The Alaska citizen., 1911-04-17
His...
 Affinity

was driving through the streets of the town of Glen Hope, 90 miles from home, when he saw a woman standing at her gate. Mir. Jackson pulled uY his horse and gazed at her in astouiShment She returned the gaze with one of indignation. He drove on after a moment. hitChed his horse. and then returned.
 Lady. perml, me to hope that you are a widow he said
 T am. sir she replied stifily. Have you any business with me- T have. I will return in half all Lour.
 store and made inquiries. He was told that the woman was the widow Lester. and had been for the last ten years. Nothing but words of praise could be spoken of her.
 In half an hour he knocked at the widows door, and when he had been asked to sit down he began: answer. but cannot expect 1t IL Widow, have you ever heard that every man and woman has an aitin- ity?"
 T don't understand you.
 There is someone in this world for you. and someone for me. l knew you were for me as soon as l clapped eyes on yCu. You are my affinity. We were bound 10 meet. IL has taken years and years, but We are face to face at last. Widow"
 The widow Lester rose up and or dered Mir. Jackson from the house and told him to take the rapid transit line in leaving. Without a word of protest he went. Three days later she answered a knock on the door to find the lowing and smiling Mir Jackson. In her surprise she in vited him in, and he said
 "Wid0w. am lone man-you are a lone woman. You have about three thousand dollars worth of property have the same. My hair would be gray if I didn't use dye - yours would be the same. l have a squint to my left eye-you have one You have slight limp from falling down the cellar stairs, probably-mine was caused the same way. Don't you see the point or re- semblance?'
 Mir. Jackson went out of doors again and was warned that his next call would result in his arrest. The widow was mad all through. The only consolation she had was that he hadn't mentioned her glass eye. She had worn one fo- years, and only few neighbors were in the secret. She looked upon the man as half crazy, but meant 1t when she threatened him.
 In Iew days Mir Jackson return ed. He got no farther than the doorstep this time, but he stood there with hat off and said
 ''Widow. can no more help 1t than you could have helped having whooping cough when you were child. The more I think about you the surcr am that you are my afin- ity, and the harder l love you. It isn't me, but Fate You have a glass eve - so have | You"
 The widow walked across the street 10 the house of the constable and had Mir. Jackson arrested. He was taken before justice of the peace and fined s10 He cheerfully handed over the money, and said 10 his .onor and the others:
 "Gentlemen, make no mistake. I'm neither crazy nor a nuisance. am simply victim of Fate. Mrs. Lester IS my affinity. l shall marry her No law ever made can beat Fate"
 You let the widow alone or you may find yourself in jail warned the justice, and it was generally be- lieved that would end 1t.
 It did - for week. Then came Mir. Jackson's knock on the door. It wasn't opened to him, but from a second floor window he was com manded to leave.
 Back again. my dear widow, as you sec" he replied as he raised his hat. Il wanted to keep away, but Fate was too strong for me. You are the magnet that draws. l want 10 prove to you that l am an honor, able man, and then l want to tell you that I am fully determined to marry you"
 The widow appealed to passerby and MT. Jackson was facing the squire again an hour later. The whole town had now become inter ested It was known who he was and that his head was level, but his was a queer way of making love
 This time shall give you ten days in the county jail!" said his honor after the widow had sworn that she was being annoyed.
 With pleasure, judge" was the reply, Many a man has gone tc jail for the woman he loved, and shall make no kick. l respect the Widow Lester in the highest. l also love her in the most honorable way It is Fate She is my affinity
 The next time it may be thirty, was tle warning as the prisoner was removed to jail.
 Within an hour he had provided himself with writing material anc was writing the history of his life When finished he sent It 10 the Widow Lester He composed vers es and sent them to her. He wrote that he was a martyr for her sake He recommended certain books fol her reading during her leisure hours She had a garden back of the house He recommended something more e1 fcacious than Paris green for pota to bugs. Not two hours day passed that a messenger from the Jail Wal not knocking at her door,
 The widows first thought was t' send everything back unopened, Du woman's curiosity triumphed. Sh' read and looked grim. Then sh' read and felt secret sympathy Then she was real sorry that she hat been the means of sending the mal to Jail He hadn't said thing ou of the way. He had simply beel rather planspoken.