The daily Alaskan., 1912-11-01
REBECCA'S
 WEAVING A Story of little River
By CLARISSA NICHE

Che peculiar odOr of rankly growing hollyhocks that lattlced the window with luted pink cups.
 Rebecca's lips were curved in a bitter smile as she dreamed In the mellow gloom of the shed Her slender form. erect and motlonless, was sharply outlined against the light
 Within the shed everything was im- maculately clean and fresh with the penetrating odor of cedar shingles. The biz loom dlled one end of the room with it's massive framework, and in the corners were rolls of rag carpet and several baskets filled with bright hued rag strips
 Maria oswald paused in the door way, her round eyes peerlng sharply at her sisters tense, profile. "Rebec- ca. what the land are you doingp she asked sharply
 Rebecca started and turned her head. q wasn't doing anything, Maria. Twas resting awhile"
 The older sister advanced and sat down in chair near the loom; her i keen eyes searched Rehecca's sen sitive face and her own reddened with indignation. "I saw Ida Benjamin's boy coming out of the gate. What did he wautg' she demanded,
 "He brought some rags; his mother wants some mats made-for Edna, ' said Rebecca quietly.
 "Of course you won't make them, 70 protested Maria.
 "I must-If I don't Ida win say Its because Of Edna marrying Myron."
 "If that amt just like Ida Bcnja- min-the spitefuleSt crittcr that ever drew breathl Why didn't she take the rags down tO Petcrlsiny" Suddenly NIaria's disturbed couutenance became an urbane mask. Don't you dare cry, Rehecca Oswald" she added iercelyi ''she's coming nOwT
 A shadow darkened the doorway, and Ida Benjamin entered. She was a tall. strongly built woman, with colorlcss hair rolled stifiy away from her ssllow skinned face. Cold blue eyes were set unpleasantly close to a prominent nose hooked above a bitter mouth She carried herself with the proud insolenCe or one whose weapons are always unsheathed Ida Benja- mln's keenest weapon of attack and defense lay behind the even rows Of her false teeth. Now she rustled for ward with an amplitude Of starched skirts.
 Busy as a bee. Rebecca. I declare you're always at It. ain't you2 I'll take this chair, Maria. You needn't get up" She beamed amiably upon the sisters.
 Rebecca removed her foot from the treadle and turned Co the newcomer. Robbie brought the rags, Ida. What color warp do you wantg'
 'whlte. I guess. Do you think you can get them done by the lst of Octo- berY They are for Edna's new house aud''- She paused significantly,
 "why not take them down to Peter kln7 He's starving for work, and Re beCCa's got an she can do," interpo- lated Maria acidly,
 'I want nobody but Rebecca should touch them" protested Ida Benjamin. "Being Edna's wedding outfit, they are very special, and Rebecca makes such pretty mats"
 "Very well. Ida; I can make them. There's plenty of time before the lst of october. Tell me how you want them made" said Rebecca quietly.
 While the two women discussed the making of the rugs-or mats" as they are called in Little Rlver-Marla arose and silently left the weaving shed
 Alone with Rebecca Oswald, Mrs. Benjamin dropped the bah of rags sho had been displaying to the weaver and leaned hack in her chair "WeIl, Rebecca, | hope you don't hold any hard feeling toward me and Edna" she said, with a malicious smile.
 eve never have been intimate friends, Ida; you know that. soid Re becca proudly, "but why do you imag- inc that ! should feel any especial eu. mlty toward you nowy'
 For an instant Ida Benjpmin's sallow face reddened: then. as if Rebecca's question offered an opening for which she had long waited, the color left her cheeks sallow and strained, aud she spoke coldly and deliberately:
 "You needn't pretend you don't mind losing Myrou White after keeping com pany with him for five years or course he's older thon Edna. but the very minute he set eyes on her he lost his heart. You cant blame him. Re becca; Edna's so young and fresh, and you-and me. too-are not as young as we used to be. There; you needn't red den up and look so proud. Rebecca. You might as well look the truth Tn the face as to pretend you don't care"
 Have you got anything more to Sayg" asked Rebecca icily.
 Ida Benjamin hesltsted. An eager question had burned her tongue for i've years. To her coarse grained mind there was no indelicacy in the asking of such a question, but she did shrink from Rehecca's answer. She felt in- stinctvely that Rebecca Oswald would speak nothing but the truth. Her eager- ,,g,.s -,,,,- foyrnd y-anf ir fhp oupSff0n