Alaska sentinel., 1905-03-16

oJ ed the long line of figures before
 him.
 l Tt is a smash-utterly and absolute ly smash. Well. it's no good whining Tin done for"
 Jack gave sigh. for there was something more than financial loss i'm pending. and he knew it. l Throughout the seven and twenty years of his life he had been accus- toned to regard himself, and had been regarded by others. as a rich mans son. Wetmore X Wetmore had always been held above suspicion. AS he sat in his comfortably furnished rooms he could hear the cries of the newsboys with the special edition of the evening papers:
 Further details of the Wetmore fall ure"
 He rose from the table and pushed the papers wearily from him. Stroll l ing into the dressing room adjoining he exchanged his smoking jacket for a dress coat and arranged his tie with a critical air.
 If it is to be my last appearance, he said, lat least I'll make it as out wardly respectable as l can" Then he drowned and looked thoughtfully at the fire. his hands un- piece till it touched a massive silver frame containing a portrait, a recent one evidently, of a particularly hand some girl.
 Its no good, Bessie-no good, my dear. dare not speak to you now. I'm done for"
 1 Twenty minutes later the butler at Blansford's announced MT. Wetmore, and after a few words with Mrs. Blansford, his hostess, he passed into the ballroom. In all the brilliant crowd there was only one face he looked for, one well-known figure for the sigh of which he yearned. At last, after wandering through several rooms, he saw her. She was sitting under shaded lamp, appar- ently paying but little attention to the 1 man who was talking to her. But the instant Mir Wetmore passed through l the door she beckoned to him.
 'Come and sit here, Jack" said she, pointing to the vacant seat just left ! by the other man.
 She regarded him with an amused l little smile and nod of approval. She was a young woman with ideas of her own, and she appreciated the light, careless manner with which he seemed to carry his misfortune.
 You don't look very doleful, Jack, under the circumstances"
 He laughed little. My dear Miss Blansford. do you think it would help matters If l went about looking like mute at a flu neral?"
 And pray. my dear Jack" she re- torted mockingly, since when have become Miss BlansfordT"
 Since l heard the news last night, " he answered grimly.
 ..Oh, very well. if you are going to go and quarrel with your friends just because you've lost a little money-''
 Tt may be little, but unfortunate ly it happens to be all I've got. I owe good deal besides" Wetmore rose and held out his hand. He was fast losing his self-control
 T must be of. l came only to say good-by to you"
 Miss Blansford closed her fan with a snap.
 .'Sit down. Jack, at once, and don't be an idiot
 Taken aback at this sudden and per emptory command. he obeyed.
 "Now, then, what was it you really came to say to me?'
 ITO say good-by, and ask you to wish me good luck" he answered.
 What would you have said if things had-had been different? Shall l tell you?" she whispered. You would have said, Bessie, love you And now, just because you're a goose and an idiot, and happen to possess more money than l know what to do with. you would rather die than say four simple little words like that"
 "Oh. Bessie"
 "Yes. oh, Bessie,'" she continued. mockingly. Its always. oh. Bessie And yet through sheer obstinacy you are putting poor Bessie to the trouble of making formal proposal for the honor of your hand in marriage"
 wetmore sprang to his feet.
 'I won't listen." said he. Tt Is not fair of you. Bessie" | Fair or not, do you think I am go- ing to have my whole life spoiled for a few wretched conventions and a charming dowager or two?"
 They'd laugh at you, Bessie, and say I married you for your money"