The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-09-15

The words had made no sense. Apparently it was something in code and unfinished But it was the marquesa's writing, and the marquesa being out, Juanita had carried it back to the place from which it probably had blown, the marquesa's desk.
 Next day the marquesa had put the paper into an envelope and ad- dressed it to Divitt.
 The incident had troubled Jua- nita somewhat. Inevitably she had suspected that the letter was about herself
 Divitt was keeping a watch on her movements through the mar quesa, and anybody could see what vas going on between herself and Kirk.
 Divitt did not intend that she should marry and leave and per haps betray him. How easily she could have married Kirk and es- capped both Divitt and the mar quesa. Yet Kirk himself had barred that way. What do you expect of a girl in that place? They all have fantastic tales . Always un- willing :"
 When his kind eyes had looked at her those nights in the parlor, sustaining her, he had been taking t for granted that She was mere woman of the streets A fam tastic tale indeed!
 He would listen kindly, if she told it to him, imploring him to believe. His eyes would be as kind as they had been in Divitt's.
 He might even affect to believe her What was she before she went there?" he had asked. That other thing she had had to tell him-how could she tell him now? How could she tell him anything?
 The marquesa consented to spend the rest of the week at the Stan ard home, but Monday she must return to the Tijon. Juanita was glad of this firm decision, regretful only of the delay.
 Kirk's importunities. silent and spoken were becoming more than she could bear.
 You love this other man, Jua- nita," he had said. and Juanita had not denied, permitting the mar quesa's fiction to shelter her.
 But Kirk on their last evening in Biloxi had demanded more defi- nite confirmation of his words. They had been sitting together on the verandah, little apart from Nelly and the marquesa, Adrian and his mother having returned home.
 ~Is that it, Juanita?" Kirk had asked You love him best after all?"
 She had answered after pause, '"The past has it's hold on us"
 What sort of hold?" Kirk asked. "Is it love?"
 But she had said, Don't ask me any more
 After time he told her, You are going on to California, as the marquesa says. You are going back to Spain"
 And she had answered, truthfully enough, T don't know where I'm going
 It had been useless for him to say as he had said next day, in one of their brief instances alone, You are not happy. Juanita. Even if you won't marry me, let me do something-anything-to help you !"
 They had just ridden in from Biloxi The marquesa was scuttling up the stair. following Pompey and their bags.
 In the dim hall Kirk had caught Juanita's hand, holding her back. She had smiled up at him, leaving her hand in his, knowing an instant of poignant happiness.
 T am happy" she had said with brave, soft eyes; had turned from him, following the marquesa to their rooms.
 And there on the bed had lain the new dress-black tulle with a line of red roses down the back, black slippers and a little spangled fan.
 Juanita wore the dress that eve ming, coming down the stair to find Kirk waiting, tall in his evening clothes his eyes troubled, yet light ing at sight Of her.
 The marquesa had on the red satin dress with the beaded red cape she had worn at the Comus ball. She seemed cross and rather abstracted, yet alert whenever Kirk spoke to Juanita, however casu- ally, as they rode to the Gran shaws'.
 Perhaps if the place cards were kind, he would sit next to Juanita, reflected Kirk, and surely they would dance after dinner. ! Juanita's change of heart could mt lQct It hod onx>,a f1r er,LIa,,1x,