The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-11-17
Copyright, 1913, by the Newspaper
Enterprise Association.)


Continued From Saturday,
Out In the hall the half-hour
struck. muffled and mellow. The
silence.
God. II he did It. can't live
can't live"
Suddenly the happenings of the
day seemed to blur and run to-
gether. and there was a moment,
not of Inconsistencies, but of pro-
found indifference. Her capacity
for feeling snapped. But when she
tried to rise her whole being was
sick. She steadied herself by the
bookshelves; and then, somehow,
got upstairs. 1t was the sight of
the soft dress. with it's pretty laces,
that stung her awake. That dress;
was ii hers? Was she to put 1t on?
Was she to go and sit at the head
of that shining table down in the
dining room?
But. you know, Cant" she
said aloud.
But she did.
BY the time Fleming and his
counsel came tramping up from the
gate. at a. quarter past seven, and
stopped, hilariously, to kick the
snow off their boots before enter
ing the hall, Amy Fleming had aris-
en- to- meet the summons of Life.
when Amy Fleming. CHASTITY, in
her pretty dinner dress, sought
refuge in the kitchen (the one spot
where her husband would not be
apt to pursue herb and stood lis
tening to the voices of the two men
going upstairs. Mary Ann, the
waitress. needed no information
that there was something the
matter"
'She looks like she was dead"
she told Jane.
Jane" her mistress said, IT
wish you would open a bottle of
champagne; one of the pints, not
one of the big bottles; and give
me-a glass;" her voice was faint.
Jane obeyed hurriedly, and as the
cork popped one man upstairs
called out gayly to the other, Hui
10! has II begun alreadyT
Amy drank the wine and handed
the glass back to the anxious
woman. IT was feeling faint, Jane.
I am all right now, thank you.
oh. there's the door bell! I'll go in
to the library" And when the two
rather early Corners had taken off
their wraps and made their way
downstairs again they found their
hostess smiling whitley at them
from the hearthrug.
Then Thomas Fleming and his
lawyer came downstairs, and there
was more Handwriting and con-
gratulations, and 1t was not until
he looked at his wife at dinner
that Fleming really saw her face;
its haggard pallor struck him
dumb in the midst OF some gay
story to the pretty neighbor on his
right. I'm afraid my wife Is not
WELL" he said anxiously.
''oh, It's the reaction. Mr.. Flem-
ing. Amy has been perfectly
splendid; but now, naturally, she
feels the reaction"
Somehow or other, with fits gay
ETY. and good fellowship. that
dreadful evening passed. When the
friendly folk streamed out into the
starry winter night, there was
some anxious comment.
How badly she looked"
MY dear, can you wonder?
Think what she's been through
But one woman, on her husbands
arm, murmured, You don't sup
pose he COULD have--done any
thing?"
Twelve good men and true have
said he didn't; your remark is out
of order"
When Fleming closed the door
upon the last lingering guest, he
turned anxiousiy to his wife. Amy
I haven't had chance to speak to
you'll You are worn out Bates look
at her-she's worn out"
Bates, 1ounging in the library
doorway. agreed. Indeed she is;
Mrs. Fleming, you ought not to
have attempted a dinner party. L
believe it's all my fault because I
suggested it."
Its your fault. because you got
me Off" Fleming said. ljocoseiy.
The dallness of the first part of
the evening had quite disappeared;
he was rather flushed and inclined
to laugh buoyantly at everything;
ht.f l. e. fo 4. =
looked at his wife. "Ahy. you must
go right straight to bedT
II am going now" she said.
Good night. Mr.. Bates. - viii
copy that poem for you-some-
time" she ended family.