The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-07-22
Chapter Seven
GIFT FROM NICHOLAS

-~ GIFT FROM NICHOLAS NICHOLAS finally said. "You must AN have been very young when Ae died"
 ,'T was seven. but can remember him quite well. He'd only been dead ayear when mother married again." "So much for everlasting con. stancy." Nicholas said cynically.
 ''i don't blame her." Georgie said quickly. Shed been used to every. thing she wanted, and she couldn't have 1t after he died. She simply had to get married again"
 "For money?"
 "Yes. Everything my father had he left for me"
 And so you're a young woman of wealth?"
 "No. I've got about fifteen hun dred dollars year. It doesn't go very far"
 '''WARt do you do with it?"
 "I spend most of 1t on theaters and things like that. love the the ater and the pictures. I've always wanted to go on the stage" s''Good God!" Nicholas sat up sud denly, a heavy frown on his face. Don't be little fool. It's a hell of . life"
 "Is it?" Gecrgie said wistfully. q should love to be able to make peo- pie happy. should love to see a great big theater full of people all laughing and applauding because they liked me-"
 A big sailing vessel was crossing the path, of moonlight that lay across the quiet bosom of the sea. A fairy ship it looked. it's dark silhouette tinged with gold, it's sails like wings of silver. ,@
 Georgie started up-"Oh, let's go and look at the ship"
 They welt out onto the open deck and leaned on the rails.
 It was a warm, still night, and the great vessel seemed hardly moving as they looked down at the silent sea far below.
 s. And to think we've got to leave 1t all." Georgie whispered. .;s She was standing very close be- side him. their arms almost, touch ing, and she said suddenly: T won- der if we shal; ever meet again." , He laughed. Some day, perhaps, the world is small"
 A She looked up at him. her face very fair in the moonlight. q suppose you won't come and see me. even If 1 give you my ad- dress?"
 IT seemed a long time before he banswerec; x then he said. unemo tienally: When you've travelled as much as l have you will know that people you meet at sea always seem far more attractive than they do when you meet them on land. There's an unnatural glamor." 0i q know" Georgie said. Nelly was saying something of the same sort this evening. You know she's had quite love affair with that man l told you about but she says she doesn't suppose she'll ever see him again when they get to England. She'd been crying. l expect l shall cry too, when we get to Southamp- r ton" m
 You will? What for? You haven't had a love affair with anyone"
 Georgfe turned her face away, one hand clutchins the wooden rail with frantic fingers. .s r "But l shan't see you any. more, :, she almost whispered. u
 He must have heard-she knew quite well that he must have heard, but it was a long time before Ae . spoke.
 "Pm thirty-five," he said then. very quietly. And I'm a married man. You're twentyone. and all your life is before you. You've been kind to me-don't spoil 1t all by making yourself absurdly and senti- mentally miserable even for i've minutes. 1 shan't forget you. 5e- !, lieve I've even grown. well. fond of you in |. way. But when we get to England" he broke of.
 A sudden tea, splashed down onto Georgie's crimson frock.
 "I win seq him again, 1 will" she told herself passionately. M
 She moved suddenly to turn Co him. and the old silver cigarette case she had been holding slipped from her hand and fell into the dark