The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-03-03
GODDESS
by Herberf Jensen

ANA t-ACS 9Ay
 She had told the man she loved that she loved him, and he had, upon the telling. pressed her away from him and was gone. perhaps, to his death. This WIS incredible because she knew, instinctively. that this man loved her.
 Was mans love different than a woman's? All her life she had avoided what was called falling in love as matter of expediency-a measure of safety against an emo ton that she felt would demolish a career and a position in it that she had worked so hard to achieve. She Knew her avoidance was not based upon repugnance, but on timid- ity. She had played too many roles wherein the woman gave all for love not to appreciate that there was sound basis of fact for this instinct.
 During tfe weeks that Frank and bsha had been companions, she came to a fuller appreciation of the enor- nous timidity that had held her that night in Hollywood when Frank had asked her to marry him.
 She had struck him. gripped with that instinct that is as old as Eve which causes the female to flee be- fore the advancing male. She had paid for that unreasoning gesture since with many 9 heartache.
 Was mans love different than woman's? How could Frank have left. loving her, without some word for her alone? Billy will explain | why I'm going" Then he was gone like that last night in Hollywood.
 She was scarcely conscious that Billy Langton stood before her. Gently he bent forward and took one of ner hands in his own.
 Hell be back. Janice. Frank is resourceful. Why, he's got as many lives as a." He broke off slightly confused as if he realized the impli- cation Of his words. But the import or his phrasing was lost upon the girl.
 He left me. Billy. He left me without a word. Tears yelling un- controllably dimmed her sight.
 Because he loves you. Janice." A THIN mist began to fall; 1t glis { Atened on the shrubbery about them. The tall palms appeared to droop. as if in cringing expectation of a heavier downpour Janice hunched her shoulders in a slight shudder.
 it's so dreary today. .. Billy. if he loved me he would have taken me with him."
 "Nonsensei" Langton attempted to make his tone brusk. What sort of man would Frank be, if he made you share a risk like that? Any man would have done the same. :"
 Janice nodded her head in dull agreement. Any man, perhaps. Billy but not a woman"
 Langton smiled slightly. He drew the girl to her feet. Come, Janice. let's go inside The rain is going to soak us The raft's finished and I've stacked some balsa in the shack. We can work on the life-belts inside"
 A distant rumble sounded. The noise of the rain increased to steady drumming on nearby leaves.
 They passed through the shack into the cave, At the entrance small fire was burning. Frank had made it that morning Again Janice's eyes misted: a tightness grew about her throat that was impossible to re- i lieve.
 She cooked little food and served 1t in the crude utensils that Frank had devised for them. She put bits of venison into her mouth and chewed mechanically: it was an eff. fort to swallow. 4 tear ran down her cheek and splashed on the back of her hand.
 Later she attended to the ahkin. The high-priest stared at her curl cusly, she thought. She seemed to detect mocking glint in his eyes Despite his helplessness there seemed to be an indefnable air of triumph about him-a subtle sense of success.
 Her mind was too dull to speculate upon this. Days of association with him had made her immune to the constant hate in his eyes; that this mad priests hate should increase or wane was matter of indifference to her.
 They worked on the three life belts until far into the evening. The downpour outside made a continu. ous sound that seemed to fatten her eardrums. The very air within this closed place was tangibly depress. ! ing.
 Finally she took down from a peg a tattered khaki coat = it was Frank's-and took it to the cot he had made for her-hide thongs stretched across framework and [ covered with skins and soft grasses. tcobvisht. I034. 6y Rsr5eyt Jsnss.)