The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-01-21
Chapter 20
LOVE BECKONs

61tSIGI ODNiOuS4y dAlA4Ouo VI NNAh to Morse. Anne took advantage of the interruption and turned to leave. Morse followed her to the door and said in a quiet voice, "To- morrow them"
 TAs you like" she assented.
 She found her aunt sitting by 9 reading lamp apparently much en- grossed in her knitting. Shall we go upstairs?" Anne asked, an6 without waiting for an answer went to her room. Her aunt joined her there.
 "Mr. Morse has asked me to marry him." Anne announced very abruptly
 Mrs. Wilmot looked across at her coidly. Well, and you refused him, I suppose?"
 My dear Aunt Emily"
 "Nothing that you could possibly do would surprise me-
 There was a silence The older woman adjusted herself near the lamp on the table and spread out her knitting again.
 T certainly did not refuse him, Anne said after a time. But he stipulated that the wedding should take place tomorrow l think, she laughed little, he is afraid to wait. You see, the other man did serve purpose after all"
 The woman on the other side Of the table grunted enigmatically well. you won't marry him to- morrow or the day after either" she said decisively. T will speak to Leon myself"
 My dear Auntie-" Anne stood up. i've certainly can't afford to be saueafnish about trifles--to swal- low whale and then gulp at a minnowl For the rest" she added lightly. T fancy we'll do just about as he says from now on, you and |. The hand that pulls the purse strings, you know--by the way that was what I told him"
 .'You modern girls are beyond me- her aunt confessed with 8 perplexed shake of her head.
 Anne lifted her eyebrows amused- ly well, we have debts that must be paid-it was no good mine ing matters. I think he liked it-- my being so frank" She started toward the other room. Good night, Auntie, I'm going to bed"
 Hrs Wilmot looked after her pro testingly. "You don't mean you're not going downstairs again?"
 t.That's just what I do mean. You can tell the bridegroom-to-be that have headache or that I'm resting for tomorrows ordeal or whatever you Ike
 With her hand on the door knob, however, Anne paused then leaned across and laid one hand timidly over the busy. plump old fingers. Tt is wonderful. isn't it, Auntie?- to know that it's all settled-that we don't have to worry any more about money or creditors or-hus- bandst'
 Well, it's not settled any too soon The fingers were with drawn with no answering move ment. "But-Im glad you've had sense enough to do your duty at last
 Anne let her own hand slip un- obtrusively from the table. You did mean what you said tonight didn't you, Aunt Emily-down there at the dinner table?"
 Mrs. Wilmot peered up at hei keenly. T certainly did" she said
 ~Thank you" Anne laughed lightly as she started again towards her bedroom door. At least, yot have always been honest with me I'm grateful for that. Good night
 Tears stung hot and blindlnt against her eyelids as she closed the door quickly behind her ant groped her way through the dark ness to her bed, but she dashed them away impatiently.
 At midnight, she was still sittinI fully dressed on the edge of he bed. Delphine had tapped on he door twice, but she had sent he away for the night. Mrs. Wilmo had stopped to say that Leon hat g6le down to the construction cam and would not be back until late She had had a most satisfactor talk with him, and thought 1t wa better to have the wedding on tn morrow and avoid the usual fus and bother. Anne had only smile sagely to herself.
 She switched off the lights an stepped through one of the Frencl windows onto a small rustic bal cony at the front. She pressed he forehead against the rough, COG surface of one of the rustic pillar: Below her on the porch she coul' make out two red circles-the tip of Morse's and Douglas cigars. Alp pare1dtly they had just returned Their voices came up to her, mer