The daily Alaskan., 1908-11-27
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 2 Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
 Literary Press
Copyrighted. 1908. by A
 literary Press.

The judge fingered the dainty note collectively, narrowed his keen gray eyes, breathed q little faster-and star tied himself by blushing. Yet the con tents of the mlssive were very simple, very commonplace and ran as follows;
 Pecan Grove, Oct. 20. My Dear Judge-Billy Is very anxious to have you run down for the week end and has asked me to write and urge you to come.
 There Is to be quite jolly crowd-about dozen of us-and we arc going to wind up with . big Halloween ball Saturday evening, the 3lst.
 Come and learn who is 70 be your fu- ture wife, With best wishes.
 NA>LANDIs.
 Judge Underwood was abruptly con. sclous of a vain and frivolous desire to be young again. He even took out his pocket mirror and studied his re- nectlQn critically, noting the little fur rows between his straight black brows with an apprehensiye heart
 Would Miss Landls have written so cordially had she dreamed of the reck- less tide of emotions surging within him at the bare sight of her well re- membered little scrawl? Would she have written at all? He thought not, for Diana was but nineteen, and he was lowering very close to forty!
 Ten years ago he had taught her the three R's in the village school at Pecan Grove, and five years ago she had been the first to discover the half dozen sil- yer hairs that had since grown into the little tuft of gray above his left temple.
 Stll he could no more control the feelings that obsessed him than he could clip of' the years that stood be. tween him and hls hearts desire, so with an impulsive hand he seized a pen from the rack and dashed down his answer:
 New York. oct. % Dear Mss Landis-Your kind invitation reaches me at most opportune time, and you may be sure l shall enjoy taking week or down at the Grove.
 The prospect Of finding a life partner appeals to me almost as much as the nn- ticIpatlon of the visit. ,ps I am beginning 10 need ballast very badly. Sincerely yours. R. H. UNDERWOOD.
 As soon as he had dispatched his let ter the judge thrust aside the clamor. ing pile of briefs on his desk, picked up his hat and hurried down to his tailOrs.
 When informed by his sartorial ex- cellency that the pearl gray, just com pleted, made him look like boy" the Judge was again so foolish as to allow his face to grow red, but he merely scowled in reply and ordered the suit sent to Als rooms at once.
 The next morning at he left on his journey. reaching Pecan Grove at in the afternoon Billy Landis was at the station with a smart little trap, and they had an exhlarating two mile spin through the hectic autumn woods.
 The judge loaged to ask some ques, tlons about Diana, but kept craftlly silent hoping that Billy would present ly volunteer a little Information.
 And after thrashing out every other subject under the sun-so 1t seemed to his guest-BiIy finally remarked: "We have six girls-angels, all of them-and six of the opposite variety of brute, in. cludlng you and myself. Di has plan ned no end of thrilling stunts for every day in the week, sue and Teddy Car stairs"
 The judge felt his heart drop like leaden plummet, but he forced him self to say, matter of factly: q don't think ever heard of the name down here. Is he"-
 "Of course you didn't" interposed Billy quickly. They're a nice Eng fish family who have leased the ad- joining plantation. Teddy Is the old est boy. He's a brick too"
 Judge Underwood was keenly con sclous of desire to kick himself clear back to New York Why ever had he succumbed idIotlcally to the tempta- ton of the moment in allowing himself to be inveigled down here? He had permitted himself to be made fool of by a girls offer of friendly hospitality, by tailor's stupid driyel, by his own arrant imbeclllty.
 But be managed adroitly to box up his feelings and observe with a sur prislng degree of enthusiasm: Tt was awfully good of you all to have me down. was just on the verge of stag nation, and thIs little breath of fresh air will set me up considerably"
 Then with the deadllest sensations he had ever experienced the judge pulled a smile to his lips and light to hls eyes as they drove up with a flour lsh under the porte-cOchere.
 The first person his gaze rested on was Diana herself. She ran out with both slim brown hands extended in welcome and a beautiful flush show Ing vlvldly through the apricot tan of her cheeks. "Pm so glad to see you. judge" she said "Tt seems Ike cen tury since you went away, yet it's been only two years, hasn't itT"
 By facts and figures" he replied, crushing her fingers warmly, "other- wise -eternitles."
 They both laughed and stood on the