The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-02-25

The adjustable couch head had
been braced to scuh a position
that he was almost sitting up.
The little tea table was between
Allan and Phyllis, crowned with
a bunch of apple blossoms, whose
spring-like scent dominated the
warm room. Phyllis, in her green
gown, her cheeks pink with ex-
citement, was waiting on her lord
and master a little silently.
Allan watched her amusedly for
awhile-she was as intent as a
'good child over her tea ball and
her lemon and her little cakes.
Say something, Phyllis" he
suggested with the touch of mis-
chief she was not yet used to,
coming from him.
This is a serious matter" she
replied gravely. do you know |
haven't made tea-afternoon tea,
that is-for so long it's a wonder
[ know which is the cup and
which is the saucer?"
why not?" he asked idly, yet
interestedly, too.
Il was otherwise occupied. /
was a Daughter of Toll" explain
ed Phyllis serenely, setting down
her own cup to relax in her chair,
hands behind her head. Il was
librarian--didn't you know"
mo. | wish you'd tell me, If
you don't mind" said Allan.
About you, mean, Phyllis. DO
you know, / feel awfully married
to you this afternoon-you've
bullied me so much it's no wond-
er--and l really ought to know
about my wife's dark past"
Phyllis heart beat little fast
er. She, too, had felt "awfully
married" here alone in the fire
lit living room, dealing so init
mately and gayly with Allan.
There isn't much to tell" she
said soberly.
Come over here Closer" COM
manded Allan the spoilt. We've
both had all the tea we want.
Come close by the couch. | want
to see you when you talk"
His voice was caressing and the
darkness was deepening as the
fire sank. Only an occasional
tongue of flame slipped across
Phyllis silver slipper buckle and
on the seal ring Allan wore. 1t
was easy to tell things there in
the perfumed duskiness. She
found herself pouring it all out
to Allan, there close by her; the
lack of all the woman-things in
her life, the isolation and dreari-
ness at night, the over-fatigue,
and the hurt of watching youth
and womanhood sliding away, un-
used, with nothing to show for all
the years.
And when Mr.. De Guenther
made me that Offer" she MUIR
INJURED, coloring in the darkness,
II was tired and discouraged, and
the years seemed so endless! 1t
didn't seem as tho I'd be harm
ing anyone-but | wouldn't have
done 1t If you'd said a word
against it-truly l wouldn't,
dear"
The last little word slipped out
unnoticed. She had been call
ing her library children dear"
for a year now, and the word
slipped out of itself. But Allan
liked it.
my poor little girl" he said.
I'm your place I'd have married
the devil himself-up against a
life like that"
"Then-then you don't mind?"
asked Phyllis anxiously, as she
had asked before.
mo indeed" said Allan, with
a little unnecessary firmness. 81
told you that, didn't L? | like it,
$50 you did tell me-" she said
penitently.
But ,supposing De Guenther
hadn't picked out some one like
you"
That's just what I've often
thought myself" said Phyllis
naively. "She might have been
much worse than /. *Oh,
but I was frightened when / saw
you first! l didn't know what
you'd be like. And then, when
looked at you"
well, when you looked at
me?" demanded Allan.
But Phyllis refused to go on.
Then you were quite as shut
up In your noisy library as | was
in my dark rooms" said Allan
musingly.
81 suppose ! was" sNe said,
''tho never thought of it before.
You mustn't think 1t was horrid.
1t was fun, lots of it. Only, there
wasn't any being a real girl in
it."
There isn't much in this, I
should think" said Allan savage
ly, except looking after a big
doll"
Phyllis laugh tinkled out. "Oh,
! love playing with dolls" she
said mischievously.
Then you're fairly happy"
demanded Allan suddenly.
why, of counsel" said Phyllis,
tho she had not really stopped to
ask herself before whether she
was or not. Wouldn't you be
happy IL you could buy everything
you wanted, and every one was
lovely to you, and you had pretty
clothes and a lovalv houaa anI