The daily Alaskan., 1912-11-01


 CT appeared to, Hse you but iust the same it spoiled aH my mourning for him ! haven't been to the eel9e,ery since she told me thilt Did be ask you to marry hmy ldiI Beniamln's voice sank to a low tone of bitter snGuish, and her harsh face was distorted with an effort for control She leaned for ward, her eyes fixed on Robecca's free.
 That's why you've been SO hateful Co me the last five years-becsuse you're jealous of thst?" asked Rebeecs pityingly.
 The other woman 6ared aercely aI'm not jealous, not a mite. but can't have lt that way"
 Now the power was in Rehecca's hands She could lay Ida Bcniemin's suffering heart with a detailed account of how the defunct Jonah haa 10 his youth wooed her. Ills dogliRe devotion. his obstinate refusal to take "no' for an answer had been a village jest Tbeso facts were weapons lu Rebecca's hands With them she might avenge herself upon this woman who had de. prlved her of the ulan she loved and destroyed her happiness through some long cheeished jealolsy
 Ida Bonjamin was waiting for Re becca's answer, hoping lt would be a denial that she might carry forth to confound her fellow busybodies, with whom she waged alternate Wer and peace and in whose midst reputations were won and lost in an hour
 All at once Rebesca seemed to rec down into Ida Benjamin's sofcid little soul. and a revulslon of feeling swept over her. A strange light came Into her eyes as she looked at the woman shndlng there SO curiously subdued and expectant. suffering tortures of jealousy, and she wns filled with pity.
 Tben it was that Rebecca Oswald smoke to her enemy and told her first lie "Jonah came Co see me few times, Ida. but ! guess he got tired Of me I want you Go bear in mind he never asked me to marry him" Re becca was quite p'de when she con' cluded
 The other woman sighed relieyedly. Her head went up with her accustomed insolence. "I never believed a word of it Rebecca. I knew sarah Qulgy WIS lying. I suppose you're willing to re- peat Chat before her|
 'I think l have said enough, re- plied Rebccca wearlly. The sunshine had faded from the pond. and the shadows seemed reelected in her face
 'Tu have to be going now" Mrs. Repiamin stood in the doorway looking down at the weaver a curious hesi- tancy in her harsh voice and strange expression mingled with the triumph i'm her hard eyes. lt was almost as if she felt sorry for Rebecca Oswald.
 When Rebecca was alone she stared through the. lattice of hollyhocss with a strange sense of dcsolauon It had been hard day. The pressure of hu- initiation had been strong upon her. and she had suffered All st once she beat her fists upon the window siii with a little fury of despair. "lt Isn't fair and just.r slie sobbed After awhile she arose and closed the win dow. Touching the loom with one slender hand. she looked down at the maze of purple warp blurring before her eyes
 CT supposc peoples lives are like rag carpetS -some's plain, some's striped and others are just hit or miss with lots of bright colors Mines been in stripes. with lots of gray and black in between for trouble 1 guess 1t has stopped now Just as | was beginning a beautifuI stripe thinking all the rest Of the carpet was going Co be that rosy color. But I've got Co keep on weay' ing. Itu be drab colored for awhile until get some sense into me" She dashed away the tears and straight cned proudly "Tve got to weave those mats for Ida Benjamin. I've got to make them 80 as 60 pay me back for telling that lie"
 The door flew open with startling suddenness. and Myron White stood there, handsome. black eyed and with black brows meeting in a heavy froWn. His attitude was one of mingled shame and defiance.
 "Rebecca, Maria was down Co me store. and she told me that Ida Benja- min had brought mats for you Co make. Where are they-hereY At Rebeccas nod of assent Myron bent down and swept Mrs Benjainin's bags of rag halls into his arns and deposited them i'm A whaauqusvs he had left outside Che duor Then tc came back ana faced Rebecca in the gathering gloom of the weaving shed.
 "pm a doggoDed fool, he said bitter lv. 'Tve gone and cut myself on from tbe only woman ever wanted to mar rv just because-oh. I've got to tell it sos to do right by you, Rebecca. You know I was getting up courage to ask vou to marry me s5heu Ida Benjamin cot after me I donN know what she meant by it. but sEs ssd Edna was dying for love of me Well. what could dog When Maria tcil me you was going to weave mats for us l just
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