The daily Alaskan., 1905-02-18
AS REVIEWED
 BY THE EDITOR

pleased relaxation. He had walked through the park on his way to the office. It was a little three cornered affair that seemed a tiny oasis of re- freshment where the two busy streets met. He had often come that way, but had never noticed those sweet smelling bushes before. It had been nine years since he had smelled a hedge like that. Chandler didn't real ize it, but for the time being the fra grance of 1t fingered in his nostrils and performed curious feats with his memory.
 He glanced at the bundle of manu- scripts that had been put on his desk lust before he left the office One had fallen directly in the center of the desk somewhat separated from the others. It seemed to challenge his i'm mediate supervision, and its soiled, grlmy aspect tickled his fancy.
 "Unless my editorial eyes deceive me, you have travelled much, little crow black missive," he laughed, talk ing 1t up gingerly.
 The usually stern, buslnessllke Chan dler was experiencing tender hearted hour. Nevertheless his editorial soul groaned when he saw the title. "The Unlucky Birthday Stone" was too much for him even in his most merci- ful mood.
 ' He saw little jingle about the Feb ruary born. Now, it happened that the editor had carried a little anne thyst ring in his pocket for ten years. It was childish little ring, with the inscription Marion, 1S93,' and, though he did not often remember that 1t was there, he thought of it as he sat gazing at that silly manuscript, There had been months, even, when he had for gotten the existence of that ring. He had kept 1t, he didn't know why, but always when he had thrown away the useless tRfes that accumulate he had found room to keep that
 He had known one February girl and he determined to please this other child if he could. Of course 1t was child. No one but an audacious in nocent would send in a manuscript with such title. He could easily ac- cept it, send her Q small check out O! his own pocket to buy a bangle with, then make waste paper out of the poor childs literary effort.
 The first paragraph mentioned a hammock under a mulberry tree. It was queer, he thought, that she se- lected a mulberry tree, and
 By George"-the editors mercy was now transformed into carbohydrate says there was one of those hedges between tEe hammock and the house'
 Finally the sheets of paper dropped on the desk, and he sat thinking with q puzzled, awed expression.
 "To think that should find 1t out like this-ten years afterward! He mopped the cold precipitation from his brow. The editors memory was doing some lively work now.
 "So she saw me that night just when that fool of a blond widow put her head on my shoulder and l didn't have courage to push it off.'
 He pounded the desk in a way that should have given the blond widow joy of her very absence.
 HAnd Marion left next morning | without seeing me, left me that let ter. and went to her brother out west. V
 He looked at the address given for the return of the manuscript, It was a small town in the adjoining state The name of the writer was either a nom e plume or some one that knew MariOn's story.
 Next day there was an acting editor in Chandlers place and Chandler him. self was on the sOuthbOund train.
 He stood waiting for her after the servant had taken hls card, his heart humping like frightened sehoolboys s at his impulsive step.
 Would 1t be Marion, and if Marion somehow the idea that she might be married had not come to him before.
 The door opened, and tall, slender woman came toward him. It was she, but paler than he had ever seen her.
 "So glad, Robert" she took his hand with a shy impulsiyeneSs, and he re membered with joy her old habit of gaSping her words in short sentences when uaduly excited.
 "Is it Marion-still?" he asked, hold ing both her hands fast and gazing anxiously into her gray eyes.
 She knew what he meant and smiled faintly. Tt is MariOn-still." she re piled.
 q never knew until yesterday why you left" putting the manuscript in her hand. Her face flushed.
 How did you get itT she finally asked, with aa increased shoriness O. breath.
 q have recently become editor cf the magazine you sent 1t to-
 She had evidently lost her self pos session completely, and answered in an agony of embarrassment.
 q have been writing for five years. This is not the name generally use. This little story was. so different, silly perhaps, that l would not send it uu. der my usual pen name. II has been returned again and again. My own Interest in 1t made me determined to keep sending it until it was accepted. "
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