The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-02-23


names. Yours is Alice. isn't it?"
Phyllis laughed. "Oh, worse
than that" she said. 81 was
named out of a poetry book, L
believe-Phyllis Narcissa. But +
always conceal the Narcissa.
phyllis. Thank you." he said
YEARLY. Phyllis, don't
let go! Talk to mel" His eyes
were those of a man in torment.
What shall l talk about?" she
asked, soothingly, keeping the two
cold, clutching hands if her warm
grasp. shall l tell you a story?
| know a great many stories. I'll
was part of my work"
Yes" he said. Anything"
Phyllis began the story she
knew best, because her children
liked IL best, Kipling's How the
Elephant Got His Trunk"
"A long, long time ago, o best
beloved :" 4
Allan listened, and, she thought
at times paid attention to the
words. She went straight on to
another story when the first was
done. Never had she worked so
hard to keep the interest of any
restless circle of children as she
worked now, sitting in the pink
light in her crepe wrappings, with
her schoolgirl braids hanging
down over her bosom, and Allan
Harrington's agonized golden
brown eyes fixed on her plying
ones.
you must be tired" he said,
more connectedly and quietly
when she had ended the second
story. Cant you sit up here by
me. propped on the pillows? And
you need quilt or something,
too
This from an invalid who had
been given nothing but himself to
think of this seven years back!
Phyllis opinion of Allan went up
very much. She made herself a
bank of pillows, and arranged her
self by Allan's side so that she
could keep fast to his hands with
out any strain, something as,
skaters hold. She wrapped a
down quilt from the. foot Of the
bed about her, mummy-fashion,
and went on to her third story.
Allan's eyes, as she talked on,
grew less intent-drooped. She
felt the relaxation of his hands.
She went monotonously on, clos
ing her eyes-just for q minute,
as she finished her story.
CHAPTER vi.
Phyllis Decides to Be Selfish.
1--WE oversight the alarm!"
was Phyllis first thought next
morning when she woke. ut
must be" Where was she?
She held her sleepy eyes wide
open by will power, and found
that silent but evidently going
clock hung in sight. Six-thirty.
Then she hadn't oversight the
alarm. But she had been sleep
ing propped up in sitting posi-
ton, half on-why, 1t was
shoulder. And she was rolled
tight in a terra Gotta down quilt.
She sat up with jerk fortu-
nately a noiseless one. -
Then suddenly she remember
ed all about 1t, that jumbled, ex-
cited, hard-working yesterday
which had held change and death
and marriage for her, and which
she had ended by perching on
poor Allan Harrington's" bed
and sending him to sleep by hold
ing his hands and telling him
children's stories.
She must have fallen asleep
after he did, and slid down on
his shoulder. A wonder 1t hadn't
disturbed him! She stole look
at him, as he lay sleeping still,
heavily and quietly. After all.
she was married to him, and she
had a perfect right to recite him
to sleep If she wanted to. She
unrolled herself cautiously, and
slid out like shadow.
She almost fell over poor Wal
lis, sleeping in his clothes out
side the door, on Adams day
couch. He came quickly to his
feet, as IL he were used to sud
den waking.
Don't disturb Mr.. Harring-
ton," said Phyllis as steadily as
liz she had been giving man SER
wants orders in her slipper-feet
all her life. "He seems to be
sleeping quietly"
Begging your pardon, Mrs.
Harrington, but you haven't been
giving him anything, have your"
asked Wallis. ''He hasn't slept
without a break for two hours to
my knowledge since I've been
here, not without medicine"
mot a thing" said Phyllis,
smiling with satisfaction. II got
his nerves quiet, I think. Please
kill anybody who tries to wake
him, Wallis"
very good, Ma'am," said Wall
lis gravely. And yourself,
ma'am?"
I'm going to get some sleep,
too" she said. Call me II there
is anything-useful."
She meant necessary" but
she wanted SO much more sleep
she never knew the difference.
When she got into. her room she
found that the wistful wolfhound
was eurled plaintively across her
bed, which he overlapped.