The daily Alaskan., 1914-02-02

get along without ltP'
 Jean's eyes were thick with tears.
 Let US go in here and buy the things you need and then you can pay mo back if it takes all the year," shC said practically. "What Is your name?
 "Leon," he said.
 "Here is a nice shop, Leon. See they have cooked things to eat as wei ss bread and butter" Jean spoke tc the proprietor of the delicatesse1 shop, and at her order the man pro, duced a large basket, which he pro ceeded to ill with the things that Jean ordered. while Leon watched the pro ceeding with amazed eyes that grew frightened when he saw a roasted chicken added to the precious con tents.
 Please, ma'am, it's beautiful but it's more than can pay for" he whis' pered at last.
 "Oh, no, 1t isn't! You don't know how well pay my errand boys" was Jeans encouraging answer.
 After. that the boy watched her with delighted eyes as oranges and nuts were added to the basket and at last Jean said there was plenty, and she paid for it from a well filled purse.
 "We must carry this together Leon,' she said. Gan you manage one side of the basket?"
 ''I'm sure l can." he said eagerly 'Tm glad you bought the doll for Cherry. Santa Claus might forget tC come to our house"
 They passed into the crowd on the sidewalk, and Leon guided Jean LOT Ing up another block and around a corner and up the stairs of a dingy tenement house.
 "This isn't a very nice place." he whispered apologeticaIly. we lived In nicer places before father went away. But it's the best mother car do, cause she doesn't get much for the 'broidery work, and grandfather didn't leave her any money, after all Here We are-the door in the corner. We're going to have a better place some day" he added as he opened the shabby door that led into bare little bedroom that smelled sweet and clean whatever It might lack in furniture and other appointments.
 A door led into the next room. a kitchen, where a woman sat 1t a sew Ing machine stitching Hstlessly at something that looked like Q dolls dress. A lovely little girl of two years was curled up on a shabby sofa near the fire. The room was warm, but beyond the fire and the scrupulous cleanliness of the place there did not seem to be any other comforts. There was no hint of the approaching Christ mas day. Everything spoke of poverty.
 "That you. Leon?" asked the wom- an without turning her head You were gone a long time, dear. Did you get the bread and the milky?
 Leon hastened to her side.
 Mother, dear" he cried excitedly, q lost the dime, and"-
 "LeOnw cried the mother sharply. Tt was the last cent had in the world" she added in a quavering voice.
 Leon's arms went around her neck. Don't cry, dear," he whispered. q did lose the money, but I found a Christmas angel, Christmas friend, mean, and she's going to let me work and pay her back for the good things. See herw
 Slowly the mother turned a face, stony with despair, the blood creeping In shame to her cheek at the thought of accepting charity. For an instant her eyes closed and then opened, dark and tragically beautiful, to meet the blue eyes of Jean Loring.
 Jean spoke first, and there was a trace of bitterness mingled with the surprise and pity of her tone.
 Maud, Maud! Is 1t really youY
 And the beautiful society girl who had won Denton Kings heart away from Jean Lorlng after all smiled wan ly and promptly fainted away at Jeans feet
 The Christmas bells were ringing out a midnight peal when Jean Lorlng in a taxicab drove up to the door of her home. Alarmed servants were hover Ing in the hall when she entered, and they flew to do Jeans bidding when she entered with a fran, shabbily gowned woman, who was nevertheless a lady, and two beautiful, sleepy chil- dren.
 "Are the rooms ready% asked Jean, who had telephoned in advance of her coming.
 "Yes, Miss Loring. The nursery fire Is burning, and the blue room is ready"
 After the children had been put to bed in the nursery, which was sacred to Jeans own childhood and had al- ways been preserved in its original state, Maud King faced Jean in the luxurious warmth of the blue room. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her thin hands trembled.
 "Jean, dear, you would not let me say a word all this while" she said firmly, "but now I must tell you of fI,{rnu nADfor vE-og c1caasCfr1l F0T,