The daily Alaskan., 1920-10-07

NN"tAA N NAAN 'A4NhE ANNANo NbNNN ts'S trees. "I remember ] took one step after him. I knew nothing more till some time late In the night, when l walked with your crying and found my self lying face down upon the floor. My heart grew hard as I quieted you. He probably thought to find me next morning all tears and repentance-for a sin of which l was as innocent as the babe at my breast. I would show him that my blood was proud as his. Wrapping you in your cradle clothes, l mullled a cloak about me and stole from the house; stole down to the rlv- ar There I loosed a skiff, whose, l rrv,r knew, lay down in the stern and set it adrift. There was not star. Only INc mOGn-lOOlied down out of the dUIl sky, pale and sickly and trimmed with red; the gray sky my bosom; the siclily moon my heart. I rose and tried to TOW. but q faiutness came over me and I lay down again in the skin.
 "The next l knew l was on rude he'd in q h0uSeboat miles down the river, with q kindly family of pearl fishers. They told me had been sick for long time. When l grew strong, sold my jewelry, all but my wedding .ring-thut l saved for your sake bought this houscbOat, and became a pearl fisher. You know the rest"
 The rou-Gray-Woman fell silent; rocked softly back and forth time or two: allowed the chair to settle still. The man reached an arm around her shoulders and drew her head over upon his breast. The little act of ten dcruc~s seemed to touch her deeply. For a long time the tears flowed on while the young man knelt and mar yclrd
 "lIothcr." he said very gently at last, strukfng her hair, "we must go back to him."
 Ir felt her uulvcr at the word, She sat for a long time staring down at the floor.
 For your sakc-we must" she an swcrcd at length. But not until you are twcuty-oue, 0r-we find the pearl the ucarl'
 "But I um twenty-onc in June-this JuuC-thc twrHticth; and this is the thirteenth" The man was trembling with an eagermcSs he could not con- cpal. "Thp time Is so near-hiS name my fathers nauc!"
 He searched her wet eyes for the answer, In an his life, it was the first time the curtain that hid his past had ever raised. It must have hcen the fever that made Ter speak now. It was no light matter to unlock that door; to probe a wound of twenty years. She trrmhlcd up from her chair. her eyes wide and wild.
 Your fathcr-,". The young man, too. had risen. She clutchcd his arm. "YoUr father"
 The words seemed to choke her. There came torrent of coughing; and the man gently cascd her back into the chair.
 AS he stopped over her anxious to do something t0 alleviate her suffer- ing. yet not knowing what. she raised her face in a gasp for breath, and he saw blood upon her lips. He Snatched another cup of water and Enclt beside her. but for a long time she bumped forward, her shoulders cuppcd in and her arms locked as if trying to hold back the cough, until she seemed ac- tually 10 conquer it by sheer forcp of will Finally she gropcd with one hand for the cup: suDpcd the cool wa. ter. Slraightcncd. and lay back in her chair. There was no more blood on her lips and the man said nothing of the tiny Heck he had seen there.
 Mother they're getting worse, these spells. Let me bring the doctor down from tie village"
 Her eyes opened; she looked up at him with fcvcriSh quickness.
 i've lived twenty years without the world. I'll not go back to 1t now"
 "But, mother, if we just keep on this way, you1l-you1r'-he hcsitated at the next word finally let 1t fall-"die."
 "Diew she seemed to fOndle the word. "A small thing-to die!"
 She sat musing as if she found melancholy comfort in the thought.
 "But I shan't die" she continued, with a hasty glance up at his face. "NGy cough is worse today because my medicine is gone"
 The young man started.
 Your elecampane gone"
 "I took the last of 1t yesterday"
 "Motherr
 He went to the cook stove and lifted the saucer from a small jar in which the roots were usually steeped. It was empty and dry. There was a great ten derness in his voice as he came back and bent over her chair
 You shall have your elecampane tea" he said, If the roots are to be. found in the FIatwoods; and you shall sleep tonight in the old cabin up there under the cool trees"
 A ripple of pleased expectation, of half-awakened interest, broke the drear surface of the weary face-like q faint glow back of curtain that