The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-26
:. The g .
Confessions
of a Wife
ANY GIRII-AS TOLD TO
MARGARY WAVERLY
Continued

after | started to pack up a few
things, when / found that l had
only enough to pay for my
tickets and the stateroom which
| had thoughtlessly ordered.
Ola went down after the
tickets and came back quickly,
saying there was red-headed
young man down at the ticket Of
flee who said he knew me, lived
in my town, and that, as it hap
pened he was going home that
evening. too, he would look
after everything.
Il did not even ask his name,
for all / could hear was, Your
mother is very i'll, come home
immediately
But when | got down to the
train | looked up into the, ugly,
freckled face of Jeff Perrigreen,
crowned with its shock of red
hair.
" 1 am SO sorry. Miss Newton,
you are in trouble" he said. 4
am going through tonight, and
il you will allow me to look after
your baggage I'll be mighty glad
| to do it,
Il gave him my checks with
out word and was ushered into
my stateroom by the porter.
All night long the grinding
wheels kept pounding out the
words: Your mother is very i'll,
come homv at once
1T was daylight before | fell
into a troubled sleep, and 1t was
after nine the next day when |
| rang for the porter and asked
him to bring me a cup of coffee
and an orange. / had quite for
gotten that l had no money to
pay for them until after he had
gone.
II was almost In a panic, but
| happened to think of Jeff, and
hastily | got up and dressed.
I'm few minutes the waiter
brought in my tray on which was
great bunch of violets as we'll
as the coffee and fruit.
The young gentleman says
If you are not too tired can he
call and give you your checks,
Miss said the porter.
Tell him to come right in
I'm a minute Jeff came in and
blushed almost as red as his hair
when | thanked him for the
| flowers. Then, Margie,
blushed for l had to confess that
| through some negligence, caused
/ suppose by my mothers illness.
my fathers secretary had failed
to send ME my allowance, which
had been due to reach me the
morning before"
Immediately Jeff's face
lighted up and he handed me a
roll of bills"
81 don't want all of them
protested. If you will lend me
$40 I'll have dad send you a
check just as soon as | get in to-
day
Don't hurry, Miss Newton,
said Jeff, and then he got all red
| again.
Il think I'll ring and see If |
can get the morning paper |
| said, but as my hand was on the
push button Jeff sprang up.
Let me get it for you,' he
said and disappeared outside the
door.
"He came back shortly saying
| that there were no papers to be
had and that he would try and
get me one at the next station.
l could not help thinking that he
had grown shade less ugly and
remarking on the coincidence of
his travelling home with me, |
asked him where he had been.
| am at Yale, but some very
important business is calling me
home. | shall only spend one day
home, as I must be back as soon
as possible
| Did you see last nights pa
pers? l was SO upset l never
thought to buy them. There
might have been something in
them about mothers sudden ILL
ness
at seemed to me that Jeff
suffered little as he informed
me that he, too, had been too
busy to see the papers.
Won't you come out and
have luncheon?' he asked little
later.
ct can't go out there, but If
you will join me we can have
lunch in here"
Neither one of us thought of
the times l had snubbed the gro
GERS son, for l was grief
stricken and jeff was sympa-
thetic. could not eat, but man
aged to drink a cup of tea.
Even Jeff's appetite seemed
rather an unknown quantity, but
he clutched both my hands as all
at once it came over me that my
dear mother might be dead and |
burst into tears. ~
Don't Paula, DON'T he said
boyishly, she will be all right. |
know she will" - II
ITO he COntinued.) IL
WARNfNGi