The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-10-27

weeks which followed Miss stei-
las departure. They did not par
ticularly interest me.
had written to her the day art
or she had departed, but no reply
came for q week, and then only Q
brief little note.
|. too. waited q week-tho 1t
was hard-and then answered,
sending some photographs. Again
she answered briefly, merrily,
conveying her especial regards to
Buster.
l sat, the evening after this let
ter arrived, In my big, cool room.
with Buster beside me, and thought
of her down there In the swelter OF
| town.
pulled my pad toward me and
wrote her letter. It read:
Dear, Nice Lady: I'm lying here on
the rug, my tail quite tired after . hard
days work, looking up In Mr.. Johns
| face His face 10 kind Of glum and his
eyes sort of faraway looking; I don't
know what's the matter with him. Hes
been that way nights for two or three
weeks now, which makes me sad; only
| he goes to the postoffioe often. which
makes me glad. cause I love to walk
or to run behind the buggy. and there's
| a collie pup on the way who Is very nice.
What do you suppose Is the troublef
| Sometimes he goes to the brook and sits
| on q stone by the pool there. while go
wadins and get my stummick wet and
drippy and cool. wish you'd come
back am yours wagsishly-
Here, Buster" said l.
The pup rose and snuggled his
nose into my lap. ! picked him
up, held his forepaw firmly and
put some ink on 1t. Then I held
the paper below It. pressed the paw
down. and made a signature. wip-
Ing the paw afterward with q blot
ter. I sealed and addressed the
letter, and went to bed.
A few days later box came ad-
dressed to Buster In my care. l
opened 1t In Busters presence. On
top was a small package labeled
For Buster" II proved to be
dog biscuit, which the recipient at
once took to the hearth and began
upon.
Beneath this was a note, which
opened with eager fingers. 1t
began:
Darling Buster; Your waggish epistis
received and contents noted.
You see, Dear Buster, Master John has
| got Twin Fires so far under way that he
| doesn't work at It all the time, so he
ought to be at his writing of stories. He
isn't doing that. Is hef Won't you please
tell him tor Tell him that's all the
| trouble. He has a reaction from his
first farming enthusiasm. and Doesn't
| realize that the thing to do Is to so to
work on the new line--his line. For It
| 10 his line. you know, Buster.
| Underneath this you'll find something
to give him, with my best wishes for
sunshine on the dear garden. STELLA.
p. g.: That is a nice pool. isn't TT
sat on the floor, with the let
ter in my lap. smiling happily over
It. Then l took the last package
out Of the box. Removing the pa
pers, l held In my hand an old
bronze sundial plate. and upon It.
freshly engraved, the ancient mot
to
II MARK ONLY SUNNY
HOURS"
My first thought was of its cost.
She couldn't afford 1t, the silly.
generous girl! / ought not accept
1t. Yet how could / refuse? +
couldn't. l Rugged 1t to my heart,
and fairly ran to the dial post, Bus
ter at my heels.
Then I went to the village and
sent day letter to Stella. BUS
ter sending me to thank you." It
read. Meet me Hotel Belmont
tomorrow. Sold over a bushel Of
peas today. Prepare to celebrate"
-
The train was hot and stuffy,
and we were all sweltering in the
Pullman by the time New York
was reached. As I stepped out Of
the Grand Central station into
And ST.. my ears were assaulted
by the unaccustomed din, my nose
by the pungent odor OF city streets.
my eyes smarted in q dust whirl.
But my heart was pounding with
Joy and expectation as ! hurried
across the street.
Concluded In Our Next Issue)