The daily Alaskan., 1915-08-18

nounccment that be was about to re- turn to America.
 The return voyage seemed endless to EdgertOn, so eager was he to meet his flanCee and the little girl to whom he was to be q father. He pictured him self taking his case in his own house, surrounded by Lis family. The loneIi- ness of q bachelor life in q foreign country was now to be thing of the past.
 EdgCrton 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 EnOwn 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 con veyance, he drove to her home. 4 maid opened the door for him, and so sure was he that his lnncce would do so that he came near throwing his arms around the maid. He was ush- cred into a drawing room somewhat dlmly lighted. but there was no one there. In d few minutes, hearing a light step on the staircase, he ap- preached the door und stood waiting. 4 woman entered the room, and he caught her in his arms.
 She submitted 10 the embrace, but did not return it.
 You are as you were when we pGrt- ed," he said in d disappointed tone. You were then without warmth, and you are without it now. I wonder how you could have been true to me all these years"
 Standing off from her. he was aston ished to sec one who looked not a day older than when he had left her.
 Upon my worG," he exclaimed joy fully, 'you have not changed in the least! It is marvellous how you have retained your youth. l feel almost too old for you"
 Now for the first time the lady ven tured to speak, but she spoke not as a widow of mature age; she was rat CT a coy young girl. She haluugly told him that he said WA 1t he did in order to fattcr her. wGcrcUpun hc vowed that he spoke the truth, and he em- bracel her again.
 And now" he said. releasing her, "whcrc is baby? l must see hF at once"
 You forget that baby is no longer baby; she Is a schoolgirl"
 "Nhcrc Is shc:'
 "Why, she is at school"
 At school. Nut here to welcome her papa? But ~ae will return pres ently:"
 "Sle ls at a boarding school some distance from here" This was said falterlngly as a faIschood would be spoken.
 Surely you are dccciymE me. It cannot be that
 Clara is well; nothing has happened to her"
 "Clara:"
 "Of course. Have you forgotten that her name and mine are the same"
 "Oh! l have always been accustOm- ed to think of her as baby For my life I cannot understand how you can have preserved your youth. Are you sure that no roUge'--
 Not a particle"
 Surely by this time you should have a few faiu, lines around your eyes. l see no trace of age whatso- ever. Your lips arc as rel as they were when l last kissed them"
 And he kissed them again.
 But why" he continued, do you welcome me in this dim lightG"
 "Perhaps when you sec me in q brighter one you may see what age has done for me"
 As she spoke lights were turned on from another part of the house, and MOlllUu tlltLtA l-sN AAAA VI AAAr1 tRN-Ai whom Edgcrton 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- cd your mother"-
 Hugh" said the lady who had en- tered.
 Edgerton startcI He looked again at Clara's mother, and there came to him feeling that he had made a 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 1ancee of sixteen years ago turned into a woman who, though not quite forty, looked at least fifty. Her hair was white, her skin was wrlnklcd, her neck under her ,bgy yr-Oe s,hriyn7nI