The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-09-05

$50 ehu was Quiso u elOFy De-
fore Peggy had finished. 1t includ-
ed her husbands statements. and
some Of the inside history Of her
fathers success, and conversations
she had had on truck farming, and
many OF PeGgy's own views ON all
OF these matters.
Mrs. Winners had never seen
any one like Peggy, in whom the
child and the woman alternated at
a breath, and who had been smiled
on SO lavishly all her life that she
accepted smiles and admiration as
a natural feminine due. Mrs. Will
mers Immediately branded Mrs.
Trowbridge as a coquette-for all
OF this battery of loneliness was
directed flagrantly upon the hus-
band. with only occasional glances
at her. and, browning INSULT the
husband drank 1t all III with raps
eyes-really, with rapt ears.
To Edna winners these glances
meant that Mrs. Trowbridge was
keeping an eye on the wife to see
how much further she could safely
exercise her wanton destinations
on the husband.
Tom Winners sat silent after
Peggy had finished. He was over
come by his stupidity in not hav-
ing seen for himself the simple a
BIC facts that Peggy pointed out.
Edna Winners looked on-a mo-
ment. Then she rose walked over
to the door, stood beside ia
hostess ready to bid her guest
adieu. Peggy, still waiting for
some appreciation from Winners,
gave no thought whatever to this
move. But Edna winners allowed
no misconstruction of her attitude.
Thank you, Mrs. Trowbridge,
for your-interest in my husband"
she said tensely, and opened the
door.
Somehow Peggy got across tie
threshold, somehow reached her
automobile, somehow found herself
at home.
What's gone wrong?" asked
Ed In the evening.
Peggy's lips opened, but she did
not speak. She could not. Even to
her husband she could not reveal
the awful thing that had happened
to her.
Just one thought lay naked In
her mind: She had been driven
out of Mrs. Winners house.
He listened quietly while Peggy,
whispering and sobbing, her face
averted the while, told the story of
her visit. :
$50 1t was you! I saw that Tom
had got a bunch somewhere. His
wife ought to have crawled on her
hands and knees to thank you. And
she turned you out! What that
woman needs Is a good trounciny 81"
But should have gone to call
on her two years ago." came faint
ly. Its my fault, really; don't you
see, Ed?"
Peggy found herself walking
down the road, next day - not
speeding along in an automobile,
nor behind a spirited horse. A
mile, another half mile, and Peggy
came to the lane that led to the
Winners house. She took a few
steps along this-stopped. Swiftly
she turned and retraced her steps
to the main road. Her heart was
palpitating madly, not with exer-
tion, but with her fear of this
force within her that had made her
almost go to this woman's house
again.
She did not 60 the next day, nor
the next. But on the third day she
walked out Of the gateway and
down the road, her step deliberate,
her face strangely mature. There
were no cobwebs in her head now.
She shivered Just a little as Mrs.
Winners opened the door.
81 have come to call on you,"
she said in a low voice. II should
have come two years ago. I'm sorry
/ didn't. But-I've come-now."
Edna Winners did not speak.
She stood as II stricken dumb,
gripping the door-knob, looking at
her visitor with eyes that wore
deep circles and we're red from con-
tinuous weeping.
Peggy waited another moment.
Goodbye" she said then
gently, because In a strange way,
she knew that Edna Winners
tragic eountenance was the out
come of that unpaid call of two
years ago.
"No-not goodbye" cried a
heartbroken voice. And Edna
Winners story came forth-an
anguished story of belated under
standing, and remorse. and >lineH-
ness, and quarrels with her bus-
band over that awful morning,
with reconciliations that never
fully brought peace.
That evening, Peggy's husband,
after hearing her story, put his
hand over his eyes in a playful
gesture. as II to save them from
being blinded by Peggy's dazzling
countenance.
"But you look as II you had
found something fine today, too"
she laughed. What is it,"
"You," he answered.