The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-01-06

. thought. Again 'she covered an awk- ward pause Dear me wonder where Ruth is thls very minute"
 -When saw her last, dancing with young Ransome. A harmless youth, l assure you" be added whimsically as Mrs. Burns made a motion to riso. Don't go please. until have some thing must tell you before we land.'
 It was coming. The guilty ehaperon closed her eyes hguratiyely' and pre- pared to take the plunge She would pledge her aid and give it
 "Leslie"-
 She started. Five years had passed Since she had heard that name from his lips. Vaguely she wished he had com menced some other way.
 sDo you remember when father sent mo abroadi I was fresh from college not much moro than boy. knew ht- tie of nfe-Women least of alL My e1- periences abroad with fellows I liked first bewildered and then fascinated me. and when father wrote l might make another year of it I was wild with delight.
 But you remember wrote to you regularly. supposed you understood When read of your coming out. I was tremendously proud think I ordered lilies of the valley for you by cable. remember. too, thinking that when you'd had a season of that sort of thing and I'd finished my jaunt we'd settle down and be-very happy. never dreamed that you were waiting for mo to say SO, thought SO clever a girl as you could read between the lines of my letters and somehow I wanted to hear a certain little word from your own hps.-'
 The woman at his side started to speak. but he waved her aside. The crimson glow Of bis cigar had turned to gray ashes. but he still clutched it between his fingers.
 'sThe letter announcing your engage ment reached me in Madrid. I've never been in the God forsaken hole since. When reached America. you and your husband had gone abroad For year I tried life on the street. but could not stand for it. Then I tried shooting Hons ln Africa and tigers fin India. That went better than heeclng lambs in Wall street. was visiting with a mighty good fellow on Curzon's stan when I heard-Quite by accident-that you were-free Two days later I turned my face westward. did not intend to stop in Paris-but you were there. I thought-great heavens. how hoped you'd be glad to see me. but you were not And. Leslie" his tone was actually commanding. q want to know why"
 The woman had been listening with bowed head. but with a strangely hap py light gleamlng in her eyes. Hesitat- ingly, incoherently. she explained her conduct in Paris, in London and aboard ship. Before she finished Hackett. pos sessing himself of both her hands, ex- claimed:
 And you really thought it was that child! Oh, Leslie, Leslie, couldn't you read the truth in my eyesT
 Mrs. Burns suddenly recalled her du- ues as chaperon. She withdrew her hands from his mastertul grasp.
 How could l look you in the eye when knew I was unfaithful to the trust imposed on me by Mrs. Cuscad- deny'
 The old plQuant humor rang in her voice. She had risen. From the saloon came the tintlnnabulntlon of light music. The deck was free from prone naders. They were alone for the first time in Ave years.
 "oh, what will MrS Cuscadden say"
 Hackett bent over her to gather up her wraps.
 ''I really don't see that she has any thing to do with out little aftair, proyid- cd you return her daughter heart whole and free from international entangle- ments." be answered joyously.
 A shadow fell across the bar of light. then another. and the figure of a girl was sllhouetted against the brilliant ln- terior of the ship.
 "Mrs. Burns where are yOul We're to have a good old fashioned Virginia reel to celebrate our last night on board Do hurry upl We have a part ner waiting for your
 Then as Hacketts dark figure sudden ly loomed up behind Mrs. Burns he glanced miSchievously at Ruth and ex- claimed, with a happy ring of owner ship in bis voice:
 Wont do for her partnerl rather think this dance Is miner
 n.rf-me. Fnna