The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-06-19

She had still to learn that every
 one is alone, unable to reach across that cast chasm to another soul.
 But as she stood there she knew
 with a feeling of joy that she still
 had Aunt Elm and Hallie. Never
 until this moment had she known
 how much they meant to her.
 Spring had come. It came in the
 blowing March winds and the swell
 ing of the horse chestnut buds out
 side the window; it came from the open country with the tang of wild things pushing through the fecund earth.
 When Nora let herself in that March evening she heard Hallie's voice and Aunt Ems answering laughter She had them still; she would always have them, she thought with 8 queer little tug at her heart.
 What do you think?" Hallie cried as Nora went into the back parlor.
 "A letter from Fran?"
 Hallies sallow face was burned deep red. Aunt Ems eyes were lively.
 "The oil stock is good?"
 ''Tell her, Hallie." . Hallie thrust into Nora's hand a long document with a light blue back Nora rustled through the typewriter pages without un- derstanding.
 Don't you know contract when you see it, my child?" Hallie cried. You remember that letter to Pan- 1 sy? I've done more since-even worse-and the editor wants me to conduct the column. I think the poor fellows a fool or he would never have done it. But I'll make enough money to live on" You're wealthy!' Nora exclaim- ed.
 Not on $40 a week" Hallie grim ! Ined.
 They sat entranced as Hallie read through the long dull riga marble of the contract Aunt Elm said at the end they thought of taking the white cottage near the McDonalds in the country.
 T can grow roses and old-fasn- { toned pinks," she looked at Nora, and there'll always be a room just for you, Nora. We want you to be happy" Nora remembered how Fran had said just those words Months ago when everything was still before her; when life was a great expec- tation; when anything might hap pen she could have believed theni. | But now i
 They were going to leave the little red brick house For the first time she knew she loved it: the back parlor with its cottage piano and the bare floor with the oval rag rugs, the pussy willow in the gray earthen jar, the shabby books, the basement dining room where they had talked and laughed and planned; the narrow back yard with it's struggling little flowers and magnificent tree.
 The little house would be empty. Perhaps she could find a room nearby, Nora thought. and the days would follow each other and some day perhaps MT. Dusenbury would make her his secretary. She could buy flowers and books and hear music and go out to spent Satur- day night with Aunt Elm and Hal lie
 But she would be part of, their life no longer -'S Perhaps in time she would be- come like Miss Brown in the bookkeeping department at the of flee, pretending that the desk is house and that when She closes | it up and covers the typewriter she | is putting the children to bed Nora repressed shudder at the dismal prospect. - Spring had come Spring with | it's urge and its restlessness: spring that promised so much. It was only last spring that she had lived in the Villa Rosa and stolen out into the dewy garden at dawn. Only last spring when all the world lay before her. But Nicholas and Fran and Jon were gone now. She was at last alone.
 Nora looked up at Aunt Elm. Hal | lie had left the room. T want you to have your own life, Nora, a full, rich life. Not the life of an old woman with me. I shall have my music lessons; Hal lie, her writing. But that's not for tyou. Nora"
 They heard Fergus whistling as he came in. The door closed be- hind him with a bang. i A faint color blew up into Nora's cheeks and famed into a burning scarlet as Aunt Elm continued:
 Your own home, your own mate, your own children" s''''
 That evening Fergus joined them,
 listening to their plans, his eyes