The daily Alaskan., 1915-07-15

NAbu huS M0S N.SdpppAutCh ny Nh0 tlA- nouncement that he was about to re- l turn to America.
 The return voyage seemed endless to | Edgerton, so eager was he to meet his fancee and the little girl to whom he was to be a father. He pictured him self taking his ease in his own house, surrounded by his family. The loneli- ness of Q bachelor life in a foreign country was now to be a thing of the past.
 Edgerton was the first passenger to step ashore at San Francisco, and within an hour after landing he was speeding eastward on a railway train. The day and hour of his arrival was known to Mrs. POmeroy, and Edger- ton expected that she would meet him at the station. His impatience to see her caused him to hope that she would, but his aversion to the public witness ing their meeting caused him to hope that she would not She did not appear. Calling a con- veyance, he drove to her home. A maid opened the door for him, and so sure was he that his flancee would do so that he came near throwing his arms around the maid. He was ush- cred into a drawing room somewhat dimly lighted, but there was no one there. In a few minutes, hearing q light step on the staircase, he ap- prOached the door and stood waiting. A woman entered the room, and he caught her in his arms.
 She submitted to the embrace, but did not return it.
 You are as you were when we part ed," he said in q disappointed tone. You were then without warmth, and you are without it now. wonder how you could have been true to me all these years"
 Standing off from her, he was aston ished to see one who looked not day older than when he had left her.
 Upon my word,' he exclaimed joy fully, "yOu have not changed in the least! It Is marvellous how you have retained your youth. feel almost too old for you"
 Now for the first time the lady ven tured to speak, but she spoke not as widow of mature age; she was rath- CT coy young girl. She haltlngly told him that he said what he did in order to flatter her, whereupon be vowed that he spoke the truth, and he en- braced her again.
 And now" he said, releasing her, "where Is baby? l must see her at once"
 You forget that baby is no longer baby; she is schoolgirl"
 Where is sheY
 "Why, she is at school"
 At school! Not here to welcome her papa? But she will return pres ently"
 "She Is at a boarding school some distance from here" This was said falteringly as falsehOod would be spoken.
 Surely you arc deceiving me. It cannot be that
 Clara is well; nothing has happened to her"
 "ClaraT
 "Of course. Have you forgotten that her name and mine are the same?"
 "Oh! have always been accustom- ed to think of her as baby For my life cannot understand how you can have preserved your youth. Are you sure that no rouge'--
 Not q particle"
 Surely by this time you should have a few faint lines around your eyes. I see no trace of age whatso- ever. Your lips are as red as they were when last kissed them"
 And he kissed them again.
 But why" he continued, do you welcome me in this dim light?"
 Perhaps when you see me in q brighter one you may sec what age has done for me-"
 AS she spoke lights were turned on from another part of the house, and woman entered the drawing room whom Edgerton did not remember to have seen before.
 My mother" said Clara Pomeroy.
 Happy to meet you, madam" said Edgerton, lowing. Then, turning to Clara: Your mother! Why, I suppos- ed your mOther'-
 "Hughw said the lady who had en- tered.
 Edgerton started. He looked again at Clara's mother, and there came to him a feeling that he had made grave mistake He turned from her to the daughter. Under the brighter light he saw that she could not be more than twenty. Turning again to the mother, he recognized his fiancee of sixteen years ago turned into woman who, though not quite forty, looked at least fifty. Her hair was white, he, skin was wrinkled, her neck under her chin was shriveled.
 q am Clara" she said, "and that is Baby When you went away did not believe that on your return would be fit age for you. look older than am, but no man of your age should