The daily Alaskan., 1908-12-17

her eyes. "NO-no. If you knew how unhappy my mother was-my father was cruel"-
 He dropped her hands, "And you think" he began, "that might beP
 "oh, nc, now she protested, But you would have the right to say what ! should do You would be-my mas ter"
 Little child" he commanded, Hook at me"
 And when her eyes met his won derlngly he said slowly: "LoYe like mine asks nothing but your happiness. As my wife you would be free, for, after all, that woman Is the freest who lives within the circle of her husbands love"
 But she shook her head. q can't feel that way" she murmured. T wish l could"
 The next night as Leslle's horse pick ed It's way carefully down the winding EOuu IL ItdLtN 1 AlANAS NANAA e " +A-NN figure came out of the bushes.
 q couldn't bear to wave goodby so far away" the girl faltered as he dis mounted and stood beside her, Her face was very pale in the moonlight, and her hair shone like gold. And then there Is something that I want to say"
 A light came into his eyes as he bent over her. "Tell me-" he whIs' pered.
 "I love you," she saId simply, but shook her head at his eager e1clama' ton. But l cannot marry you-not now. It would not be right-not while I have thls fear of the city. But l want to ask lf-if-some day I feel dIffereutly-if I should send for you would you come?"
 'From the ends of the earth" he de- clared. But it 1t could only be now, dear heart"
 The tears were on her cheeks. q can't promise" she sobbed, Some thing seems to hold me back But l could not let you go without telling you that cared"
 All that winter Leslie waited for bis summons. so secure was he in her ulti' mate need of him. But the winter passed and the spring. and the sum- mer came again and the fall, and once more the woods were red and gold and green. and stnl he had heard nothing from her
 And one day he said to himself: "I must go to her. Surely if she loves me she will say Yes."
 It was raining as he ascended the mountain, and the leaves were sodden under the horses feet. Fear seemed to clutch at bis heart as he came to the bungalow. where single spot of light shonc out through the gathering dark ness.
 He crcpt to the window and gazed in and saw her sitting before her big fire alone, little wasted figure in a white gown.
 It seemed as if his heart stopped beating as he hurried through the hall and came into the room where she sat-
 Dear" he said. and she stood up with little cry, and then his arms were about her, and she was soboing wildly.
 "Then why didn't you send for me| he demanded,
 Because l couldn't ask you to marry me when I was i'll and ugly when would not when l was well, could I? she asked. "I took cold last winter and then there was pneumonia, and now they keep me shut in All sum mer and all the spring and fall have watched from the windows. l knew Il you came you would set me free, but couldn't write and burden you witt my woes"
 Tn sickness and in health" he quot ed-"isn't that what they say in the marriage service, dear? And now lis ten. You are to get well at once. We will go to the desert and we will live in the sunshine, and we will start to- morrow"
 She smiled up at htm. How good il seems" she said, ito hear you say it SC masterfully! If yol knew how have longed for some one to carry me on."
 And a month later as she sat in front of her tent on the dry plain and the wind rufied her hair and brought the pink of returning health to her cheeks her husband said, "So the little wild bird came back to her cage"
 She shook her head and reached out her hand to him. "Ah, no," she said and her voice thrilled with the won der of her happiness. "Ah. no, but the little wild bird found her mate" BOTTLED AND 'DRAUeHT BEER
 Pqinier Beer is the peer of al