The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-22
CHAPTER elk.
Copyright, 1914, by the News
paper Enterprise Association.)

1 N>0fsas6"sF " k~~@ A*t"3"
, paper Enterprise Association
You can take II from me-"
said Dick as he threw a letter in
my lap, that i am very glad l
am not Harry Symone.
Il had a letter from Eliene this
morning also; you may read II
while am reading Harry's."
He wrote on the last day on
shipboard aud posted il at Liver
pool.
Dear Dick" the letter began,
Il am writing this to you and |
declare to God don't know
whether il Is to be letter of fare
we'll or not-whether tonight I'll
quietly drop off the stern of the
ship and end 1t all like a gentle
I man who says goodbye when he
knows those he loves would be
better off without him, or wheth-
er, like a coward, I'll save my dis
reputable old carcass at the ex-
pense of my self-respect.
| Dick, | didn't mean to be
such a rotter. Ii never entered
my mind that | was doing such a
terrible thing-a thing OF such
far-reaehing impOrtance-when |
took that poor little woman from
my mothers house and installed
her in a pretty apartment.
Honestly, Dick. | thought
was being good to her. | thought
God forgive mel was making
her a lady. She was a decent lit
tie thing, and, Dick, she wor-
SHIPPED me-never a word of CEN
F, sure no mater how | treated her.
ut seemed to me, Dick, when
| thought it over that | had made
a perfect t-Eliene
intellectual and elegant to pre-
side at my table and entertain my
friends, and Ellen to flatter and
keep me good-humored when
once in while Id get a glimmer-
ing of what scoundrel | was.
You see, Dick, | never took
into consideration the two women
In the case. | was only thinking
of my admnable self, and either
one of them was worth more than
a thousand eads like me.
Perhaps you think it queer
that | class Eliene and Ellen to-
gether, but, Dick, they were both
big women according to their sta
lions in life.
You know that Eliene is, and
you know how she has risen to
heights seldom attained by any
woman in her adoption of my
children. l am abased in the
dust at her feet when | think OF
1t, and, strange as II may seem to
you, | never ceased to love her
devotedly, even when with the
other woman
but, Dick-and | say II all In
candor and with all respect for
Eliene--there were times when
lOnged for her to talk more to me
instead of at me. | wanted some
of the little insistent flattery oil
absolute alteration / got from the
other.
Poor Ellen, she told me she
was glad she was going to be the
mother of my child-althougl
that poor child would have to be
nameless. Poor girl! she did not
know that her babies would beal
my name and inherit my wealth
ITS a terrible mix-up, Dick
and the best way to unravel Il
would be for me to drop out of il
all. Eliene might some time fine
man worthy of her and she
could perhaps be happy in his
love. | know by the light that
came into her eyes that she will
always love and care for the
boys.
1--WE had lot of time to thinl
coming over, and God knows
have come to see what a dirty
dog | am.
And yet, Dick, l haven't the
courage to make way with myself
know that grand woman, who
tonight is mothering my mother
less babies, is mine and / wan