The daily Alaskan., 1916-07-26


 Donald Brown danced about excited Iy and vowed vengeance upon the Ped affords and all their tribe.
 Tom stepped out of the ruin be had created and shook reproving finger under the handsome nose of the irate gentleman.
 Be a sport, Mir. Brown" he remon- strated.
 "What do you want hereT" demanded Donald Brown.
 "I came to call upon Miss Linda"
 "Linda-poOh! She isn't here, sir!'
 "Then came to complain about the chickens, Aunt Amelia's garden is ruined"
 "Humph" snorted Mir. Brown.
 Being unmarried, It's rather hard on Aunt Amelia" went on the young man gently. If she had husband to protect her rights
 "Her own faultw put In MT. Brown grufly.
 Toms eyes danced. HO! There was an old romance here after all.
 "She may have been nasty" agreed Tom.
 "You mean she regrets-er-that she remained singleT" demanded the other eagerly.
 "Oh, no. mean she regrets that she has-had to speak to you about the chickens" explained Tom,
 "Ohm
 What world of disappointment was expressed in the ejaculationl Tom winced and discovered that he was actually feeling sorry for Donald Brown and Aunt Amelia. Why hadn't they ever married?" he wondered. To gether they would make a spirited pair; apart they nagged at each other "Both unhappy and don't know the req. son why" he decided wisely.
 You know, a woman won't admit she hasn't made happy choice when she decides to remain a spinster," ex plained Tom.
 "Ahr' Mir Brown snlffed little and wiped his eyes with a spOtless hand. kerchlef.
 Still, it's never too late for wom an to change her mind on any subject went on Tom.
 You might put 1t up to Amelia, then" said Donald Brown grimly. If she'll change her mind I'll change mine"
 You mean it?"
 Certainly"
 Put it there, Uncle Don" yelled Tom, pumping Mir. Browns hand up and down.
 "Please don't be quite so impetuous, young man." said Mir, Brown. My niece hasn't exhibited any signs of in terest in you-yet."
 Linda? Oh. shell wait" said Tom airily, for his mind was filled with visions of restoring Aunt Amelia to the arms of Donald Brown. Of course there had been an old romance, and this couple, sOured by time and loneli ness, only waited q diplomatic hand to join theirs in betrOthaL
 Linda and I'll be the bridesmaid and best man." thought Tom as he re treated toward the wall.
 "So you're going to put the question to AmeliaT" asked Donald.
 If you say sO?'
 "Of course Tell her I'm sorry 1t happened and that I'll take all the re- Sponsibility. I'm killing of my chick ems anyway. Only got a dozen left and they're nailed up tight as can be in the poultry yard"
 "Ill tell her" promised Tom as he vanished over the wall. Amelia PeddifOrd was sitting In her rose arbor knitting a shawl
 Aunt Amelia" said Tom impres. sively. I've talked with MT. Brown, and r-Says-er-that if you'll for get and foregive, why, he will take all the responsibility and blame for the trouble"
 Aunt Amelia stared. "Of course he was to blame," she said mildly. He never should have kept chickens any. way. They ate up his own flowers and vegetables and"-
 And he wants to marry you, Aunt Amelia" Tom confessed this hurried ly. He wanted the interview over. Had not Linda Brown just flashed past the house in her uncle's runabOut?
 Donald Brown wants to marry -me?" shrieked Aunt Amelia wrath fully. "The old bigamistr'
 "Bigamist?' gasped Tom.
 "Of course! Didn't you know he was married? Married my old school friend. Lizzie Blake. Poor Lizzie's weak minded and been in the asylum for dozen years. Marry me?"
 Perhaps he didn't mean that" ad- mitted the wretched youth. Let me tell you what he said. and you may understand"
 So painstakingly word for word he repeated what had been said between the two men on the other side of the wall. and when he had finished Aunt Amelia was laughing mirthfully and Donald Brown. who had slipped Into the yard and also heard. laughed sym