The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-04-29
Daddy" Was Not a Stacker

last compelled me to lay my book aside. It was after twelve and the rain was beating gently on the win dow pane. An occasional gust of wind rattled the old shutters with a weird sound. My eyes were tired but I did not feel inclined to sleep. I arose and turned down the old fashioned lamp by which I had been reading. I seated myself before the fire again and watched the dancing shadows which the fiickering flames cast on the walls and ceiling. The sound of the rustling wind in the large trees near my window grew fainter and fainter until finally 1t ceased. The shadows in the room slowly faded into obscurity as sank back contentedly into the cushions of my large easy chair.
 Presently it seemed that was walking down the gravel path to the house where Nell and had spent the first happy years of our married life. And she was skipping down the path to meet me as she had always done. l felt her warm kiss on my lips and heard her speaking in her eager tones of joyful hope and expectancy. "Is my boy tired tonight" I heard her ask in her loving way. "I know he is and l have nxed the incest little supper for him and after he has eaten I'm going to tell him a nice little secret" felt her grasp my soiled hand in hers and lead me won deringly up the steps into our home. Then again I heard her telling me that simple little story that a few years before had meant so much to both of us and had been the light that leads us away from our past life to higher, broader, sweeter exist ence. Again I felt that change com ing over me that had come when she told, with shining eyes and throbbing heart of the little one that was to come to us and give new meaning to our lives and every living thing.
 Then the scene changed and I saw her as she sat working diligently away with her quick fingers at the little dresses and small stockings and l heard her soft voice again speaking eagerly of "our boy'' and of "the little angel God was going to send us." Then I saw her again lying so peaceful in the early dawn of that eventful day. with the small bundle of sleeping humanity, whose coming had meant so much to us, lying snug gled by her side. saw the happy, contented smile of motherhood rest ing on her pale white face and again the tears of joy and untold happiness rose up from my heart as they had done on that morning several years in the past. As stood there at her feet she stirred uneasily in her peace full sleep and the smile which had played around the corners of her mouth faded quickly away and in it's stead came look of frightened terror. My baby. my baby!" she moaned. Save my baby. oh Billie, Billie, save our baby" thought she was dream ing and thought to soothe her but l could not move. My feet felt cold. l could hear an awful up Oar above me and looking down saw the water rising slowly in the room where we were. tried to call for help but could not raise my voice above a faint whisper The water crept steadily in and felt it reach my knees. The noise above increased and I could hear voices and hurrying footsteps as many people hurried to and fro in panic stricken fear. Still could not move nor make my voice heard. The water at last reach ed the bed and saw the long shining tresses of her golden hair drift slowly over the face of our strangling babe. I heard men above shouting orders and heard the shrieks of frightened women. Suddenly the water broke the door and burst into the room in torrent, carrying with it the struggling forms of mothers and babes. &I saw our own lifeless child drifting about the room and yet I could not move from the spot where it seemed that I must spend eternity. Were sinking, sinking fast" some one shouted and then I heard rat tling chains and creaking pulleys as the boats were being lowered, for the scene hal shifted again and now it seemed that we were on sinking boat in midocean instead of our hap py home of former days. Finally finding strength to stir myself, rushed up on deck in a frantic search for my missing wife and drowning child. There was no land to be seen nor even the sail of a friendly ship. The passengers had assembled at one end and were singing Nearer My God to Thee" Boats were being lowered and there lying few yards from us I cOu1d see a suhmarina