The daily Alaskan., 1912-12-30

l overheard this bit or conVersatlons
 ''Thls Is very hard on poor Mildred, ,sn't it2"
 "wen, yes; suppose it is"
 'Why. don't you think it is a great blow Co herT'
 "She won't be rich, as shB would have been had he lived to marry her. But you know Mldred's lnclinations have always been for Malcolm Fair child"
 q didn't know that
 '"They were engaged when he Cook Ing toward mel came In, though he was not aware of it"
 "l hadn't heard that"
 Malcolm has always been a pet of mine. and he coudded his betr0thal to me. He was heartbroken when he had to give her up.'
 Didn't she love himC
 "I think she did; but, you see. he had nothing but his Balary. No girl 10 her senses would give up fortune for salary that must be earned. An in. come from property is very different It earns money while one Is asleep"
 That's so, but girls are apt to be romantic, you know"
 Mildred Is practical I don't think she will ever die for love"
 I wanted no girl for a wife who had given up some one she liked better The dialogue continued for few min utes later, and I heard every word.
 "Ethel hasn't been treated right She was taken in, given a home, brought up ln a refined way, and provision shCuld have been made for her"
 "Oh, sheGl be an right There's a rich man ready to marry her the mo ment she says the word"
 'Why hasn't she taken him before thlsY'
 Nobody knows"
 felt like putting in the words "e1- cept the dead,' but couldn't, and, be- sides. I wouldn't E I could.
 The speakers fell to talking of the approaching Christmas festivities, men tloning how sad it would be for those in the house of mourning. I had no idea how long it would be tili Christ mas, but heard one Of the ladies say to the other that it was "the day after tomorrow" Persons were continually coming Into and going from the room In which [ lay, and I heard some one say, speaking of the funeral, "Why are they SO long about 1t, and why don't they have 1t over with before Christ masT
 I knew it was Christmas eve by the remarks of these persons. I was much depressed at the prospect of the holi- days passing and lying there Ike a log.
 Then I began to wonder If by an effort Of the will might not pull my self out of my reculiar condition. l have always been a great believer of the power Of mind over matter, and it occurred to me that if l could bring myself to believe that could throw on my paralysis would be able to do SO. or course my condition troubled me. Indeed, was in danger of being bur jed alive determined to make an effort of the will to regain an active condition.
 | commenced cn Christmas eve by driving an thought or fear of inter ment out of my mind. After awhile began to think that could move my muscles, though [ didn't try. l fell asleep feeling lesa troubled and awoke in the morning rHfreshed as l had not felt since I had lost muscular power. remembered that it was Christmas morning, and was still apparently a corpse.
 The door opened, and Ethel entered Casting a glance at the sunlight com ing through a window, she moaned:
 "Oh, what a Christmas-the brighter without the darker within
 She came to the bed and stood look. ing down upon me She did not speak. but could interpret her thoughts from her expression. She looked at my cheek and seemed surprised I wondered if she did not see q tinge of color fin h She started for the door as though Co call some one, then stopped, hesitated and came back to me. Kneeling beside me, she took my hand She must have felt some warmth fin it. for she began to rub it. I felt Q current, a nerve cur rent, a current of life passing from the hand that held mine and coursing up through my arm to my heart For the first time since [ had been stricken l had power. My hand began to tighten on hers.
 She gave a low cry, but did not know if It sprarg from joy or fright She made as if to rise, suppose to call others, but held her. Then I made an effort to speak, but could only whisper;
 Put your arms about me"
 She did SO.
 "Lay your cheek against mine"
 This, too, she did. felt the life com ing back to me. I made no effort for awhile, permitting the vigor l was drawing to accumulate. Then I spoke again.
 Dear heart, 'he life you have re- called is a gift 10 you on this blessed Christmas morning"