The daily Alaskan., 1905-07-08
HALF HOUR
 FOR LUNCH

! Qu4Aul hAAN tSNiNts @ N"aNsf N "N'NN- bowl. two cups and two spoons,
 The man at the desk on the other side Of the room settled back In his chair and dropped the pencil
 You ought to be presiding over a home teakettle," he said, "instead of one in an office"
 Sufficient unto the day" mterjected Jeanette as she measured the tea.
 But you really should think about t." persisted Francis Darcy, chief clerk in the law office in which Jean, cite Melton did the typewriting,
 "oh. I'll think about it." said Jean cite airily, and some day when the proper millionaire fits across my horizon Tn say gocdby to these musty, fusty rooms and enter my proper sphere" and she lighted the alcohol lamp under her brass kettle and went to the window for the bottle of cream. Darcy whlrled around and looked at her keenIy. "I didn't mean that" he said.
 'Oh, didn't youg" asked Jeanette calmly. "In one breath you say one thing and contradict it iu the next Now, what do you really meauT
 She sat down to wcit for the kettle to boil and fixed her teasing gray eyes on him.
 You know what mean, Jeanette, he began. "I don't want you to leave here until you are ready to come to me as my wife-to my home"
 'In other words, you want me to transfer my tea making from the office to fiat. Oh, its much nicer this way. You might get tired Of me if we were married, and think how dreadful that would be, Now if you get tired of me you can get a new typewriter, but you couldn't get a new wife"
 And. besides" he said bitterly, "l am poor, and you don't want to marry a poor man, Jeanette
 "No," she said, but if loved and then she stopped as the door opened and the junior member of the tirm looked in. The junior partner was young, rather norldly handsome and very well pleased with himself.
 "Oh. put that away" he said, as he saw the tea arrangements, "and come out for lunch with me"
 But Jeanette shook her head. Don't ask me" she pleaded; just think what I shall miSS," and she laughed as she named them. "A chicken sandwich, a slice of homemade cake and tea-my own tea-honie brewed," and she flash ed bright glance across at Francis, who sat tapping his foot gloomily,
 But the eagerneSs Of the junior part ner was only increased by her re fusal
 You shall have a bird and salad and a soufle," he said, and wine, it you will"
 Darcy clinched his hand, but the junioE partner needed him no moro than the fly which crawled on thC wall. He wanted Miss Melton Co lunch with him. She was fair and sweet and pretty, by love, as pretty as any girl In his own set.
 Come" he pleaded.
 Jeanette glanced toward Darcy and met in his face only sternness. lf he had but known that she wished to re, fuse; that she would rather drink cup of tea with him than have an the fine lunches in Christcndom. But he did not know, and she, missing the sym pathy that she had looked for, said yes" to the junior partner.
 Darcy sat alone, therefore, and ate a part of his lunch. He did not drink his tea, for he could not touch the pretty cup that she offered him daily with Sd much grace. He stared at the blank wall and imagined Jeanette In the soft. ly lighted dining room Of the great ho. tel He knew the junior partner would take her to a fashionable place. That was one thing In his fovor-he was not ashamed to be seen with his typewrit- CT But lt was the first time that Jeanette had gone.
 And it won't be the last" groaned poor Darcy, with his head on his desk.
 "Yes, it will" said soft voice be hlnd him, and he whlrlcd around to see Jeanette, all smiles and bushes, fresh as rose.
 He asked me to marry him. she said without further remark.
 Darcy's head dropped down on his desk.
 Silence,
 Then In the stiffness came the "cllck- ety, cuckety-click" ot Jeanette's type, writer. Darcy raised his head and picked up his pencil desperately. He might as well begin. same old routine, same old work, same old struggle, and now Jeanette would be out of it whirled Into a gay life by the riches Of the junior partner, and he would be Rlone-slone
 The typewriter was silent and he heard the whir Of paper being pulled out and then Miss Melton's step as she crossed the room She laid a sheet of