The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-19
ssTHE SMUGGLER''
door with an EXCLAMATION

pleasure.
WELL" remarked, as seated
myself, so we are really neigh
bors. after all! Are you settled
Iyet, and do you like your new
home? We are quite In love
with ours"
| Settled" she said, with a
slight shrug. well, yes. sup
pose so. But don't call it home,
please-four bare walls. two win
dows, and a door. Is that homer"
But" suggested, why not
look through the window at the
ocean,"
"Ah, the ocean," she inter-
rupted. How / hate 1t! Always
rolling. always changing; SO de-
ceitful, with its treacherous
laughing water, and so cruel. /
do not see how l am going to live
through this summer"
l listened in silent astonish-
ment, and Mrs. Graham paused
with a short laugh.
! Pray excuse me-" she said I;
you see. I'm from the south, and
l love the warmth, the flowers,
and the many. many trees. My
child is there, too. You could not
expect me to leave him in Vir-
ginia and be happy in Canada,
could your"
why not bring him to Canada
also?"
Oh. no, MOI" she said, with un-
necessary vehemence. He is bet
ter there--far better. See, this is
his picture. Do you wonder | am
rebellious at the separation? My
mother writes that he is quite
we'll and happy"
He Is like his father" said,
studying the laughing little face.
Very like" she replied; Every,
very like"
There was a movement in the
room above, and she held out her
hand for the picture.
Il will put 1t away" she said
hurriedly: "and let us talk of
something else. Mr.. Graham
thinks l allow the boy to absorb
me to the exclusion of everything
else, and perhaps he is right"
Mr.. Graham was coming down.
stairs now. He was evidently sur
pissed to see me, and l thought,
not over-pleased, although there
was no lack of cordially in his
greeting.
Isn't this a jolly little box?"
he asked.
He gazed about the bare room
with as much pleasure as though
1t contained the Injuries of a pal
ace, and continued cheerfully:
Just look out of the window
how's that for a view? And then
the air we breathe night and day!
Already Mrs. Graham is like
different creature"
l glanced curiously at Mrs.
Graham. but she refused to meet
my eye. "a
II have Just been saying.
Harry" she remarked. chow diff
ferent this air is from the south,
and how invigorating I find it,"
I smothered a surprised ejacu-
lation and rose to go. Surely, my
new friend was rather bewilder-
ing.
"Oh, l say" exclaimed Mr.. Ora
ham, "I'll walk along with you,
I'm going to the village for the
mail"
AS the postoffice was my ulti.
mate destination also, I resumed
my chair, and Mrs. Graham and
carried on q desultory converse.
ton until he returned, hat In
hand, and announced himself
ready.
j I glanced furtively at Mr.. Ora
ham as we walked along. He
talked about the climate and the
country, showing a knowledge OF
the coast which surprised me.
| Surely" I exclaimed, "you
have not learned all this since
you have been here?"
ooh. no." he returned; 81 spent
several summers here when was
young chap, and I'm very keen
about it, indeed"
| You are fond of sailing?"
! Very fond. When l go out in
my catboat, have no idea of the
flight OF time"
| / had a sudden vision of his
wife's figure waiting on the little
dock. Doubtless she was destined
to pass many anxious, expectant
hours before the end of the sum-
mer.
Mr.. Graham put our letters in
his pocket with his own for safe
keeping, and we turned our faces
homeward.
On the outskirts of the village
we met Lady Edith Campbell.
why, Mr.. Graham!" she ex-
claimed. What are you doing In
this remote corner of the world,
and do you mean to cut your old
friends?"
81 was so astonished, Lady
Edith, that l doubted the evidence
Of my eyes. What brings you
here, may I ask?"
"Wilfrid and l are touring for
his health. Is Mrs. Graham with
you? How very charming! We
all crossed from England together
this spring." she explained for my
benefit, "and we got to know each
other very we'll, as people do on
shipboard. Where is Mrs. Gra-
ham, and may not go and see
her this morning?"
Mr.. Graham hesitated percepti-
hIv hut \ aatf1od tha ruaottau hv