The daily Alaskan., 1914-09-29

"A relative Of Lu's," said Billy "shes not Ill, only bashfuli doesn't like to meet strangers, you know"
 Billy didn't more than half finish his dinner before he arose from the table.
 Sorry to leave you, old man," he said. You'll excuse me, won't youi Lu will take good care of you. TT try to get in before 10. Don't go til I come back"
 l was left tete-a-tete with a pretty woman, and Billy had taken care to have title of good wine on the table, so mat had not been sensible of the danger of the situation should have rejoiced. was somewhat reas- sured by a twinkle in Mrs. Bryce's eye when she kissed her husband goodby, for I began to think, after all, they had conspired to get rid of nay belief that Billy's marriage would be a deprivation to me.
 Whatever was their design, l fell into it. did not fear for Mrs Bryce, but I did fear for myself. She showed no disposition to go back on Billy by deed, word or look. It was l who in my heart envied my friend his wife
 Billy did not return at 10 o'clock or at II. At half past II I tore myself away after having passed a delightful evening.
 During the next week Billy and his wife were constantly telephoning for me. I found myself becoming infatuat- ed with her and tried to keep away, but they wouldn't let me do so. Billy was as persistent as his wife and she as persistent as Billy.
 A guilty conscience needs no &C., cuser, and 1t seemed to me that Billy must notice my embarrassment, my , shamefacedness. But he didn't. At any rate, he was as cordial, as jovial, as af- fectionate as he had ever been. And, as for being jealous of me, such an idea appeared never to enter his head. h. deed, he seemed to be constantly con. irving to leave me alone with his wife. had not been introduced to Mrs. Bryce week before Billy announced that he was called away on business and would be absent for about ten days. :.
 "WhatF' l exclaimed. Leave your wife so soon after your weddingT
 What can do? Business won't wait while a man is spooning with a new wife. Besides, Lu won't go with me-"
 Indeed. won't" said Lu. "I detest travelling. Besides, how would I amuse myself, shut up in a hotel, while Billy was attending to business2 No, thank you. I'm comfortable here"
 "Therer' said Billy. "You see what marriage is. They're very sweet on you till they get you; then you discover that it's all put on."
 His wife reproached him, but seemed to have difficulty in represstng smile Truly they were taking great deal of trouble to make me feel that had been gainer instead of loser by Billy's marriage.
 spent every evening at Billy's house during his absence. l made one sickly effort to miss an evening, but Mrs. Bryce asked me what in, the world she would do alone. I asked her if the rel. ative Billy had mentioned as being with her would not be a companion for her, but she said that person had gone the same day as Billy.
 By the time the ten days of Billy's absence had gOne-and they seemed but half a week-I had so far given my heart to his wife that dared not meet him. asked Mrs. Bryce when she ex- pected him. and she said not for cou- pie of days. But when dining with her heard a key in the latch of the front door and knew that my bosom friend now my bosom eIemy-had returned He ushered in lady who noticed re- sembled bis wife. She came up to me amiling and put out her hand.
 "I am Mrs. Bryce" she said. "We have all been playing game. Billy thought 1t would be a good joke to in- troduce you to my sister, Edith, as his wife. He said he thought it would break the formality of your coming under the new conditions. l kept out of the way till Billy concluded to be absent for awhile; then I went with him."
 And you are the relative to whom a dinner was carried upstairsP
 q am."
 'STo tell the truth, old man." Billy broke in, you were getting so devoted to my wife that thought I'd better"-
 "Wllliam~ protested she who had played the part of his wife:
 This was great bouIeversement both for me and Edith. So long as she had been the leading lady in play she had not scrupled at anything, but now that she must be herself again she be- gan to show signs of embarrassment. was too stupid to see that this plot had been intended to take proper care of me in the loss of my friend by giY- ing me 8 wife. confess was at 6 loss to understand why they had thought proper to play such a joke on me, but I did not refer it to its true source.
 We had merry dinner together,
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