The daily Alaskan., 1905-10-05
A Scheming Mamma
[Origlnal.1

When you are older, and then you will not see me with the same eyes,"
 q shall love you then as now"
 'sThat depends upon how long you remain away"
 If I remain away twenty years there will be no change in me" Such was the parting between Milton Robbins, aged nineteen, and Alexia Dyer, widow, aged twenty-five. He was going to a distant city to begin a business career at $l0 q week and was heartbroken because she would not consent to an engagement.
 For fifteen years Robbins devoted himself exclusively to two things money making and writing letters to the woman he loved. He had q nat ural gift for the former and was moi half bad at the latter. Mrs. Dyer re. piled to his efrusiOns at intervals, but at the end of ten years dropped her side of the correspondence for a long while. When she resumed it, Robbins was pleased that a rest seemed to have fresheued her feelings. She re sponded more heartily than before to the warmth he put into his own words. At last he wrote that he was getting hls affairs in shape to go and claim his promise The lady intimated mod estIy that her friends assured her that hers was q remarkable case of wo- man keeping her youth, and if when he saw her he was of the same opinion and felt the same toward her as when they parted she would consent to marry him. He replied that he did not love her for her beauty and whether she looked old or young he would claim her promise.
 When Robbins first saw his AleXia after so many years separation it was | in the glOaming of summer evening" | It did not occur to him that a woman | under the circumstances would choose such q light which would best conceal the change in her. Nevertheless the | moment he saw her he started, not at | the change, but at the want of change He knew the interval that had passed l and could not believe that time had left her so nearly what she was. But when she came forward covered with blushes to welcome him with the same peculiar gait, the same unique toss or the head by which he would know her among Q hundred, he gave no thought ! to changes or want of changes, but took her in bis arms.
 l When his first transports were over Alexia said to him, Tell me, and tell the truth, wherein an l ChnngCdE
 Robbins surveyed her critically. You look" he said, T should say about i've years older than when we parted Then, noticing that she was disap- pointed, he added, No, only about two years older
 At this she smiled the same sweet smile be had loved so well, and he went on: "One thing I notice in you, l grant, Is changed. Your voice was the only feature in your makeup that did not fancy. It was a trife shrill. The years have mellowed it into rich con tralto."
 This compliment seemed to please her inordlnately. She could not repress a self satisfied smile that lowered about her lips. She did not seem to tire or such criticisms and asked for other Of her improvements, and be, seeing that to hear them pleased her, told her of q | number.
 And now" he said at parting, "I take 1t that nothing remains but the wedding. l beg of you not to keep me waiting. propose a trip to Europe. l have only a limited time to spend away from my business, and every day spent here must be taken from our so- journ there.'
 If you care no more for display than l [ we can be married immediately"
 "Yery well. Let 1t be tomorrow morning and we'll take the steamer that sails at 1 o'clock"
 The couple were gone two months when they returned to the brides home, where they rested q few days before going to their new one. One evening they were sitting side by side | when Mrs. Robbins said, T wish you to tell me whether you are perfectly satisfied with me-"
 "I am more than satisfied. l an delighted. When I knew you first l will admit there were certain traits In your character that at times grated on my sensibuities. Time has not only obliterated them, but developed many attractive features that did not even know you possessed"
 And you love me better than my other sell that you knew years agoT
 "Far better. You always told me that middle aged men prefer younger women; that when I should be at my present age would scorn a woman of your age. In reality, while l find that you have changed but little physically, your mind, your soul. is greatly i'm | proved"
 He had hardly finished speaking when a portiere was pulled aside and @ middle aged lady came into the room. She WAS without hat and gloves, and seemed as much at home as if she had