The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-10

such a time. But this is a real
letter; and there Is something in
1t which terrifies, yet rejoices me-,
in spite of myself.
He proposes-no, proposes" Is
hardly the word-he tells me that
l am to join him.
Pm not sure IL you have heard
me speak of my dear old friend.
Mrs. Studholme," Miles says In
his letter. MRS. Studholme Ii
nearly eighty. yet she has the
heart Of girl. st. Cross. her
house in Devonshire, near Sid
mouth, is as charming as herself.
small, but perfect in its quaint
way. She has kept all her fac
ulties except her eyesight, and
that is rapidly falling. 1 have
known her since I was a boy, and
some of my best holidays were
spent at st. Cross. wrote her a
few days ago Of my speedy de-
parture for Astra, asking II II
should run down for a day or two
to say goodbye. BY return came
an appeal to bring my wife: and
she puts her request in such al
sweet and affecting way that It
would give me great pain to re-
fuse. II you can bring yourself
to help me out Of this difficulty
by consenting to make the visit. I
shall be grateful. Please wire,
and If we go, next Tuesday will
be convenient for me, provided
1t suits you"
I've telegraphed that will
meet Miles next Monday after
noon in London, at Browns Ho-
tel, where he is staying.
Later.
A wire has come, thanking me
for mine, and asking II l can man
age to get on without a maid, as
Mrs. Studholme's house is small.
l shall leave Miss Timpson here.
am in such a strange state of
mind about going that / can hard
ly sleep or eat.
OF course, shall see nothing
of Miles except when we are with
Mrs. Studholme or her family
If she has a family. Probably we
shall be given rooms adjoining;
but two people can be as far away
from each other in >next-door
rooms as IL they were one at the
South Pole and the other at the
North.
Browns Hotel, March 4th.
Miles met me at the railway
station, and put me into a taxi.
He couldn't take me to the hotel,
he said, because he had an en-
gagement just at that time at the
War Office, but I would find my
rooms ready, and he hoped Il
would be comfortable.
We have dined together, Miles
and I.
The dinner was in my" sitting
room. When 1t was over, Miles got
up and said quickly, We'll. I
must go. You're tired, I dare say.
I won't see you tomorrow till
noon, and we must lunch very
early, as our train leaves Pad
dington at two. l hope you'll
sleep WELL"
/ shant!
st. Cross, March TIN
AS Miles and I crossed the
threshold of st. Cross together, a
figure came toward us, figure
all white from head to foot, rath-
or frail figure, slightly bent, and
with the small ness of old age, as
II 1t had shrunk a little under the
weight of years. The white hair
under a cap of pretty old lace,
glittered like silver. Such a
sweet old face.
Dear Miles! Dear Miles, how
good of you to come, and bring
her!" Mrs. Studholme cooed, in a
voice that still had ring of
youth in 1t. "And what a sweet
girl! I'm not too blind to see
that" she went on, patting my
hands. You have a dear little
face, my child, just the right face
to make home happy for this
great hero OF ours
She led us by the hand into the
drawing room, which was low,
and chintzy, and quantity pretty.
Tea appeared almost instantly,
and l was asked to pour 1t out.
"T'm so blind, dear, never dare!
There! now l may tell you the
news. Miles, you remember my
great-nephew, Willy Fairburn?
He was a little boy when you were
a big one. You haven't seen him
since he went to Canada, / think,
but he has been back here several
times, and once brought his Ca
madam bride. Well can hard
ly bear to tell 1t and sadden your
first hour with. me; but these
things happen.
"The pretty young wife has
died suddenly and left Willy alone
with his little two-year-old girl.
The poor boy has come to me
with his child and nurse. He ar
rived only yesterday from Liver
pool, asking IL I could take them.
OF course ! answered yes, and I'm
delighted-but II 1t could have
been a little later, l should have
been glad. This is such tiny
house-a mere bird S nest. I
have but three guest rooms, and
now I've had to give up one to
Willy, one to the nurse with the
child. OF course I've saved the
best and biggest. / do hope, you
two dear lovers. that you won't