The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-08-04


 true"
 "The dream of my life has coma true" -..,. She had said almost those same words to him when they were first married-when she was basking in the reflected sunshine of his glory. when she was someone because of him.
 He wondered if he envied her or if the noise and artificial glamor of the life from which he was cut of had ceased to mean anything to him.
 In those days. there had always been anxiety, striving. fear lest yet another star should fall into ob- scurity, whereas now he knew the worst, there was nothing any longer tC hope for, or dread!
 It was so peaceful here in the heart of England; the trees and fields and hedgerows were like faces of half-forgotten friends which one recognizes with quiet gladQess to find them singularly unchanged.
 Nichola. had no thought for the future; he was like ship-wrecked vessel that has been washed into calm waters and is glad to rest awhile. He found himself suddenly by the gate where Georgie had leaned and wept the morning after they both came home.
 Funny little soul! A half smile crossed his face as he thought of her, and of the innocent way in which she had tried to force her friendship pon him.
 0NLY last night Dr. Dudd had V spoken to him half apologetical- ly, of a German doctor who could work miracles on battered faces like his own: yes. Dudd had been very apologetic, fearing no doubt to touch with an ungentle hand the thing which was responsible for his pres ence in this sleepy village. It was another surprise that he should not in the least have resented it.
 "In these days of marvellous sur gery," Dudd had said. "I know of two specific cases myself-absolute- ly satisfactory-"
 No doubt in Dudd's eyes he was as ugly as that other almost forgot ten world had found him. as prob- ably everybody had found him.
 Except Georgie." the thought came unbidden into his mind. She had not shrunk from him; her steady eyes had rested on his face with sweet, whole-hearted friendship, seeing nothing of it's disfiguration.
 But she was only child; child to be pitied if Dudd and Mrs. Spears were to be believed. Nicholas had seen Edward Bancroft, and had felt a sort of contemptuous pity for him. He had met many men of the same type before, and it was only when one thought os him in relation to Georgie that the contemptuous pity was touched with something harder and difficult to explain.
 Possibly Edward Bancroft seemed less repulsive and impossible to Georgie than he did to the rest ot the world, Nicholas thought, and hoped that it was so. She was young and some day she would marry. Funny to think of that child being married; he remembered her quaint ly outspoken words to him on the boat about some man who had asked her to dance. T hated the way he looked at me, and so wouldn't"
 Yes, she was just child with an innate sense of purity and the fit ness of things; he hoped when the right man came along he would be a decent fellow and bring her the happiness she had so far failed to find. r s Poor little kid! Nicholas Boyd turned and walked slowly back. He wondered what sort of house they shared together, this ill-assorted pair, and with suddenly aroused curiosity he stopped farm lad who was coming whistling down the road and asked where he could find the Hollies. Geo.gie had described the house to him.
 "Old," she had called 1t, land rather dingy." Hardly fitting set ting for anyone so lighthearted and charming.
 The lad pointed up the road with a brown finger.
 First on the left: stands back be- hind oily edge" M
 Nicholas took the road indicated.
 Yes, Georgie's description had been correct; "old and rather dingy."
 And then sudden impulse came to Nicholas Boyd. He would call and see her. He had thrown her roses into the sea-perhaps the only roses he should have kept were those hs had so ungraciously discarded.
 He pushed open the gate and walked up to the front door. (Copyrioht. 1ssS.s Doubleday DoranJ
 T.