The daily Alaskan., 1905-02-10
A WILL TEST
IorlglnaLl

the stronger will, she or 1. For the stronger will is bound to be boss"
 Don't take the trouble to pick quarrel" replied the married friend to whom he was speaking. "Misunder- standings will come without invenung them"
 Thane became engaged to Stella Al bro and in due time an opportunity oc- cured for him to make his test. They were boating together. Edmond at the oars, Stella at the tiller. Their course was downstream. Edmond calculated that for every hour they spent moving with the current they would need to spend two hours in pulling against 1t, He was a methodical fellow and cal culotcd on spending thirty minutes go- ing downstream and an hour to an hour and half ou the return. He kcpt locking at his watch and at the end of half an hour told Stella 10 put the boat around and head upstream.
 Why. we've scarcely been out at al." she said. "Yuu don't mean to turn around so soon, do youE
 "l certainly do"
 I'm sorry you find being alone with me sU wcGyiSumc,
 Tt doesn't follow that because l don't want to pull boat more than two hours on a stretch find your company wcarisume.'
 But don't want to go back. 1 want ito go down Co tEe bend,
 That's six miles"
 "IIow far have we gOneI'
 Two ur three. To go there and hack would be pull of six miles with the current. whicl is four miles an gour When we return l Slall not only miss the help og the current but must overcome four miles an hour pressure. '
 "Is that terrible thing to do to give me plcasurc:'
 ..Docs tirinS me out give you pleas ureT
 Tt gives me pleasure to see dispo- sI,ion in you to sacrifice for me
 There are necessary sacrifices enough in life without making unnec- cSs3ry ones.
 The girl made no reply to this, but she made no move to turn the boat.
 Come said Edmond; give a pull on that port tiller rope"
 Miss Albro paid no attention to the order. Edmond began to hold water with the port and give way with the star6oari oar. Stella turned the rud. der dead stlrboard.
 Thuup stopped rowing. He could not have found a better opportunity to make his test. This was satisfactory. But he saw at once that his tiancec had a will requiring great pains to overcome. This was not SD satisf0c- tory. He set his jaws firmly,
 "I have TO disposition to force you to do anything contrary to your incli- nation" he said. If you wish to con tiuue going downstream, I'll get ashore and let you proceed"
 The proposition was neither declined nor accepted
 Since you make no reply to req sonable proposition" he went on, I'll proceed with it as the only alternative" "
 He tried to pull the boat to the shore. Stella held the bow pointing at an acute angle with the current, prOmis- ing to land them Several-mlles lower down. Again Th0ne stopped rowing. The situation was perpleNing. Wheth CT the girl had the stronger or the weaker will. she certainly had the helm. He considered what to do next, but there was nothing to do except ei- ther to drift down or row down as far as she liked. He changed his tactics
 You have the choice" he said, "el- ther to turn the boats head up or ashore 0r-you know the other"
 I'm going down to the bend" she replied compacently.
 Thanc shipped his oars, placed him self on tle bottom of the boat in the bow. took out his pipe asd tobacco pouch and began to smoke. They drlfted awhile tJen he got up, took the oars and beginning to pull down. stream, said:
 since you have virtually chosen the third of my proposl,ions-that Is. you are to have your own way for life so | far as I am cyucerned-l may as well give 1t you iu this instance and get an unpleasant matter the sooner ended"
 Miss Albro 3iJ not make any reply. She was not apparently excited. She sat idly holding tEc ropes and oc- casionGl!y trailing a hand in the wa ter. As soon as they reached the bend | she turned the boat upstream, and Thane hGd a long pull to the landing. He accompanied her home without speaking a word to her and left her at her door with a polite bow. which she did not take pains 10 acknowledge. Edmund Thanc was not quite sure whether he had done a wise or a fool ish thing. He went to his married friend and told him the story.
 Ned" said the friend, you're !dl- otlc. Every thing you've done Is wrong. In the inst place, the girl would have been right in expecting you, as a young lover, to bull hun dred miles instead of a dozen for her sake. Second, you were rude to at tempt to force her to go your way. Third, it's a lady's privilege to break an engagement. Fourth, there is no whiTn ar even iniury q man must not