The daily Alaskan., 1908-09-24
.BIG STATIONERY IMMORTAL LOVE

UA W e-
 Joel Throggs was a driver on the towpath. Joel was reaching an age where he wished for home. He ad- mitted to himself that be couldn't have home without a woman. and he never stopped long enough to do any courting. He was always moving on the towpath, and how can man make love who Is continually walking behind a horse or mule pulling a cOnalboat:
 On the route was q little unoccupled house across the road from the tow path that Joel would have coveted if he had had a wife to put in it. One day when be passed he saw smOkc curling from the chimney and woman at window. After passing and re- passing on several trips he made up his mind from observation that the woman lived alone.
 Here was an opportunity. the first he had ever had, He resolved to take advantage of 1t. Before starting on one of his trips he prepared q small board, on which he wrote In chalk;
 dere Madam. 1 would bo hapy to mals yure Rquaintence. I am driven a mule on the towpath. JOEL THROGGS.
 On reaching the house in question be threw the board Into the yard without stopping his mule, This was Mir. Throggs' first love letter, It was not very neat-indccd, 1t was some what bulky-but they say Love laughs at locksmlthS" Why shouldn't the lit tie god smile benlgnly on board billet douI?
 When Joel passed the house on hls return trip, on the end of a chicken coop had been chalked:
 shud be pleezed to make yourn.
 MAHULDY WIGGINS.
 So far so good. Joel had net pre- pared stationery, wooden or otherwise, for reply, so It was not till he came along on his next trip that he respond ed. Then he ran across the road be- tween the towpath and the canal and set the top of an old table on the gate. on which he had written:
 wud csteam mlsclf onered et you wud tak ride with me on my neH trip The mule has q easy gate, Bring pnler to set on.
 But the course of true love can't be expected always to run smooth. When Joel passed again the end of the chick en coop glared with big chalk letters;
 Can't. Out to work all day.
 Joel was Respondent. Not only was be tied to the towpath, but his love also was at work He thought the matter over as he logged along, now and then gently laying his whiplash on the back of his mule, and when he reached the terminus prepared another letter, a longer one-So long that he needed more room to write 1t. He SC lected the door of the canalboat cabin which he took off It's hinges. lay on the deck and wrote as follows:
 dere MRhuldy. saved 60 dollers. I'm lookin fur home were two harts kin beet together Sposen l jine with you an We work your yard fur garden truck fur the market. Prlses is hi In town. Stay hum mex time l pas, wensday. 10 ride you e few miles an We can taWK lt over le pay you the days wages,
 On passing the house the next time Joel carried this bulky letter to the premises and set 1t up against the fence.
 When Joel passed the following Wednesday afternoon Mahuldy was waiting for him with pillow ito Se, on" Except for the lack of several front teeth and one eye gone she wasn't bad looking. Joel was much pleased. He helped her up on the mules back and walked along beside her She told him that she was wtd- ow with no incumbranccs, She had been permitted to live in the house rent free. It had no especial value, and the land wasn't worth $50 an acre She accorded with Joers plan, especial. ly as he had money enough to buy the place and stock 1t. But she was somewhat coy about marrying man he had never seen before and wanted lmc to consider.
 JocrS only objection to delay was hat they would wish to communicate, md this was difficult He had already been obliged to use the door of the analboat. AS his passion grew he would need more space. The only arger stationery he could think of vas an old tent he possessed. He night rip out q side, write his mes- age on 1t and set 1t up on poles when lc passed. If he needed still larger ,pace. he Eisa, use the whole of one ;lde of the CanalbOat
 Mrs. WlgSns thought the matter pvcr and found that her modesty would aot admit of such open lovcma!ling She said the neighbors might get on to It. Joel didn't care for the neigh bors. but objected to the trouble Of getting up such big messages. He said mournfully that If they kep a-growln' he'd hey to use the mainsail of coo ton schooner before they were l married"