The daily Alaskan., 1912-01-26
must have belu very stupid, for I

N-aN
 On Christmas morning George Nel- son drove up to the house ln bis two wheeled cart and. hitehing hts horse Co a post. came in was watching him from my window and noticed that be had DO packagtss in bis hands. from which inferred that what he was in tending Co give ute ot hts own choos. ing was not bulky He wore fur lined overccat. aud there was plenty of room for ordinary sized packages in the pockets. [ went downstairs and found him and mother in the IT, ! brary There was sl vefy pleased look on mothers face. and. seeing her holding something in her clenched hand. in. ferred that she had received a present, ! though how lt could be of much value and so small as tol bc concealed ln her fist. I could not guess Mir. Nelson
 handed me a box. which opened and
 found a beautiful gold bracelet set with rubies He permitted me Co feast
 my eyes on it fot a while then drew
 forth another bos.. DO bigger than a
 walnut. This I oTiened and took out ring set with handsome solitaire diamond.
 This is what have chosen for ! you" he said
 was as well pleased with it as with my bracelet. So intent was on both that for some timp l did not raise my eyes, and when ! did [ caught mother and Mr Nelson looking at each other ] meanlnCly But SO stupid was that ] I dld not realize what was passing be- tween them | slipped my ring sue ! cessiveiy on the fingers of my right hand and found it dtted the third.
 "l suppose ! shnIl weOr 1t there ! said. It fts exactly"
 'fOh. Daisy" exclaimed my mother, ''you are incorngiblel'
 ''Not at an" Mr Nelson protested "Let her wear the ring on her right hand Next Christmas may give her another present. also Of my own choos- inc. and possibly t may also be Of hers. but uH then let her do as she likes about this one
 You two are speaking In riddles | . broke out "I do wish you would talk SO that can understand you"
 "Gcodby and a merry Christmas, said NIT Nelson. Remember. next year hone Co stand here with another ! gift. which win explain Co you things that you arc yet too young Co under stand
 With that he went out, got into his cart and drove away
 What does it sll mean. mCtherT | asked.
 "rerhaDs you viu know by next Christmas without being told That was an could get out of her and, though | puzzled over the matter ] an that day and for some time after ward. failed to snd any interprets- ton for the secret between mother and ! Mir. Nelson
 During the following year our neigh ' bor was more frequently at our ! house and when summer came and he took me on long spins In bis auto a ! change had come over me. ! began to ! look uuou him not Hs a father or older ! brother. but as a man whom ] liked very much Co be with. When autumn ! came he wonld occasionally bring or l send me flowers from bis conservatory. ! It seems singular Co me now that while : I began to look upon him as proper ! companion for me I still failed 10 un- derstsnd bis action In giving ne a ring st the previous Christmas 1 One day [ asked my mother 1T she ! remembered that George Nelson had ! promised to give me in December a ! present that would explain the previ- ! ous one. She replied that had missed ] on opportunity tbat might not occur again A food of light poured ID upon mo. and ! was shocked al my obtuse- ! ness. Furthermore, | was seized with ! consternation. but had lost the man | ! was now conscious that I loved. ! From that time tin Christmas strovc by especially encouraging my l former Suitur to undo what had done 1 But the more I encouraged the more ! | was discouraged Mir Nelson grew. ! SO far as could discern, more and more indifferent tc me. Toward the end Of October came a surprise. Tt was on a beautiful autumn day. when
 we went together for an automobile drive MT Nelson said to me:
 "You remember that | promised you a ritt for the coming Christmas that
 would be Of my and ! hoped of yeur choosingy
 'l do"
 "l am ready to tell you what it Is ! Co be"
 ] "whatT'
 "A wedding ring"
 When wp returned to the house [ ] announced Co my mother what my gift was Co bc and that had accepted it
 "l hope. she replied. you will have 1 tbe sense Co put it on your left hand. !"
 Indeed ] will" ! replied 1 George insisted, unless there was some especial objection, on being mar. riei on Christmas. He said that he had been locking forward for nearly ] - .. ..--.. Es.. a....a.sfs.. .4g,a ne, s,,w