The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1913-07-26


er's sn-what comfort could he be to her? He had
gone away to enlist; he was drunk when he did it.
There a creak at the gate, click Of latch,
and the fall of foot the moonlit porch She half
rose; she was not frightened How she knew who it
was, God alone knows, but she looked up, tmidly,
understanding who was coming, knowing who would
knock, who would enter who would speak. And yet
she had never seen him but once in her life.
And this she knew-this child made wise in the
space of time marked by the tick of the kitchen clock
but she did not know that the memory of his smile
had given her the peace she could not understand,
she did not know this until he entered-dusty SLIM
lsunburnt, his yellow gauntlets folded in his belt,
his cap and sabre in his hand. Then she knew it.
When she understood this she stood up, pale
tain. He bowed silently and stepped forward,
fumbling with his sabre hilt. She motioned toward
la chair.
He said he had message for the master of the
house. and glanced about vaguely, noting the single
place at table She said he might give the message to
lher.
'It is only that-if do not inconvenience you too
much he smiled faintly-''f you would allow me
WELL the truth is am beted here for the night"
She did not know what that meant and he ex-
lplained.
''The master of the house is absent" she said,
thinking of her brother
Twill he return to1fs2ht?'
She shook her head; she thinking that she did
not want him to go away. Suddenly the thought of
being alone laid hold of her with fresh horror
You may stay" she said family He bowed
lagain. She asked him if he cared for supper, with
gesture toward the table, and when he thanked her
she took courage and told him where to hang his cap
land sabre.
There came catter of hoofs. ''N[y orderly" he
Iexplained-"he may sleep in the stable, may he
lnot2"
my own bedroom is all have here she said
'Not-not the one you gave me!'' he asked.
She nodded. sYou may have it often sleep in
the parlor-I did when my brother was home.'
eff had any idea,' he burst out. She stopped
him with gesture; but he insisted and at last had
his own way eff may sleep in the parlor 1 will
stay he said, and she nodded and seated herself at
the table,
He ate great deal; much bread and butter and
many eggs he spoke about his orderly and the horses
and presently asked for lantern. She brought him
one; he lighted it.
When he had gone away~ with his lantern she
rested her white face in her hands and looked at his
empty chair She thought of her brother, she
thought of the village people who leered askance
when she obliged to go to the store at Willow
Corners. The mention of her fathers name of her
brothers name in the village aroused sneers or
laughter. AS long as she could remember the one
great longing of her life had been to be respected
She had seen her father fall at night in the village
street, drunk hog; she had her brother reel
across the fields at MONDAY She carried her curse
and her longing-supposing that she was a thing
apart La the orchard at midday man. a young boy,
a soldier had spoken to her and looked at her in q
way she had never known All at once she realized.
] dreaming there in the lamplight that she was d
woman to him, like other women; a woman to be
spoken TO with Difference woman to be approached
with courtesy. She had read it in his ewes she had