The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-05
H TeSt -
 O Wer0e

tOriglnall 1 "So your father insists upon you9 marrying the big soldier, 'Llsal" Haid the doctor.
 "He does"
 And you wish to marry that pale faced boy. Hans, who dreams and writes versesTf
 "I love bim"
 "Wen, my child. must sec what I can do for you"
 The next morning Colonel Ylsher, Lisa's father, received a call from the doctor
 CT came to see you about your daugh- ter,' said the latter. "she has no die ease. and yot hor health is not good. Some mental trouble il wearing on her"
 "Yes; she wants to mary that missE- able poet, while want hor to marry thorough man."
 You. being a soldier. think on the bravery Is among military men. Thia poet may have more courage in that frail body of his than your major"
 "If l thought that would give Lisa to Hans"
 "why not put the two men to a testT"
 "I am agreeable to that"
 And give Lisa to the one that stands it the better"
 "Then she will go to the major. But what test would you suggest dOctorT
 Leave that to me. will think of some plan. Come to my office at this hour tomorrow. and will summon both the suitors to meet you there"
 "Yery we'll ! will do as you say. But you do not seem to understand that~a soldier is trained to disregard danger. and the major will win"
 eve shall see"
 The next day Hans reached the doc tors office a few minutes before the others, the doctor having summoned him a little earlier than they.
 Hans" said the doctor. when was a boy l loved a little girl There is no passion in childhood love; it is abso' lutely pure. ] wish you to construct poem describing this love stealing over me while ] was sitting with my little girl one summer evening watching the sun set"
 "I will do so tomorrow. But why have you sent for me. doctorf'
 Begin the construction Of the poem at once. It must be finished within an hour. IT it is successful Lisa may be yours"
 How sop asked the boy, wondering how a poem could produce such a re- suit
 Ask no questions, but do as tell you"
 Hans threw himself back Into an easy chair and in imagination became a boy sitting beside his child love watching a beautiful sunset. Colonel visher came in with the major. The colonel cast a contemptuous glance at the poet who sat staring at the new corners with bis great black eyes. The major. a fine looking fellow, with strong face and military bearing, looked about him wonde-ingly, The doctor brought something, evidently a box. covered with a cloth from closet and set lt on a stool ln the middle of the room As soon as it was in place be withdrew the cloth. exposing a glass case in which was a rattlesnake The viper was darting bis vicious eyes from one to the other, showing at the same time his venomOus tongue.
 Major" said the doctor my friend. Colonel Ylsher. before giving you his daughter desires to test your bravery There is a rattiesnake 80 confined that be is harmless. Do you think you could place your hand on the glass and let him strike at it without withdraw Ing itf"
 The major stepped forward as im- perurbably as be had entered upon many a duty on the field of battle and placed bis hand on the glass. The ser pent made spring for it. humping the glass. The major jerked away his hand as # he had been bitten. ColOring with modification. he placed it sec ond time on the glass and withdrew it as quickly as before. Again and again be tried 1t and every time failed.
 That will do." said the doctor Hans. come here"
 Hans arose and came forward.
 "Put your hand on the glass said the doctor
 Hans mechanically stretched forth bis hand and rested lt upon the glass. The serpent struck at it. but Hans was in a dream and did not know it
 "That will do, said the doctor. "Genuemen. the object for which I summoned you has been accomplished Good morning"
 The major went out smarting under hls inability to keep bis hand where there was nothing but the seeming of danger. Hans stood looking out of the window The doctor. who was near him. heard him mutter; ''But faint and sweet. like distant strains From string8 in a summer night Come lhought1 of Che childish sympathy That brought me such delight"
 'sThatll do, Hans" said the doctor.