The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-23

for three or four daysf
"No, dear. No. You must &C
tomorrow" she repeated over and
over, till Elsie saw pleading was
thrown away, and sat up, subdued
and mournful, but resigned.
The next morning Anne awoke
late after a restless night,
Elsie was up, however, and in
the sitting-r0om.
did I wake you, mamma?
tried not tot" she exclaimed, and
crossing to Anne, kissed her on
both cheeks. 1--WE been up ages!"
you must have been. to do
your hair so beautifully" Anne
smiled. But aren't you famish-
ed? I'll be dressed in ten min
utes, and WE'LL"
Don't hurry, dearest. Take all
the time you like" Elsie said pref
lilly. and why can't we have
breakfast up here? Let me order
it,"
Anne assented gladly, and went
back to her dressing.
| She was putting in a final hair
pin. when she heard step In the
hall, followed by knock at the
sitting-roomN door. Breakfast"
she thought, dawdling serene1y.
Elsie spoke, and a mans voice
answered. 1t was Harland's, be-
yond a question.
For a moment, 1t seemed to
Anne the world had turned to wa
ter that surged over hSr, Then
she CROPPED toward the door.
Through the crack, she could
see them: Harland staring and be-
wildered, Elsie laughingly holding
out her hand. :
| Eyes, Miss Houghton's daugh-
ter. She's really Mrs. Blair North"
she was saying. when poor papa
died, she dropped his name. I'm
the visitor who came last night"
Anne was breathing painfully
now, but all the attention she paid
to that was to crush her hand
against her heart. Steadying her
! lips into a smile, she opened the
door.
Good morning, Mr.. Harland
J So my little surprise Ia spoiled!
You've already met MY daughter"
she said.
Harland was red and wretchedly
embarrassed. He shook hands
with unnecessary warmth, glanc.
] ing from her to Elsie.
"You-you must be very happy
to have her with you," he hest.
tated.
Very. Yes, indeed" Anne said
and Elsie chimed in enthusiasts
: tically over her shoulder.
; We're the happiest people in
} New York, I SUPPOSE; But aren't
you going to ask Mr.. Harland to
sit down? Maybe he'll stay to
breakfast.
i Harland laughed, and Anne
Joined in with a heart like lead.
IF you'd care to Mr.. Har-
land"
II can't" he refused, hastily.
I'D apologize for being here at
all at this hour, II It wasn't for
your telephone message.
"Telephone?" she repeated.
i Elsie's pretty laugh rippled out
again.
1T was I who called you up,
Mr.. Harland. Mamma was asleep
and knew nothing about It. Was
1t horrid of me? But l did so
want to see you today, and I was
afraid-Why, mamma, don't look
at me like that! Was It horrid? ?"
Her lips dropped and quivered.
| A furnace blast of anger wept
over Anne. But to show 1t would
be to make matters worse.
i, Last night she was wild to go
shopping directly after break
fast" she said to him, with a
very passable smile. Nov, 1t
seems-"
l, Il was wilder to see him? ?"
Elsie broke in. There's something
; | want to ask you, Mr.. Harland.
Mamma wouldn't do it for me,
and So"
"Elsie!"
, SO I've got to do 1t myself.
Won't you give me a part In your
play? Lean act. I've had expert
ence!" And out in a torrent came
the story of her work in the
western company, her sfccess,
: and her longing to make her
: Broadway debut In her mothers
: company. ron
81 don't know" he ternporiz-
ed, and glanced back at Anne
YOU'D like 1t, of course?"
After her one futile attempt to
silence the girl, Anne had made
no other, and. dropping into a
chair, listened CONTEMPORARY
She was not uneasy. She had
too much confidence in Harland's
common-sense to dream of his
: yielding.
, Certainly I should like. 4it,'
she said smoothly. But it's i'm.
possible. I've told Elsie BoS Q
dozen times. There are nd parts
! open"
Eyes, there's that ingenue. Un-
less Inslee's already engaged
some one"
. IAN ingenue? Just what
want" Elsie's cry was indignant
accusing. Mamma, you said
IL had forgotten" Anne
confessed blankly, with her first
fWfuga nf aunrnb an ufau Nn..s