The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-26
A NOVEL A WEEK.
Next Week
1.-THE SECRET OF THE REEF
By Harold Bindloss.

| iOi 3 Ctdii thio
81 shall try to-"
Anne caught her breath. "But
you'll be in New York good
deal? I shall see you-?"
II think not. I've been consid-
ering trip to Vienna for a course
in the hospitals there. Probably
shall go now" He was very quiet
very gentle, but there was rightly
in his face that told with what ef-
fort he was maintaining his self
control.
cts not that my friendship
has gone, you KNOW" he went on,
repeating her phrase. "But have
feeling that tonight decides it
that IL you don't care for me now,
you never will. And since you
don't" he paused.
There was only one thing to
say, and she could not say 1t. He
waited a second, then turned away
for his coat.
you're not going-now?" she
managed to ask.
What Is there to wait for?"
he returned; and again there was
no answer she could make. She
moved instinctively nearer the
table for support. There lay the
other letter that had come at the
same time as Brauer's. In a pur-
poseless way she picked it up.
Where's Minna? / mustn't go
without bidding her goodby,"
Wallace said, and went to the din
ing room door.
Anne heard him call and Minna
answer. To keep herself from
thinking, she opened the letter in
her hand. The signature flashed
up at her. 5..
Wallace was returning, but she
paid no attention. A spasm of
pain contracted his mouth as he
saw her so absorbed, her face WV
i'd with some interest in which he
had no part.
But she turned suddenly and
thrust the letter into his hand.
Read it, Doctor Jim! Read it,"
she cried. "Stolpin-LeoiS tolpin,
one of the biggest managers in
New York - wants me for Lady
Macbeth - as co-star with his
great Englishman! Says my Ell
frida' was pretty bad"-she laugh
ed jubilantly-'but 1t showed him
| could act. Read it yourself
convinced me you have it in you
to do the best tragic acting of this
decade.
Il congratulate you," he
said, heavily. ut will be a very
good engagement"
Good? There is nothing this
season to compare with it! See.
he says the entire production will
go to London in the spring. Lon
don! And as Lady Macbeth! And
to think this blessed, blessed let
ter has been lying her all this
time!" She snatched It away and
pressed it to her breast with such
exultation that he marveied with
touch of scorn.
so you're happy now? Quite
happy? You've attained to the
topmost peak of all your desires?
Heaven grant you never find the
heights barren, after all, and
lonesome as the years pass"
why, DR.. James H. Wallace"
Forgive mel" He made a gen.
erous attempt at sympathy. "Of
course, I'm glad for you. l can't
be very enthusiastic, though, when
| know it means I'm losing you
now surely, for good and all"
But you're not. That's Just it!
I'm going to marry you, whenever
you like!" She laughed a bit hys-
terically, and as he stared at her
in stupefaction: 1--WE loved you
all the time-you and Elsie. The
rest has been bubbles on the sur
face. Underneath 1t was always
you two," she said brokenly. But
when you came back a rich man,
with everything to give---and l
was so poor and adrift, with moth
ing but failure to give in ex-
change"
"Anne!"
"Ah, but some time you might
have thought of 1t that way =
wondered how much your money
and my failure had to do with our
marriage. But now I don't come
to you with empty hands. I,
too"
WAIT, Anne!" Her hands were
in his, but he held her away,
afraid even yet to believe. "Be