The daily Alaskan., 1911-11-07

at some future tinIe-a dinner.
 It was In the darkest. most forbid ding part of a lonely, wind driven street that be came upon a small form struggling with n refractory umbrella. Tbe umbrella. acting as a sail, was bearing its unfortunate owner In di' rection opposite 60 the one in which she wished Co go, and Ransom came upon her at a moment when she lost hold of the handle. aud the flying um- brella drove straight st the young man. and tbe feriuie puuched a hole in the covering ot his own protector before it wrenChed itself from his grasp and bowlcd down the street
 'Let it go hope you're not hurt" gasped thc small form. and then it scurrled on ahead ot Ransom, as if afraid of him tie hastpucd on Co offer her the protection Of his umbrel. la. for the voice bad been that of girl. and Ransom was quite sure that he could get home without much dam age Co his rough tweed cap, but girls hat was usually a most delicate and dcstructinle creation
 Ransom hurried after the girl, not ing something familiar in the way she fitted along the wet pavemeuts ahead of him She turned ialo the very street iu which he had decided tO turn, and be followed after As he drew nearer he could see that she was almost running, ard lt suddenly dawn ld upon him that she was afraid of him and that she was running away from him
 With one or two quick silent bounds he rcachcd her side aud at the same instant recognized the little gray hit- ting Ggurp he had so often seen at twilight
 "NIss l'Hitcrmouse," he exclaimed involuntarily Do take my umbrella. You'll spog your hat He thrust his umbrella into her band and strode on ahead Co rpgS SSure her
 "Oh. tbauk you" pauted the girl And she said nothing more. Ransom could hear her paitcring along behind him. and now and then he turned for glimpse Of her All he could see was small form in a long gray cloak with a gray veil tied about small hat
 Al thc foot uf lhr steps leading Co Mrs Rrrkrs boarding house Ransom paused for a moment until the little gray form battered up to him. To his surprise. she stopped also. and when she spoke there wss laughter in her tones
 "Tu send your umbrella around some time this evening. Nr. Holbrook. she said and then vanished, leaving Rausom standing open moutted in the peluug rain
 she knew my name" he poudered. as he thrust his latyhkcy in ih0 door.
 Later. after nc had worried through dinner which by a series ot unheard of gaIamitirs had been deprived of its constituent parts. he sat before his aratc fire thinking about-Miss Filter mouse She renlly seemed Ike a friend now that he bad spoken to her and had been able Co render her a service He wondered where she worked so steadily and why it was that he never saw her pass in the morning The donr opened and Mrs Beck entered bcHrinc his umbrella. "A messenger bdy brought it with thanks. wheezed Mrs Beck as she set the umbrella on the hearth and left the room
 The next day Ransom was the as fouishpd recipient of on Invitation Co dine informally with Mr LaidIaw at that reuUeman's home that very even Ing
 Ransom was well within the draw. ing room and had shaken bands with his host and hostess and was being in trodurpd Go my only daughter. Hol- brook " hen he lralizrd that he was gazing into the ryes of the girl in the gray hat he hnd seen at church.
 When she smiled and spoke to him t was with the voice of Miss Filter mouse of the twilight and nc walked into the dining room with a bewildered sense that everything was topsy turvy and everybody wns somebody else.
 After dinner. when he had a moment alone with Miss LRldIaw, she drew the skirts of her soft gray crapc gown rsidc and made room for him on the sofn
 .'TeH mo. Mir Holbrook, why you called me Miss F7ittcrmouse' last night" Her eyes were dancing nlrth- fully
 Did I can you that2 I spoke my thoughts aloud" he stammered, and then. because he couldn't help telling her anything she wanted to know, be explained aII about Miss Flittermouse, who scurvicd past hts house at tw'- light every night and who had awak- encd such interest in his heart. 'l supposed you wera some little working girl. he ended. "1 did not know you were the beautiful and much to be envied Mss Laidlaw. of whom have ! heard so much"
 "I nm a working girl" averred Miss . Laidlaw decidedly "I am a teacher in . the settlement house fn ThOrne street, and it's the greatest work In the world" sbe aGtIed enthusiastically.