Alaska sentinel., 1907-06-27

showed him. Better a lifelong misun- derstandlng than a disclosure-after that. He breathed a sigh of genuine relief.
 And yet you refused me-" be said, watching her, and seeing for the first time that tremulous color. "WhyT
 You have a right to ask. Yet-it ls difficult sometimes for a woman to ex' plain her reasons
 But you gave no hint in your an' swer. It was not that-that I am dis tasteful to youT'
 His voice was unreasonably anxious, and he was unable now to take his eyes from her face. How beautiful 1t was In its unexpected blushes!
 "Ah, mol You must understand that at least 1t was not that. But, surely we have known each other too long, you and I, for any nonsense of senti- ment between us"
 Our engagement could have been the shorter" returned Mir. Sheringham, almost gaily. Now that his ordeal was removed, he found himself enjoying the interview amazingly. And 30, for this no reason at all, whlm which you cannot even explain, you have con- demned me to solitudev He sighed, with gentle self pity, mental picture of his bare bachelor lodging, in con- trast with this dainty room, coming to add pathos to words In which already he more than half believed. "Ah, cruel, cruel."
 My dear friend" said the widow, "is 1t possible that you have not yet seen the absurdity of wishing to join your life with that of an old woman like myselfY"
 "Old," cried MT. Sheringham gal. lanty. Perish the thought you have the advantage of me by years" He meant it, too; with the danger behind him, he felt that he could safely allow himself the luxury of little sentimen. tai regret. If you are old, Annette, what of mel"
 "A man is different a bachelor is a youth at CO.,
 "BecauSe ne has never lyed!'
 She smiled, and half held out her hand as though to place 1t upon his, then drew 1t back again. Your views are not altered then" she said softly after moment (and surely the hesita. ton might have warned him) you still wish to hear my reason for reply ing to you as I did?'
 Gan you ask it?'
 "Then I will tell you. It was be- cause, having to answer to you imme- diately, wrote in such haste that per haps"-again- she hesitated, then fin ished In tones that weer barely audi ble-'perhaps I did not wait to know my own mind."
 What" MT. Sheringham had been listening in pleased reverie, soothed by the gentle murmur of her voice. He sprang up, white with emotion.
 "Is It so difficult to understand?"- Mrs. Pllkington raised her eyes to his, smiling shyly-"the woman's privilege. I am an old woman, but not yet, I fear, a very wise one How astonish- ed you look. Could you not see what 1t was that has been making me so fool ishly nervous ever since you came in? Tiff you, too, had regretted your de- cislon, you should never have known. But now-now, Augustus, If you still want me. 1t shall be as you wish!'
 MT. Sherlngham gasped. The come ly figure of Mrs. Pilkington danced grotesquely before his vision, the floor seemed to be giving way beneath him. Only two ineligible thoughts remain ed in his mind-one was that It was now become absolutely impossible to undeceive his old friend, the other that somehow, In the last ten minutes, he had fallen in love with her.
 Annette" he said, Annette" It was the only thing to say, and he fol- lowed 1t gallantly with the one action that was appropriate to the circum. stances.
 How we shall astonish people," murmured Mrs. Pllklngton.
 "Yes," said MT. Sheringham truth fully, "it is no doubt something of surprise-for everybody"
 Tell me, Augustus" said his fance, somewhat later, when they were seat ed upon the sofa, "how came you to be at West Point yesterdayT
 At West Pointr Mir. Sherlngham looked bewildered.
 Yes Your letter-the letter-was post-marked from there.'
 "Oh, of course, yes," said the lover, "the fact Is ran up to have look at my nephew, Tom-Mary's eldest, you know," he explained.
 Mrs. Pilkington gazed at him admir- lngly. How like your kind heart" she saId-"to think of a schoolboy-at such a crisis'
 Not at all,' said Mir. Sheringham. AS a matter of fact he was thinking of him at that moment, but his thoughts