The daily Alaskan., 1914-06-25

| Twenty years passed while Helen YVES waiting for Ned to get hiEaifairs ln shape to marry her. Then one day | he made up his mind that his income was sufficient for the purpose. She had said that If he came even after ! twenty years absence he would find i her ready to marry him. He would come east and take her back with him. When Jim showed me a letter from l Ned announcing his coming We looked at each other doubtfully. The letter contained a reference to the beautiful face that had patiently looked out upon him from his bureau for so many years. It was my belief that Ned was thinking of marrying this young girl in stead of the faded. middle aged woman that she had become Had he been with her all this while the change would have not been nOticcable-at least not shocking.
 Men are not as apt to grow old look ing as women, and quite likely Ned had kept a youthful appearance. We did not fear Helens being disappointed In him, only his being disappointed in her, for she locke Etcn years older than she was. and Ger face had taken on a disappointed expression. Her complex ion was white; her hair was thin and streaked with gray. She was certainly not the woman man of his age would choose for wife. He would naturally prefer one from ten to twenty years younger.
 Ned did not write her th0t he was coming. He wished to surprise her So in his letter to Jim he asked him not to mention the matter to her.
 Don't you think, Jim," l said, that we had better give him a sight of her without her knowing it? If he wishes to go no further it will be better for both of them that he should be free to go back west without making himsef known"
 Right you are, my dear" Jim re piled And I'm uot sure but that we should give Helen 90 peep at Ned un- der the same conditions. I saw a man from the west the other day who knows Ned very well. He told me that Ned was not a fresh looking man at all. He was nearly bald, and what hair was left was white as snow. This gives a comparatively young man a very old appearance"
 "That's fortunate. He won't be so likely to be disappointed with Uelen's looks"
 "He won't eh? He will be blind to his imperfecttons. and she will be blind to hers.
 ] sighed for l feared that Jim spoke the truth.
 When Ned arrived he went straight to Jim, happy after having waited so many years at the prospect of being united with the love of his youth. Jim came home from the meeting and told me that Ned looked even older than he had been described He had talked en- thusiaStcalIy about Ueleu's beautiful features. the curves of her figure and all that. Jim had asked him to dinner, stating that l would be glad to tell him all about Helen, so that he might bg the better prepared to meet her afte. their long separation.
 It occurred to me to invite Helen to the house while Ned was there. l tele- Dhoned her that Jim was to have a friend with him during the evening and would like her to come over and sit with me.
 When Ned saw me it was plain that he was a bit shocked at the change in me. l saw by his expression that be was thinking whether he would see the same change in Helen. He had apparently been disposed to chat with me in the way of youngsters, such as we were when we parted-indced, he tried, but the effort was a failure. Where, oh, where was that head of thick raven hair l had admired so muCh2 Where the white teeth, the slender figure? And life in a rough country had roughened Ned. He was bronzed and seemed to have forgotten the kings English.
 After dinner Ned and Jim smoked, 1 retiring to another part of the room. Helen came in, and we could both see and hear the men chatting.
 'Who is that old boOr over there r-.Eth lin, gF o1F-a1 TTaTnr
 Do you consider him a bOor" asked.
 Hes both disagreeabIe looking and speaking"
 This was my experience with Helen. Jim's experience with Ned was told me later. Ned paid no attention to the lady chatting with me until Jim spoke of her as a friend of mine and a lovely woman Then Ned gave her a glance, remarElng:
 'The old lady looks ready to turn up her toes, doesn't shc?"
 Helen went home, leaving Ned still with us. Jim then told him he had been looking on his IadyIove. Ned looked astouuded, disappointed, then frightened.
 Docs she know I'm hcreT he asked.
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