that haunted him habitually of late gave way to a smile.

"It's work, little girl--hard and thankless work, that's all. This
country is intended for young men, and I'm too far along." His
eyes grew grave again, and he squeezed her fingers nervously as
though at the thought. "It's a terrible country--this--I--I--wish
we had never seen it."

"Don't say that," Helen cried, spiritedly. "Why, it's glorious.
Think of the honor. You're a United States judge and the first one
to come here. You're making history--you're building a State--
people will read about you." She stooped and kissed him; but he
seemed to flinch beneath her caress.

"Of course I'll go if you think I'd better," she said, "though I'm
not fond of Alaskan society. Some of the women are nice, but the
others--" She shrugged her dainty shoulders. "They talk scandal
all the time. One would think that a great, clean, fresh, vigorous
country like this would broaden the women as it broadens the men--
but it doesn't."

"I'll tell McNamara to call for you at nine o'clock," said the
Judge as he arose. So, later in the day she prepared her long
unused finery to such good purpose that when her escort called for
her that evening he believed her the loveliest of women.

Upon their arrival at the hotel he regarded her with a fresh
access of pride, for the function proved to bear little
resemblance to a mining-camp party. The women wore handsome gowns,
and every man was in evening dress. The wide hall ran the length