The daily Alaskan., 1907-08-15

, must pass. She could not go locEp EqT lt was probably ncar evening. Inc sun threatened to break through tho
 clouds near the horizon The rain had entirely ceased. She felt tired, but
 happier and quiet after the relief Of tears
 Then sue remembered a way through
 Richards fields that they had often taken. She would have to pass 80 bad
 slough, but that could not be helped He must not see her In her present plight She realized that her face was
 swollen and her eyes red with weep
 ing and that she was covered with mud. Her hair was flying wildly,
 though the dampuess always made 1t
 the curlier. She turned into the pas
 rure after dismountug to open heavy
 gate. and as she rode along she re-
 moved her cap and transferring her hairpius to her mouth, let the reius fall on Gnger's neck while she sho0l, out
 her long hair and prepared to coil it more closely. But Ginger gave sud-
 den Jerk. and in calling "Whoa.' tue D.us fell from her mouth into the mud and water Then she laughed long and
 heartily and gave the wind it's will
 wf.h her hair. No one would see her anyway.
 As she neured the slough she felt very warm and uuras,aued her habit at the throat. Ginger was pIuugiug aud su0rtiug through the mud and
 stopped once with jerk that almost arew rae girl from her saddle The ..lua caught at her dress. and before .... realized lt the two .uolIess letters were spread out in thr mud. Jt was ao laughing matter. for Richard would he sure Co find them. and tue mud was .u deep she could not possibly dis mount She drove Ginger as close to them as possible and was leaning over reaching for them -o at-e.tyeIy that she dld not see Richard Gill he rode up almost against her. Her eyes met his, deGautiy conscious
 of her floating hair and her soiIed face and above all tne telltaIc letters. She wished her writing was luer-she could see that hateful "I love you" from where she now was, lie lifted his hat and was getting down to hand her the letters when she stopped him.
 "Richard Copeland. you go right away. Don't touch them. l will get l them myself"
 You cant. You'd get stuck ia the mud Let me"
 If you do. TlI-hate y0u.' You do anyway. and. besides, I won't l look at whatever 1t is you secm to value so." He Coolly dismouuted, but she sprang down ahead of him and suatched at them, sinking Go her knees ! in the slush. Ginger started and Rich ard called "Whoa" hut gave the poor beast sly cut with his whip that sent her on a mad gallop for home. He held Colonel by the bridle. Edith ! faced him.
 Now. Edith" he said, "hOte me or
 not You will have to get on Colonel and be taken home. Come-deor." I'll die here first" He mounted and. riding close to her, suddenly caught l her in his arms and drew her strug- 1 gling and angry to the saddle in front
 of him.
 Edith" fife said, 'I couldn't help seeing the T love you on the letter . you were so anxious about. Was it
 written for me-" Suddenly she felt l that she could bear it no longer. She turned her face against his shoulder and cried. while he smoothcd back her | long hair and held her very close. Her
 pride was quite gone. She was in tears
 and a fright generally. She felt that l lt was positively a miracle that he could still love her. He kissed the
 only available r,&ce, which happened | to be her left ear. Then he asked her again about the letter.
 "I meant it for you" she owned, "but
 I couldn't send 1t, and I was mIsera- bIe."
 He laughed softly and bade her look up, and Colonel somehow understood
 that he was expected to go very, very
 slow.