The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-05-24
Continued from our last issue.
CHAPTE nv.
Vary Vicissitudes
By Frederick Isham.

the broad balcony.
Are you meditating on your
loneliness, Mr.. Bennett" said a
well-remembered voice. Bob
wheeled. Stars of a starry night!
II was she.
How did you get rid OF him.
he breathed hoarsely.
Him" said Miss Gwendoline
Gerald, in a voice whose stiffness
should have warned Bob.
That sledgge-hammer man.
That Olympian village blacksmith
| mean. The chap who took you
In to dinner"
Il don't believe | understand"
observed the young lady, straight
and proud as a wonderful princess
in the moonlight.
But never mind about explain
ing" went on the vision, apropos
of Bob's Olympia yillage-blaek-
smith remark. 81 didn't come to
discuss generalitles.
"Of course not" assented Bob
eagerly.
"Will you be 80 good as to take
turn or two about the garden
with me?" she said in a calm, II
hard and matter-of-fact tone.
Twill u" Bob's accents ex-
pressed more eloquently than
words how he felt about comply
ing with that request.
Bob didn't ask whittier she was
leading him, or what fate had In
store for him. Sufficient unto the
present moment was the happi-
ness thereof! She didn't talk at
first, but he didn't find anything
to complain of In that. 1t was
blissful enough just to swing
along silently at her side.
She stopped at the verge of a
terrace where stood an Italian
looking little summer house. No
one was In 1t, and she entered.
They wouldn't be disturbed here.
Bob breathed deep. 1t was q
spot for lovers. But there was no
love-light in Miss Gerald's eyes.
do you know what people are
beginning to say about you, Mr..
Bennett?" she began, with consid-
cradle decision in her tones.
NO." said Bob.
Some of them are wondering
well, il you are mentally quite
right"
Are they?"
And some of them have con-
suited me-"
And what did you sayi"
Quickly.
81 said there is sometimes a
method In eecentricity."
She didn't ask a question, so he
didn't have to reply.
"Mr. Bennett, why did you an
swer me like that down in the
viilage?"
Bob hung his head. He felt
worse than boy detected steal
ing apples. Had to-" he mutter-
ed. desperately.
WHY" There was no mercy
In that still pitiless voice.
Bob took another long breath.
PLEASE don't ask me-" he plead
ed. That wasn't telling the truth,
it was only temporizing.
The violet eyes cleaned dan
gerously. Pm just a little bit
curious" said the girl, in the
same annihilating tone. "In the
light of subsequent proceedings,
you will understand!
No diverting her from her pur-
pose. She was certainly persist
ent.
"You insist I shall tell you
why didn't want to see your"
She looked at him quickly.
"That isn't what l asked, Mr..
Bennett. asked you to explain
that remark in the village"
Same thing" he murmured.
And it's rather hard to explain.
but II I've got to-" He looked
at her. On her face was the
look of proud, unyielding insist
ence. "Of course, I've got to tell
you the truth" said Bob, and his
tone now was dead and dull. I'm
the first place, dads busted,
clean down and out, and-well,
I thought I wouldn't see you any
more"
81 fail to see the connection.
Her tones were as metallic as a
voice like hers could make them.
TITS like this!" said Bob, ruff
fling his hair. You see, was
in love with YOU" he observed,
looking the other way and ad-
dressing one of the stars of heav-
en-. "And-and-when q fellows
in love-and he can't-ah! =
well, you know--ask the girl -
you understand"
Very vaguely" said Miss Ger
aid. us your fathers embarrass-
ment serious?"
Bob looked startled. He didn't
like the way she had shifted the
conversation. Pretty bad" he
answered.
81 suppose your father has TAX
en- his trouble much to hearth"
Miss Gerald observed.
mot a Bit"
why not?"
said he looked to me to keep
him In affluence the rest of his
days"
ITO your"
That's right"
"Ts IT," Miss Gerald asked,
the sense OF awful responsible