Alaska sentinel., 1905-03-23

and brook no interferencs- even from his old chum, Ted.
 Women were coquettes. heartless. They sought mans affection simply to toy with. He hated the sight of them. And yet. did he?
 Every evening he drew from its hiding place little bundle of love letters. Over and over again he read them; and from his pocket he drew a tiny photograph and kissed 1t.
 An, how he treasured that precious picture. The heart hovers round these sacred relics of the past. They may be mere trifies. but. after all. Is not the world made up of trifes?
 Again and again he racked his brain in search of some reason for Edlths strange conduct Why had she cast him aside with no word of explana- tiOn?
 Suddenly an inspiration seized him. He would write book and reveal woman "in her true colors" He would paint her leading on her lover to the highest realms of joy and happiness just for the pleasure of dashing him down again. The book would be the sensat ton of the year.
 He snatched up his pen while the idea was hot. He was in the middle of the first chapter when Ted bounced in. Jack had forgotten to sport his oak"
 "Hurrah. Jack" he shouted i've got two months vacation: am off to Europe Saturday." Then noticing the pale, excited face of his friend, he said:
 Let me prescribe for you, Jack. Put all those beastly papers out of sight or If you will. pack them up in your bag and come with me. It will make new man of you"
 Thanks, old man-no I've just begun my life work-my masterpiece This book will take the world by storm
 Tt can be written as well, nay. bet ter under the shadow of the Alps than in the stuffy rooms"
 The novelist thought of Berne. He "ouib pc T4ullu. put, HO-ue dared not go It would only be fan ming the flame he was trying to kill
 
 Ted was in Switzerland. If only Jack were there, too. Why shouldn't he look up Miss Gretton? Why had she thrown over Jack In that mysteri- ous way? Who knows? Perhaps he might be peacemaker. He called on Edith and her father. The old gen tleman tried to sound him on the split" but Ted knew nothing
 Ted and Edith were sitting out one evening watching the sunset It was a glorious scene. By coincidence their thought wandered back to the Gretton home and certain evening.
 Ted would have liked to have won this girl for himself She looked SD handsome-so wlnsome as she sat there-though perhaps a tritle sad. He was sorely tempted. She had of her own accord given up Jack. Then he thought of the lonely man who loved her still, and he thrust aside the mad wish.
 Why did you give up Jack?" he suddenly blurted out. He felt he must say something to break the spell or his good intentions would melt like the snow they saw before them
 Can you ask?" she replied coldly You already know"
 "I-I-know" and a wild wish was father to the thought.
 It was one of those evenings that invite condolences. The sun was go- ing down and leaving just a shimmer- Ing twilight.
 Yes" she said sadly; you were really the means of bringing before me the facts that made me wish to see Mir ROwlands no more"
 He drew his chair closer to her.
 Do, please. tell me all about it." he said. His heart beat wildly. Could 1t be possible she had broken with Jack for his sake?
 Then she described word for word what she had overheard.
 Vividly 1t all came back to him. He was tempted for a moment but for moment only.
 My dear Miss Gretton," he said, "how glad I am I came on to Berne We were discussing not you, but Il snapshot photo Jack had stolen of you with his pocket camera. It's a terrible thing. l don't think you would recognize yourself. He accidentally broke the negative soon after, and his only print is a poor little pyro- stained thing. He-'
 What Edith jumped np. her face all aglow. Il never knew he took pie tures."
 That was his first and, whats more," said Ted, he carries that wretched little photograph in pocket near his heart"