The daily Alaskan., 1904-06-27
A SERVING MAID
EorlgInaLl

Had 1t not been for the dress of a servant, no one would ever have taken her to be one. She was refined look ing. and there was something in her manner that also bespoke refinement. She seemed to have little in common with her fellow servants, who, though they were not admitted to her friend shin, never turned against her. Real superiority Is always sooner or later recognized, and Olive Horton came to be regarded by them as of a higher class. Most of them believed that she was the daughter of some gentleman who had broken down financially. What put a finishing touch to their sense of their own inferiority was the discovery that Olive kept singular look ing books In her closet, which she brought out and studied after her charges were asleep.
 Elliott White, nephew of Olives employer, on returning from trip abroad, visited hls aunt, and one morn ing, while accounting his travels, Olive came Into the room. She gave but one glance at Elliott, but his eyes became fixed upon her and followed her till she left the room. He tried to resume the thread of his recital, but In vain. His tongue would not describe what had been driven from his thoughts. Since the girl was a servant he had the good taste not to show the interest she had created in him. The truth was that that silent figure which had en- tered the room had taken out with 1t all there was of value in his nature.
 What came of this is only what comes in such eases. Elliott Whites aunt one day was surprised at hearing 6 fragment of dialogue between her nephew and her servant.
 ''The fever! It never leaves me-" he said.
 q have told you to go away from me and stay till you are Cured.'
 And you"
 q shall never be cured, but l will not be your wife. My respect for my self may not be strong enough to hold me, but my love for you will never permit me to drag you down to my level"
 ''You are better educated than half the girls, who only learn as parrots learn. l am sure you came of gentle parents. There has been a financial crash in your family, and when it came you bravely began at the bottom and you will rise to the top"
 That is not so. If 1t were l would own 1t to you"
 A step in the hall ended the dialogue. The aunt and mistress went away troubled, but she never mentioned what she had heard to the lovers or any one else.
 Olive was taken i'll, and a doctor was called to attend her. When he went downstairs after his first visit he found Elliott White in the library. Elliott had been waiting for him with feverlsh anxiety.
 'Well, doctOr?"
 The doctor looked at him searching y. He had heard those words too often in other cases of anxiety not to know that the young man was the girls lover.
 Strange" said the doctor looking at Elliott with a faraway expression.
 But, doctor, tell me-is it a bad caseT"
 I'm afraid 1t ls."
 For heavens sake, don't tell me there is no hOpep'
 There Is hope" said the doctor, still looking at Elliott with the same singu- lar expression. "Why are you so in- terestedY
 Doctor, am in torture. l am wild. I can tell you, a physician, to whom many a secret Is laid bare, that 1, a gentleman, love this servant maid. If she dies l shall go mad; If she lives l shall go mad, for can't marry her"
 'No, you can't marry a servant un- less you want to make your life hers. But be of good cheer, do not promise that she shall live, but promise that if you marry her you will marry a lady"
 Elliott stood staring, his expression plainly asking, What do you mean| But the doctor did not choose to ex- plain just then and, seizing his hat broke away.
 Ten days later the servant was out of danger. One morning when the doctor called he brought with him a lady who went to Olives room, where she stayed a long while. Elliott was in the house and wondered what it all meant. When the lady went away the doctor came downstairs with her, and the two stood for awhile talking in the hail. but all that Elliott could hear was the lady asking, How soon can take her homer When the wis itor had gone the doctor went into the library, where he found Elliott.
 q have something to tell you" he said to the young man. Nineteen years ago I assisted at the birth of a girl, the child of wealthy parents. There was a malformation of the right clavi- cle-I mean shoulder blade-that had not seen before. I never forget ex-