldlne Sheldon had been one of those rnre attachments in which two girls became absorbed in one another to the exclusion Of an others At least this was the construction Geraldine sheldon had put upon their intimacy supposing that she was Edith's only friend. Yet here was evidence that some one had been sufficiently intimate with her to love her and had loved her sufficiently to place flowers on her grave on the an- uiyersary of her birth
 Leaving the plants where she had dropped them. she turned and left the cemetery. Was lt dissatisfaction with her friend that she had deceived her, or was lt jealousy She did not know herself
 She did not visit the grave again for a month, when what was her surprise to see the plants she had left growing on the mound and bearing buds just ready Co bloom This was too much This monster with whom she had been forced unkuowingly to divide her friends love bad had the assurance to plant the shoots she had in ht or jealousy left implanted Besides. there was a vine creeping up the headstone-
 For a year Edith continued Co visit the grave of her friend. noticing that some one had from time to time added Httle decorations. She herself had re- fused to divide the care Of the sacred spot with another. but when the next anniversary came round she had SO far sofosned as to take to the cemetery a Det aEalia which she had been long trsinlng. There was no new trace Of her rival Breathing a sigh Of reheG abe imbedded the roots of the azalia and was smoothing the earth about it when she heard step. Looking up she saw a man Of perhaps thirty ad- vaurlng toward her He paused be- fore the gate shutting of the lot.
 You areT" she asked.
 Earle Gardner
 "Aly mysterious riyalr
 NO. You had no rival ln Edith's tem- lnlre love
 But you loved her|
 As my wife.
 As your wifeg The voice and the manner bespoke an overpowering won der
 And the mother Of my child.
 ssrhe mother Of your child|
 -Edith was forbidden by me to tell you of our love and marriage My mother was for a year on the brink of ths grave. and for reasons which for the present ! win pass over l could not sctnowledge a wife SO long as she lived You remember Ediths visit to Washington a year ago last winter and her death there. She died u child birth
 Like ray of light struggling through gloom a bit of forgiveness entered Ger aldine's soul
 ''rhe childF
 "she Is at my home My mother is dead. and ! am now master 0f the es- tate. But Edith left Der instructions with regard to her little namesake when she should become a year old This came round last February. Til now I have made no change. but f you ars ready to assume the charge'-
 -She left the child to meF
 During her babyh0Od.'
 "And thenT
 -That can only be determined by cir. cumstances. It Is hard for one about to die to make a wise provision for the future. Edith only arranged for a few years"
 "But why did she not leave the babe Co me from the 6rstf'
 "Because at the time my marriage must suli be kept a secret Besides
 @WeuY
 The man looked embarrassed
 "Come. ] am impatient You said. ] believe. that Edith lert her instructions ior the child when lt should be a year old"
 "Yes, when Edith would have been dead a year"
 "What had that to do with ity'
 "A husband may marry again at the end Of year"
 @Alary again? If you loved Edith as I loved her-as ! love her today you would never marry another"
 ~she left her instructions Go me to marry at the expiration Of the year.
 -she ddg'
 ~Yes; conditioually on the consent Of tho woman 0f her choice
 "Her cholce2 You mean your choice. "
 ~They may be One.'
 Explain
 aYou are the woman she chose Co eare for her bereaved husband and ehnd."
 Geraldlne's eyes turned and looked out on vacancy. Then they were low cred to the grave Tears began to course down her checks The man stood reverently bent
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